Central East Slopes Wolf and Elk Study

These are the telemetry data collected on both wolf and elk individuals as part of the Central East Slopes Wolf & Elk Study in Alberta, Canada.

Elk telemetry data description: We captured adult, female elk during t using a net
gun from a helicopter. Each animal was fitted with
a Lotek GPS2200 collar (Lotek Wireless, Ontario,
Canada) that collected locations every 2 h for up
to 11 months. All
procedures were approved
Province of Alberta animal care permit #1432GP and
Univ. of Alberta #300401-300601).

Wolf telemetry data description:
We captured wolves from 13 packs in 2002–2006 (pack
sizes: 3–17 wolves) via helicopter net-gunning during winter
months and with modified foot-hold traps during summer
(University of Alberta Animal Care Protocols No. 391305,
353112, and 411601). We physically restrained wolves
captured with helicopter net-gunning, whereas we either
physically restrained or chemically immobilized wolves
captured in traps. We fitted 13 wolves with Lotek (Lotek
Engineering, Newmarket, ON, Canada) 3300Sw store-onboard
GPS collars (2002–2005), and 6 wolves with Lotek
4400S remote-downloadable GPS collars (2005–2006);
both collar types featured the advanced-scheduler option.
We programmed collars to collect locations at 15-minute,
30-minute, 1-, 2-, 4-, or 6-hour intervals during October–
April. We downloaded data from model 3300Sw collars
upon retrieval via remote-release mechanism, recapture of
the wolf, or when wolves were harvested by trappers. We
remotely downloaded data from model 4400S collars every
1–2 weeks during aerial telemetry flights. Global Positioning
System collars collected 443–6,676 locations per wolf
and remained on wolves for 41–180 days. Collars recorded
locations on 90% (3300Sw model) and 82% (4400S model)
of fix attempts, suggesting the influence of habitat-induced
GPS bias was minimal (Frair et al. 2004). Previous trials
using Lotek GPS collars in our study system indicate that
95%of locations fall within 114 m of the true position, with
a Bessel distribution (s parameter) of 34 m (Hebblewhite
2006)