(Image Credit: Photo courtesy Dr. Abbey Wilson)

By Dave Branco

UNBC researcher leads project to study impacts of wolf control on caribou recovery

Jan 7, 2026 | 8:47 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – UNBC Ecosystem Science and Management Associate Professor Dr. Jamie Gorrell is collaborating with community, government, and academic partners on the Dìga Project to address the decline of caribou populations in northern Canada, which has prompted wolf control measures to reduce predation. Dr. Gorrell’s research examines the effects of these programs on wolf health, diet, genetics, and pathogen dynamics.

With funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and MITACS, Gorrell and his team are analyzing 15 years of data gathered by Indigenous and resident hunters, as well as organizations and governments. This work aims to illuminate the consequences of wolf control on both species.

Named after the Tli?cho word for wolf, Dìga represents the deep connection to the northern communities involved in wolf management. The research team includes co-leads from the University of Saskatchewan and various government researchers who will explore wolf diets and genetics, and monitor pathogens to understand their impact on caribou. They will also investigate how these factors have changed over time as harvest levels rise.

“This project combines Indigenous and academic insights to promote healthy wolf populations, which is vital for effective wildlife management,” Gorrell says.

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With nearly $500,000 in funding, the project will train one master’s student and one postdoctoral fellow, fostering the next generation of wildlife experts. Key partners include the Wek’èezhìi Renewable Resources Board and the Tli?cho Government, alongside Indigenous community members integral to the research.

This initiative offers an opportunity to study large-scale wolf removal while supporting northern communities, with findings that could enhance management strategies for both wolves and caribou and explore the health risks posed by wolf parasites to humans.