Effects of canine parvovirus on gray wolves in Minnesota
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Abstract
Long-term effects of disease on wild animal population demography is not well documented. We studied a gray wolf (Canis lupus) population in a 2,060-km2 area of Minnesota for 15 years to determine its response to canine parvovirus (CPV). The CPV had little effect (P > 0.05) on wolf population size while epizootic during 1979-83. However, after CPV became enzootic, percentage of pups captured during summer-fall 1984-93 and changes in subsequent winter wolf numbers were each inversely related to the serological prevalence of CPV in wolves captured during July-November (r2 = 0.39 and 0.72, P = 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). The CPV antibody prevalence in adult wolves increased to 87% in 1993 (r2 = 0.28, P = 0.05). However, because population level remained stable, CPV-induced mortality appeared to compensate for other mortality factors such as starvation. We -predict that the winter wolf population will decline when CPV prevalence in adults consistently exceeds 76%. The CPV may become important in limiting wolf populations.
Suggested Citation
Mech, L., Goyal, S.M., 1995, Effects of canine parvovirus on gray wolves in Minnesota: Journal of Wildlife Management, v. 59, no. 3, p. 565-570, https://doi.org/10.2307/3802464.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Effects of canine parvovirus on gray wolves in Minnesota |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| DOI | 10.2307/3802464 |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 1995 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| First page | 565 |
| Last page | 570 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Other Geospatial | Superior National Forest |