AB-2025-06188 - Wildlife Capture, Collaring & Wolf Control

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and Wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) are listed as a Threatened species in Alberta under the Wildlife Act, and in Canada under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Habitat alteration and predation linked to industrial footprint have been identified as the main ultimate causes of caribou population decline in Alberta. In Alberta, current bison distribution predominately overlaps with northern caribou populations which requires increased monitoring to align the conservation and recovery management actions of both species.
Various management techniques have been employed to support caribou conservation and recovery in Alberta. Continued implementation of these management measures is required to prevent further declines of caribou populations and to achieve the goals and objectives listed in the “Alberta Woodland Caribou Recovery Plan 2004/05-2013/14” (Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 4) and “A Woodland Caribou Policy Plan for Alberta” (June 2011). Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) requires contracted aircraft services for caribou and bison tracking, captures and radio-collaring, and for wolf tracking, captures, radio-collaring and lethal control until March 31, 2028. This work is being made available as a three-year contract to enable the successful contractor to have the required security to enable acquiring and maintaining adequate equipment and human resource capacity for successful program delivery.

Aircraft will be required so that adult female caribou and bison can be tracked, located, captured and fitted with radio-collars, through deployment of aircraft-based net-gunning, between November and March of each year. Aircraft will be required for wolf tracking, captures, radio-collaring and lethal control to increase caribou survival rates and avoid loss of specified caribou populations. Lethal wolf control is currently required in and adjacent to nine caribou ranges.