FOREST ECONOMICS 



A research staff forestry economist advised and assisted 

 on several forestry projects including the economics relat- 

 ing to plantation forests of red and white pine; the prepara- 

 tion of yield tables for plantation-grown red pine and white 

 spruce; and the design of a system for orderly maintenance 

 for newly established sample plots for growth and yield 

 studies. In addition, the economist participated in a feasi- 

 bility study which was related to the establishment of pulp 

 and paper manufacture in the Red Lake area. 

 FOREST PROTECTION 



Studies were initiated in the evaluation and development of 

 fire prevention methods, fire control systems, and reduction 

 of hazards; testing and development of insect and disease 

 control methods. 



Dr. W. R. Haddow retired from service after 44 years with 

 the Department — 25 years in Research. 



WILDLIFE SECTION 



Wildlife research has been directed toward the futhering of 

 our knowledge of economically important birds and mam- 

 mals, and to suggest means by which these could be of 

 greater value to the trapper, hunter, naturalist, and the 

 general public. Research projects have been developed 

 around most of the major species of wildlife which provide 

 sustenance or sport in Ontario. 



Close co-operation is maintained between Research per- 

 sonnel and the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Branch. Wild- 

 life research personnel have also benefited greatly by their 

 close working relationships with scientists in other govern- 

 ment departments, universities, and research organizations. 

 Within the Wildlife Research Section there are units con- 

 cerned with furbearing animals, wildlife diseases and para- 

 sites, upland game and waterfowl, big game, and predators. 

 While the Southern Research Station serves as a base 

 headquarters, most of the work is done in the field — across 

 the Province and north from the Great Lakes to Hudson Bay. 

 A Wildlife Research Station, located in Algonquin Park, 

 serves as a centre for some field studies. 

 FURBEARERS 



The management of populations of furbearing animals is 

 probably more complex than for other species of wildlife. 

 Essentially, there are two groups of factors influencing the 

 production of fur: socio-economic and biological. To date, 

 furbearer research has been chiefly concerned with biologi- 

 cal factors affecting fur production. 



Research is continuing on the dynamics of beaver popula- 

 tions and the influence of various factors including trapoing 

 pressure. The program in the Patricia Central and West 

 portions of northern Ontario, initiated in 1957, is to deter- 

 mine the factors responsible for wide fluctuations in 

 northern beaver populations, and to recommend manage- 

 ment practices which would increase numbers of beaver. 

 Analysis of field data collected on otter showed that their 

 movements were confined to smaller areas than was pre- 

 viously supposed. Also, their food consists entirely of 

 aquatic organisms with game fish comprising a very small 

 part of these. 



Other ecological and population studies were continued on 

 marten and mink. 



WILDLIFE DISEASES AND PARASITES 



This unit is responsible for the identification of diseases 

 and parasites, and the assessment of their frequency, inci- 

 dence, distribution and effects. Research staff provided a 

 diagnostic service to field staff, it) conjunction with the 

 continuing survey of diseases and parasites of wildlife. The 

 use by field staff of a recently prepared manual on this 

 subject greatly assisted this project. 

 Studies to determine the status of the kidney worm in mink, 

 and the diseases and parasites of moose were continued. 

 In 1966, the red fox was still the most important wildlife 

 vector of rabies in Ontario. However, it is still almost absent 

 from some parts of the Lake Erie district. The reasons for 

 this are not known, but it is apparent that some unknown 

 factors in the environment are restricting rabies epizootics 

 among wildlife there. Studies of this situation may provide 

 the answers. 



UPLAND GAME AND WATERFOWL 



Grouse, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels and other species of 

 smaller birds and mammals (commonly known as upland 

 game) ducks and geese, provide sport for more hunters in 

 Ontario than all other wildlife species combined. 

 Of considerable concern in the management of grouse and 

 geese are their taxonomic relationships and behavorial 

 characteristics. Research continued in various species and 

 sub-species of grouse and Canada geese, both in Ontario 

 and elsewhere, with the ultimate objective of discovering 

 whether a biologic tag that could be used at any time of the 

 year to determine the origin and distribution of discreet 

 populations could be found. Preliminary results are promis- 

 ing in identifying individuals from specific populations. 

 Research on waterfowl was confined to the development 

 and testing of a method to determine the annual breeding 

 success of Canada and snow geese in northern Ontario. 

 BIG GAME 



Big game research, which is mostly of an ecological nature, 

 is conducted on deer, moose and woodland caribou. Data 

 were again collected in 1966 from the network of stations 

 established to record snow depth — probably the most 

 severe factor affecting survival and distribution of deer. 

 Major logging activity during the 1850-1910 period resulted 

 in residual stands that were favourable to deer until re- 

 cently. Much of this forest has again become too mature 

 for deer. Research is concentrating on learning to create an 

 optimum balance between deer and timber crops. 

 There is an abundance of moose in Ontario. Management 

 problems centre around poor access over the moose range 

 as a whole, and a consequent under-harvest of the expand- 

 ing populations. 



The research task is to identify and measure the forces of 

 the environment that are preventing the caribou populations 

 from expanding to a range area apparently several times 

 larger than which they now occupy. Caribou are an import- 

 ant source of food and clothing for northern Indians. 

 PREDATOR RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 

 During 1966, the wolf predator control program has been 

 directed to training fur-trapping licencees to accept the 

 responsibility for control of their trap lines. Extensive pro- 

 grams of this nature were implemented in the Parry Sound 

 and Pembroke Districts. There are tentative plans to carry 

 out similar extension training programs in other districts 

 where it would be considered necessary. Wolf censusing is 

 being continued over areas where hunter success with 

 respect to deer has declined over recent years, in order 

 that predator control measures may be effected if the 

 situation warrants it. 



Research on timber wolves and their effects on prey popu- 

 lations in Parry Sound District were continued. Also pre- 

 liminary populations studies on black and polar bears were 

 conducted. 



