Abundance, social organization, and population trend of the arctic wolf in north and east greenland during 1978-1998

Abundance, social organization, and population trend of the arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935) in north and east Greenland, 1978-1998, were determined from 353 sightings of 552 wolves by the Danish military, by expeditions, and from 8 consecutive years (1991-1998) of fieldwork. Available evidence suggested that this wolf population consisted of up to 55 wolves in favorable times. Six core packs were identified. Maximum wolf density was estimated at 1 wolf/3745 km², which appears to be the lowest wolf density reported, representing 3.5% of maximum late winter wolf density in Denali Park, Alaska, and <1% of that in north-central Minnesota. Social organization was characterized by a preponderance of pairs and lone wolves. Mean early winter pack size was 2.6 wolves/pack; the lowest reported for wolves in North America. Packs >4 wolves were rare, constituting 3.8% of early winter sightings. The population increased, on average, 8% per year during the period 1978-1991 and appeared to reach a peak in 1991-1992. These depressed population characteristics are likely the consequence of the lowest ungulate prey availability in North America, e.g., 2.6% of that of wolves in northeastern Minnesota.