Reducing wolves to protect endangered caribou doesn’t always deliver the expected results—and the shape of the land may be the deciding factor. That’s according to research led by doctoral student Tazarve Gharajehdaghipour and professor Dr. Cole Burton in the faculty of forestry and environmental stewardship, which examined newborn caribou survival in Itcha Ilgachuz Park in west-central B.C. Using GPS collars to track animals, the team found that B.C. wolf removals boosted calf survival in steep, mountainous terrain, but made no difference in flatter terrain. “This study is a note of caution,” said Dr. Burton. “Different herds face different conditions. Wolf control may not be reducing calf mortality as effectively as we once thought.”