A program was started to develop a baiting system for the 

 administration of oral vaccine to control rabies. 



A technique is being refined so that, by conducting aerial 

 track surveys in various parts of an endemic rabies area each 

 winter, predictions may be made of potential rabies out- 

 breaks. 



UPLAND GAME AND WATERFOWL 



A paper describing the function of the shoulder spot dis- 

 play of grouse has been completed. 



Work on the development of a technique for measuring 

 productivity of snow geese was completed. The breeding 

 season for these birds was the latest in the eight years experi- 

 enced on Cape Henrietta Maria. It was also the second 

 poorest in terms of production. This was attributed to a late 

 and cold spring. 



The Kinoje Lake nesting study of Canada geese, supported 

 by the Mississippi Flyway Council, entered its third year. 

 Egg laying probably started on April 23. The average clutch 

 size was 4.72 eggs. Nest success was calculated at 77 per 

 cent, about the same as the two previous years. 



BIG GAME 



Studies were continued on deer to gather information to 

 assist management. Data were collected on sex, age, weight, 

 body measurements, date and location of kill for the harvest 

 in the Canonto study area. 



The work continued on determining the effects of snow 

 cover on distribution and survival of deer in Ontario. 



Plots established in 1957 to study the effects of deer on 

 forest regeneration were tallied. 



A preliminary assessment was made of the population and 

 ecology of a small herd of American bison occupying an 

 area near the Burwash Came Preserve since 1936. Fourteen 

 animals were observed and tracks followed. With a single 

 exception, no tracks went beyond one-half mile from shore. 



Data were collected in Kenora and Sioux Lookout Forest 

 Districts on the weight and measurement of moose har- 

 vested. 



A socio-economic study of the factors affecting moose 

 hunting, in co-operation with York University, was initiated. 



PREDATORS 



As part of the intensive predator-prey interaction study, a 

 pack of eight wolves, four of which were fitted with radio 

 transmitter collars, was kept in almost daily surveillance for 

 a period of 65 mid-winter days. 



The pack travelled 203 miles during 45 days and ranged 

 over 86 square miles. Over a period of 63 days, 29 deer were 

 killed. It is calculated that daily food consumption was 

 eight pounds per wolf. 



A survey was conducted along the Hudson Bay shoreline 

 to establish number and distribution of polar bears. 



A preliminary study, designed to investigate methods of 

 capturing and handling free ranging black bears, was initi- 

 ated as a co-operative project with North Bay Forest District. 



WILDLIFE RESEARCH STATION 

 The facilities of the Station at Lake Sasajewan in Algonquin 

 Provincial Park were used by Research Branch and staff and 

 graduate students and staff from the University of Toronto. 



Field courses were held for biology students from Water- 

 loo Lutheran University and Carleton University and for an 

 ecological study group from Queens University. 



TECHNICAL SERVICES 



This Section, a part of the Branch Administration, provides 

 specialized professional and technical services in the follow- 

 ing fields. 



BIOMATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS 



In addition to providing consultative services to Branch 

 scientists, other Departmental staff and members of other 

 agencies, the following provides a resume of the Unit activi- 

 ties. 



A "Maple Model" was developed for the hard maple con- 

 tent of hardwood stands in Algonquin Provincial Park, based 

 on data from sample cruises that included a quality assess- 

 ment of each hard maple stem. Determination may be made 

 of (1) the number of trees in a hypothetical stand, (2) their 

 distribution over the diameter class range, (3) whether pure 

 maple or mixed wood stand, (4) which of stems are hard 

 maple, and (5) the assignment of maple stems to one of 

 three quality classes. 



A simplistic model was developed for the annual cluster- 

 ing and dispersal of moose and deer. 



Data on the weeviling of white pine provenances were 

 analysed and summarized. 



A stem analysis and regression analyses of black spruce 

 from several northern sites were completed. 



Data on seedlings shipped from nurseries to Districts were 

 analysed. 



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