With caribou nearby, Alaska's rural villages see more predators too

Less than two weeks ago, seven wolves loped through the village of Deering. That was about the sixth time locals had seen the pack -- or part of it -- in the village. Related: More and more grizzlies and wolves moving north to high Arctic Can caribou survive rapidly warming Arctic climate? “They’re hungry and they’re looking for something to eat,” said Deering Mayor Ron Moto on Monday. Moto said the wolves are plucking dogs off chains for a quick meal and already a few wolves have been shot on the outskirts of town. The village is taking extra precautions because of the recent predator visits. Kids are not allowed outside without supervision and are getting driven to school instead of walking, Moto said. This year, he added, more females are having pups just south of the village, so there are more wolf families in the vicinity. The brash behavior is related to the movement of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd, Moto said. Stakeholders in North America’s largest herd met last week to discuss all things caribou at the Western Arctic Caribou Herd Working Group annual meeting in Anchorage. Among the hot topics was the observation of more predators closer to the villages. “The movement of the caribou correlates with where the wolves go,” said Moto, who is also a member of the caribou working group. There have been caribou about 35 miles south of Deering. And because they have moved to a snowless area, they're able to outrun the wolves causing the canids to head into the village for easier meals. Other villages have noticed an increase in wolf activity, including Selawik. And while it’s nothing new to witness the predators near villages, the number of sightings has increased over the last couple years. But that could simply be because more people are on the lookout, said Peter Bente, a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the agency representative on the caribou working group. The working group is comprised of 20 members that include subsistence users, other Alaskan hunters, reindeer herders, hunting guides, transporters, and conservationists. Biologists and natural resources managers from various agencies advise the group and provide information and support as needed. During meetings, biologists report on the current health and population status, range condition, and other biological factors affecting the herd. Conversation and community outreach are also priorities. Last week, working group members divided into smaller groups based on region for a round-table discussion on what they had experienced over the past year, including the influx of wolves close to town. “I don’t know that it’s directly related to caribou,” Bente said, adding that it makes sense for the wolves to be attracted to caribou moving through the region. Whether the wolves are part of packs that roam with the herd, or local wolves moving closer to town is not known. Besides wolves, those out hunting caribou have noticed more bears as well, noted the group from the Northwest Arctic region. Across the room, caribou hunters and guides from the North Slope noted that they too have noticed more wolves and wolverine. Oliver Peetook, the working group’s representative from Wainwright, said he’s seen wolves getting bolder by moving in on the village. This year in particular, Peetook said he has spotted more caribou with calves, which could be part of the reason for more wolf sightings. Along with unusual animal behavior, unique weather patterns were also a common thread in the discussions. Autumn saw unseasonably mild temperatures throughout much of Alaska. For Peetook and hunters in and around Wainwright, better weather means better hunting. Caribou are abundant in the area all year. “We’re fortunate,” he said. “We drive less than 15 miles to get a caribou.” This story first appeared in The Arctic Sounder and is republished here with permission. Jillian Rogers can be reached by emailing editor(at)thearcticsounder.com