Wildlife management

Like the ecosystems in which they live, wildlife within Canada’s national parks are managed with minimal interference to natural processes. However, active management of wildlife may be required when the natural function of an ecosystem has been altered. Wildlife management may include a single animal or entire animal populations that have been effected by a disruption to its natural environment. Active management in Parks Canada places might involve a wide variety of activities - for example, reducing wildlife and visitor conflict and managing hyper abundant wildlife populations. 

Resource conservation staff in Elk Island National Park on three primary areas of active wildlife management: Ungulate management, visitor safety and minimizing human-animal conflict, and beaver management. Ecological monitoring is used to determine if there are issues with wildlife and the ecosystems in which they live. Monitoring also helps determine what factors may be affecting the health of the parks ecosystems and guides the planning and success of active management projects.