Canada has the second largest grey wolf population in the world—second only to Russia—with an estimated 50 000 animals. The species is not considered threatened, and wolf hunting is allowed outside of national and provincial parks. Many provinces and territories do have wolf management plans. The 2012 Yukon Wolf Management Plan, for example, has as its goal the conservation and management of the wolf and includes steps to reduce wolf population sizes as needed through hunting, trapping, and sterilization of individuals. However, not everyone agrees on how best to manage wolf populations in Canada.
Visit the website for the Canadian Wolf Coalition (wolfwatcher.org/canadian-wolf-coalition-wolf-population-update/) and read about the organization and its “Vision and Goals.” Then take a look at the Yukon Wolf Management Plan (www.env.gov.yk.ca/publications-maps/documents/yukon_wolf_conservation_and_management_plan.pdf).
Evaluate the websites and work with the information to answer the following questions:
Is the Canadian Wolf Coalition a reliable information source?
Does the organization give supporting evidence for its claims?
Does it give sources for its evidence?
What is the mission of this organization?
Choose one of the articles posted on the Canadian Wolf Coalition home page and read it.
What is the main point of the article?
Are supporting evidence and sources for this evidence given for the main point(s)?
Do you detect any bias in the presentation? Explain.
Evaluate the Yukon Wolf Management Plan:
What organization authored the plan?
Do the authors give supporting evidence and the sources of this evidence for their claims?
Do you detect any bias in the presentation? Explain.
How do the goals of this plan compare to those of the Canadian Wolf Coalition?
Do you believe that wolves should be managed, and populations controlled through hunting, trapping, or other population reduction methods? Support your position.