Sterilize predators
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Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
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Number of studies: 1
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Effectiveness
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Supporting evidence from individual studies
A before-and-after study in 1994–2002 in a large forest and shrubland area in Alaska, USA and Yukon, Canada (Boertje et al. 2017) found that sterilising some wolves Canis lupus (and trapping and removing others) did not reduce caribou Rangifer tarandus mortality. The annual mortality of caribou calves (≤1 year old) did not differ after wolf sterilization and removal commenced (50–67%) compared to before (39–65%). Adult female (≥1 year old) annual mortality was also similar after wolf sterilization and removal commenced (9–10%) compared to before (9%). In a 50,000-km2 study area, 52–78 newborn caribou calves/year were radio-collared in May 1994–2002. In fifteen wolf packs, the dominant pair was sterilized in November 1997 and remaining wolves in those packs were translocated, mainly in April 1998. Eight additional packs were similarly treated over the following two winters. Caribou mortality was measured over four years before and five after wolf control commenced during ≥3 aerial surveys/year.
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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation - Published 2020
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation