New information about Wolverine populations bridging Canada and the USA in the Alberta eastern Rocky Mountains is concerning----Outside of the National Parks in this region, the so-called "Occupancy rate(Wolverines per suitable habitat) is only at 8% versus inside Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks where 25% of suitable habitat is occupied by Wolverines................This low occupancy region known as the Castle Wilderness region is a critical connectivity link in the Yellowstone to Yukon land bridge----So important it is for Wolverines and other carnivores to have viable populations here so that gene connectivity between Canada and the USA is optimized,,,,,,,,,which will heighten long term persistence of Wolverines, Wolves, Grizzlies and other trophic carnivores..............

link-----Study finds low number of wolverines  along Eastern Slopes of the Rockies Source: calgaryherald.com Study finds low  number of wolverines  along Eastern Slopes  of the Rockies More protection  urged  on eastern slopes  of Rockies BY COLETTE DERWORIZ, CALGARY HERALD JUNE 5, 2014 0 STORY PHOTOS ( 4 ) Wolverine populations are significantly lower along  the eastern slopes of the Rockies than in the national  parks, sparking a call for greater environmental  protection for the area, which includes the Castle  wilderness area. Photograph by: Courtesy: Tony Clevenger A new survey of wolverines along the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies - considered a crucial link between those in Canada and the United States - suggests the population isn't as healthy as in the national parks.The three-year study by several  researchers is examining southwestern Alberta  from Highway 3 in the Crowsnest Pass south to  the U.S border. The area includes the Castle wilderness area,  which could receive additional protection by the  province in the South Saskatchewan Regional  Plan - a land-use plan for southern Alberta that's scheduled to be released in July. The survey's preliminary results, which used remote  cameras and hair traps, suggest a low number of  wolverines in the area. "They are certainly showing a lot less than what  we found in the national park complex," said Tony Clevenger, a biologist at Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute. "When we compare these preliminary  results from this past winter with others ... it's still quite a bit lower. "It's based on visitation rates, so it's not an estimate of a population size but it's an indicator of population status." Researchers, led by Clevenger, found an eight  per cent occupancy rate - much lower than  similar results in Kananaskis, which saw a 25 per cent occupancy rate, and in Banff , Yoho and Kootenay national parks, where  the rate was 84 per cent. Conservationists said the results show the  province needs to take the protection of the eastern slopes more seriously in the land-use plan. "It's a bit of a red flag that ... this vital connection is compromised," said Karsten Heuer, president of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative . "Some of the best places in that vital connection,  we have an opportunity to protect them right now -  the Castle being one of them. "If we let that  opportunity go by, then we are consciously  putting another nail in the coffin of a species  that I think everybody wants to ensure exists  in the future." With only 250 to 300 wolverines left south of the  border, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide this fall whether to make wolverines an endangered species. They are listed as a species of special concern in Alberta under the federal Species at Risk Act. As part of its draft land-use plan for the area, the province is increasing protected areas  along the eastern slopes, including the creation of the Castle Wildland Provincial Park at higher elevations. Conservationists . however, have argued that it's only protecting  the rocks and ice. Neil Watson, a spokesman for Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, said the land-use plan is nearly complete, but it has considered a  wide range of material since the draft was released last fall. "The government is finalizing  the plan," he said, noting it still has to be  approved by cabinet. Heuer said the province still has an opportunity  to do the right thing. "This is a bridge, this is a connection between  what we presume are some fairly healthy wolverine populations in the Rocky Mountain  national parks and what are very much struggling wolverine populations to the south in the U.S.,"  he said. "For those struggling U.S. populations'  survival in the long term, this vital connection, which includes the Castle, needs to be maintained." He said that includes protecting the valley bottoms in the land-use plan, creating additional wildlife underpasses along Highway 3 and addressing  road densities in the eastern slopes."The pattern  of extinction globally is that when wildlife populations that were once connected to other  wildlife populations get cut off, they become  entrapped on islands and they are subject to  disease, fire, inbreeding," said Heuer. "Then  there's no hope in rescuing them from those situations." The wolverine survey, which also includes researchers from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures and the USDA Forest Service in Montana,  will continue for two more years. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://magicvalley.com/lifestyles/recreation/five- days-left-to-comment-on-wolverine-conservation- plan/article_1a1a2364-ec77-11e3-a3f1-001a4bcf887a.html#.U5IMQZ0GXmQ.email Five Days Left to  Comment on  Wolverine Conservation Plan 1 Print Email June 05, 2014 1:30 am (0) Comments JEROME • The comment period for people interested in Idaho Department of Fish and  Game’s wolverine conservation plan ends Monday. The plan was released May 19 for  a 21-day public review. Commenting concludes  June 9. Wolverines are members of the weasel family.  In the northern U.S., they occupy high-elevation alpine and subalpine habitats with spring snow cover and cool summer temperatures. The Idaho Wolverine Conservation Plan was  developed to proactively lead state efforts to  conserve and protect wolverine populations  and their habitats to ensure their long-term  viability in Idaho, a Fish and Game release said.  The plan includes statewide wolverine status and  distribution, factors affecting population and  habitat, priority areas for conservation, and  supporting actions to benefit wolverines in Idaho. For more information on wolverines, including  a draft copy of the plan, go to: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/wolverine- conservation-plan. Comments may be submitted on the website  or by e-mail to idfginfo@idfg.idaho.gov; or mailed to Wolverine Plan Comments, c/o Idaho Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise,  ID 83707.