Abundance, social organization, and population trend of the arctic wolf in north and east Greenland during 1978–1998

Abstract

Abundance, social organization, and population trend of the arctic wolf ( Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935) in north and east Greenland, 1978–1998, were determined from 353 sightings of 552 wolves by the Danish military, by expeditions, and from 8 consecutive years (1991–1998) of fieldwork. Available evidence suggested that this wolf population consisted of up to 55 wolves in favorable times. Six core packs were identified. Maximum wolf density was estimated at 1 wolf/3745 km2, which appears to be the lowest wolf density reported, representing 3.5% of maximum late winter wolf density in Denali Park, Alaska, and <1% of that in north-central Minnesota. Social organization was characterized by a preponderance of pairs and lone wolves. Mean early winter pack size was 2.6 wolves/pack; the lowest reported for wolves in North America. Packs >4 wolves were rare, constituting 3.8% of early winter sightings. The population increased, on average, 8% per year during the period 1978–1991 and appeared to reach a peak in 1991–1992. These depressed population characteristics are likely the consequence of the lowest ungulate prey availability in North America, e.g., 2.6% of that of wolves in northeastern Minnesota.