WILDLIFE RESEARCH 



^■ 

 The objective of the wildlife research program is to provide information J; 



about birds and mammals that can be used to improve wildlife management policies 



and techniques. 



The reorganization of the wildlife research program following the 

 resignation of three staff members in 1960 is reported in the foreword*. , 



As in past years, much of the work is concentrated at the Wildlife 

 Research Station in Algonquin Park but there has been an increase in the volume and 

 variety of work being done throughout the province. Wildlife research projects are 

 now distributed throughout most of Ontario as shown in Figure 1. 



During the year, the Wildlife Section was responsible for 75 research 

 projects, some of which were carried out in co-operation with field staffs in 

 Forest Districts, the Ontario Research Foundation, the Universities of Toronto and 

 Western Ontario, and the Ontario Agricultural College. 



Laboratory Studies Unit 



This unit, which is responsible for the studies of diseases, parasites, 

 reproduction and other work involving specialized laboratory techniques, was 

 primarily concerned with the distribution, incidence and effects of kidney worm 

 (Diactophyma renale ) in mink. In the course of the study, approximately 1,000 

 carcasses of mustelids and carnivores from 14 Forest Districts, have been examined. 

 Of 636 mink autopsied, 28 carcasses, all collected in the Parry Sound, North Bay 

 and Lake Simcoe Forest Districts, possessed kidney worms. Flukes (Paragonimus sp.) 

 were found in the lungs of 31 mink from the Lake Simcoe and Lake Huron Districts. 

 The effects of these parasites on mink are not yet known. 



Information was gathered concerning two species of roundworm (Filaroides 

 sp.) which inhabit the respiratory tract of mink and wolves. Fifty-five per cent 

 of 328 mink were infected and 13 per cent of 373 coyotes were infected. 



