Caribou populations are in decline throughout Canada. In some caribou systems, targeted removal of predators (e.g. wolves) is thought to enhance caribou population trends. On the Island of Newfoundland, wolves have been extirpated since the 1930s, meaning that wolves on the Island are ‘locally extinct’. Meanwhile, coyotes underwent a natural range expansion in the 1980s and have become to dominant predator of caribou. Coyotes in Newfoundland have historically faced heavy persecution from humans due to their perceived implication in caribou declines. Coyotes continue to face persecution from humans, presumably because they are thought to consume caribou and contribute to population declines. An unintended consequence of human contact with coyotes is the possible transmission of parasites to humans or their dogs. Specifically, Echinococcus is a known parasite of canids and is becoming increasingly common in Ontario and Quebec, though prevalence in Newfoundland remains relatively low. Echinococcus infects coyotes and dogs and can have severe human and animal health implications. It also remains to be seen whether coyotes kill caribou or simply scavenge caribou that died of other causes. Moreover, it is unknown whether they can kill adults or only calves. Our results will contribute to broader knowledge of coyote, caribou, and human health. Learn more!
About the Faculty: Dr. Quinn Webber
Dr. Quinn Webber is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph’s College of Biological Science. The Webber lab studies the causes and consequences of animal behaviour. Specifically, the lab looks at how individual behavioural and environmental variations affect bats’ and caribous’ fitness and disease outcomes. The implications of this work are wide-ranging and include contributing to (1) the development of theory and methods, (2) One Health initiatives, and (3) the conservation and management of species at risk.
