ical and electronic aspects of the experiment. The objective was to detect newly 

 started forest fires sooner than by lookout towers and aircraft whose operation is 

 dependent on the visual observation of smoke. Analysis of the measurement data 

 indicated that small (2-ft. diameter) fires located in coniferous forests can produce 

 detectable signals at least 70% of the time. Further tests would be required to 

 assess the obstacles to practical application. 



Details of the foregoing and other projects are related in the following pages. 



WILDLIFE RESEARCH 



The program of the Wildlife Section has been planned to provide information 

 to support wildlife management in the province. There are, therefore, research 

 units specializing in studies of economically important species of birds and 

 mammals: Furbearers, Big Game, Upland Game and Waterfowl, and Predators. 

 In addition, a program of research on wildlife diseases and parasites includes a 

 diagnostic service to field staff throughout the province as well as fundamental 

 studies of the effects of these factors on several species of wildlife. 



Headquarters for this research is at the Southern Research Station at Maple, 

 with several field projects centred at the Wildlife Research Station in Algonquin 

 Park. However, most of the field research is conducted in locations throughout 

 the province where the population of animals or their environment allows the best 

 possible conditions for doing the work. As a result, the wildlife research program 

 is widespread, with projects in every Forest Region in the province. Many of these 

 projects are conducted in co-operation with the Fish and Wildlife staffs in the 

 Forest Districts. 



In addition, co-operative projects with the Ontario Veterinary and Agricul- 

 tural Colleges, the Ontario Research Foundation and the Indian Affairs Branch of 

 the Canada Department of Citizenship and Immigration supplement the research 

 program in specialized fields. 



Furbearers 



Research on fur animals is providing data on populations and the factors 

 affecting them. The results of these studies may make it possible to anticipate 

 future changes in numbers. Accurate predictions could lead to management pro- 

 cedures that would moderate some of the violent population fluctuations exhibited 

 by many of the species of furbearers in Ontario. 



Studies of otter populations in Algonquin Park were continued. Thirteen otter 

 were tagged and released as a means of obtaining data about population numbers, 

 movements and range. Analysis of scats collected throughout the year showed 

 that fish and crustaceans form the major winter diet, while amphibians and insects 

 are the most important foods during the summer. Trout occurred in 2% of samples 

 containing fish remains; the remainder were species of small fish which inhabit 

 warm waters. 



Surveys of beaver populations in Central and West Patricia Districts were 

 continued to assess changes in density and to relate density to habitat. From the 

 lowest point in numbers, which occurred in the period from 1949 to 1952, popu- 

 lations have now reached extremely high densities in the Sachigo Lake region and 

 parts of the Hudson Bay Lowlands. In other areas populations are not so high 

 but are steadily increasing despite heavy trapping pressure. Peak populations will 

 probably occur over most of this region within the next few years. Analysis of fur 

 harvest statistics for this region, to provide historical information on previous 

 population fluctuations, were completed. 



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