SITE 



The objective of the site research program is to determine 

 the productivity of land. Consequently, work has been 

 directed toward obtaining knowledge pertaining to the 

 relationships between soils, climates, and crops, and to 

 organize this information into a classification system adapt- 

 able to various types of management with the forest being 

 the major crop considered. 



WILDLIFE 



Wildlife research has been directed toward the furthering 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 person- 

 nel and the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Branch. 

 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, 

 ifurbearer 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 trapping 

 pressure. 



WILDLIFE DISEASES AND PARASITES 

 Research staff provided a diagnostic service to field staff in 

 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. 



UPLAND GAME AND WATERFOWL 



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 could be found which could be used at any time of the 

 year to determine the origin and distribution of discrete 

 populations. 



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. 

 PREDATORS 



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. 



MECHANICAL 



The main work of the Section during the year was, as in the 

 past, concerned with the development of special equipment 

 and instruments required for the Research Branch in 

 Fisheries, Forestry and Wildlife. Special equipment was also 

 designed for other Branches of the Department. In addi- 

 tion, the Section provided engineering services to the 

 Department. 



