Genetic Testing Confirms Bonavista Peninsula Animal is a Labrador Wolf

An 82-pound animal harvested in March 2012 by a resident of the Bonavista peninsula has been confirmed as a Labrador wolf, following extensive genetic testing by both Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and the University of Idaho.

“We can only speculate on how this wolf arrived on the island of Newfoundland, but most likely it travelled from Labrador on sea ice to the island,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “Wolves are known to travel long distances and with the number of polar bears coming ashore in Newfoundland this spring, sea ice was plentiful enough to provide a travel route for a Labrador wolf.”

Tissue samples from the animal were sent to Memorial University’s CREAIT Genomics and Proteomics Facility and the University of Idaho’s Laboratory for Evolutionary, Ecological and Conservation Genetics. The Idaho university was engaged because of ongoing student research involving genetic testing as part of the provincial caribou strategy. The samples were compared to reference samples from known wolf, coyote and domestic dog populations. Both laboratories concur that, based on the extensive genetic testing at both facilities, the animal is a Labrador wolf.

“Based on the analyses of our samples, which included coyotes from insular Newfoundland, wolves from Labrador and dogs from both insular Newfoundland and Labrador, we conclude that the animal is a wolf,” said Dr. Beth Perry, Research Associate, Genomics and Proteomics Facility, MUN. “Due to the complex shared history of coyotes, wolves and dogs, we conducted an extensive comparative analysis with the University of Idaho which had a number of samples in their collection as part of the provincial caribou strategy. Concurrence by both laboratories gives us a high degree of confidence in the results.”

As part of ongoing wildlife research in the province, the Provincial Government works with hunters and trappers to collect tissue samples through the coyote carcass collection program. To date, approximately 3,000 carcasses have been collected and no wolves have been detected. Additionally, work underway as part of the island caribou strategy has not indicated the presence of wolves.

The Newfoundland wolf became extinct on the island around 1930, but the grey wolf is common in Labrador. Although wolves may occasionally arrive from Labrador, there is no evidence of a breeding population on the island portion of the province.

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2012 05 25             9:20 a.m.