Animal action

The furry and feathered inhabitants of Wapusk are important indicators of a healthy and resilient ecosystem and monitoring them is part of protecting the ecological integrity of the park.

University of Manitoba: Examining fox interactions and movements at tundra-taiga transition led by Dr. James Roth

The expansion of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) into areas that used to be occupied by Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) can threaten the survival of Arctic fox populations. This project uses location information from satellite collars attached to both species of foxes to better understand this threat. The location information shows how foxes use the landscape in and around Wapusk National Park.

In April 2024, 4 foxes were captured in the park: 3 red foxes and 1 Arctic fox. All foxes were found at dens near the Nester One research station. Satellite collars were put on the red foxes; however, the Arctic fox was not collared due to its small size. A total of 7 foxes from 2023 and 2024 remained in the study area during the targeted reproductive period of April 1 to August 31. All other foxes with active collars travelled away from the project area during this time.

Predators such as foxes play an important role in Arctic and sub-Arctic food webs. Changes in the numbers and types of predators and in how they use ecosystems may also impact other species. A warming environment may also increase the range of species into new territories like the Arctic tundra. Understanding the interactions between these two species might help understand why species normally found in the boreal forest may be found in more northern tundra ecosystems and how that might affect ecosystems in the park.

Candid Caribou – Documenting migratory habitat use for caribou in Wapusk National Park led by Russell Turner

This research uses a network of trail cameras to monitor wildlife in Wapusk. The cameras are placed along the eastern edge of the park from Cape Churchill to Broad River. They are deployed running north to south and equally divided into Fen and Beach Ridge habitat. The goals are to document when and where caribou are throughout the year and to identify which habitat caribou prefer on their summer range.

After three years of image collections, 687,616 images have been captured for data analysis. The images, paired with Indigenous and local knowledge, documented how raised gravel beach ridges are important migration routes for caribou accessing their calving grounds.

In 2020 and 2021, Parks Canada organised the Beyond Borders Caribou Workshop series. The workshops provided a forum for knowledge exchange, creating a space to weave together Western science and Indigenous knowledge systems as equals, co-developing strategies to sustain healthy caribou herds in Northern Manitoba. One outcome of the workshop series was the establishment of this project. Utilizing non-invasive trail cameras is an excellent tool for collecting data and monitoring wildlife populations in remote settings. It also aligns with Parks Canada’s mandate and research priorities to better understand the ecology of Wapusk National Park.

Parks Canada: Finventory – An eDNA fisheries inventory for Wapusk National Park led by LeeAnn Fishback

Wapusk National Park protects landscapes and ecosystems of the Hudson Bay Lowlands. Thousands of freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers, and creeks cover this landscape. Traditional and local knowledge have confirmed 10 fish species at 8 different locations but there remains a gap in knowledge surrounding the extent and structure of the fish community.

The goal of this project is to complete a detailed inventory of fish species in the park using eDNA techniques, achieved by completing eDNA sampling of the largest lakes and major river and creek systems within the park. Monitoring fish communities is vital to the assessment of overall ecological health of the aquatic systems and terrestrial life they support.

In 2024, Parks Canada completed fish community assessments along the major river and creek systems within the park: White Whale River, Thompson Creek, Broad River, Owl River, Rupert Creek. Results from a pilot study in 2023 and the findings from 2024 will inform future sampling efforts and target locations to address remaining gaps in knowledge about fish assemblages and diversity within the park.

Parks Canada: Eyes on the skies – Arctic shorebird monitoring in Wapusk National Park led by Jesse Shirton

Shorebirds that breed in the Arctic are currently experiencing population declines. There are significant knowledge gaps about shorebird migration patterns. However, research shows that Wapusk National Park’s shoreline is critical to more than a dozen shorebird species during their migrations.

In 2022, Parks Canada deployed two MOTUS (Motus Wildlife Tracking System) towers in Wapusk National Park and one at York Factory National Historic Site. These towers support the designation of the park’s coastline as a shorebird conservation area. In addition to these MOTUS towers, Dr. Erica Nol from Trent University has one seasonal MOTUS tower deployed at Nester 1 research camp. Since deployment, the towers have detected 7 different species, including the endangered Red Knot.

This project provides Parks Canada with a better understanding of how Arctic-breeding shorebirds are using Wapusk National Park during their spring and fall migrations. Tracking data collected by the MOTUS towers is available on www.motus.org. It includes data for birds in Dr. Nol's project, as well as birds of other national and international MOTUS projects.

Parks Canada: Wapusk snow goose breeding survey – Mapping colonies and estimating abundance led by Russell Turner

For many years, Wapusk National Park has grappled with the adverse impacts of an over-abundant snow goose population. The threat posed by Snow Geese to the park's ecological integrity, mainly through their destructive feeding habits that irreversibly alter the landscape, has become increasingly evident. There is a lack of information about the current distribution and population size of the breeding Snow Goose population within the park. Data from other research suggests that nesting density has decreased as habitat conditions change. As their habitat conditions worsen, the geese disperse to other parts of the park.

In response to these concerns, an aerial survey was conducted in 2024 at the northern portion of the park where the geese are most common. The aim of the survey was to photograph the geese nesting in these areas. Currently, the thousands of photos from the survey are being sorted and referenced to their location on the landscape. Parks Canada staff will then count the nests in the photos to get an updated breeding populating estimate for the park.

Results will be used to understanding the current ecological footprint of these migratory birds and to predict potential changes in their numbers over time. This information will be used to address both current and long-term conservation and management efforts in Wapusk National Park.

 

 

 

There's so much more to learn! Read all the research summaries.

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