Wolverine trap moved from Willy Mac School
Officials report sightings of beast have migrated to Deh Cho Boulevard
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have moved a live trap from the grounds of William McDonald School to the Department of National Defence (DND) compound off Deh Cho Boulevard.
Adrian Lizotte, manager of wildlife and environment for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources North Slave Region, checks a live trap at William McDonald School yesterday morning. The trap has since been moved to a site on Deh Cho Boulevard. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
The trap had been set at the school on Taylor Road after a wolverine was spotted on the school grounds last Wednesday. There have been several wolverine sightings in the city over the past week.
Adrian Lizotte, manager of wildlife with the department's North Slave Region, was back at the school yesterday morning to check the trap, which was empty. He and two other Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) officials were first called to the school last Wednesday after a wolverine was spotted in a wooded area of the schoolyard, not far from the back of the fire hall. That prompted a short, partial lock down of the school until wildlife officials including Lizotte, armed with rifles, searched for the animal on school grounds.
Students were kept inside the school until ENR staff were confident the animal had left school property and moved into a wooded area.
Lizotte said the trap was moved after sightings of the animal in the Engle Business District.
"We were told that the wolverine has been at the DND location for the past couple of days. We expect it is the same wolverine," Lizotte said. "We moved the trap because there is no evidence of it being around Willy Mac. There are no tracks there."
Lizotte said he saw the wolverine from about 50 feet away near the DND compound yesterday afternoon.
"It perked its ears up and ran away after I got to about 30 feet from it. It appears to be pretty skittish and scared of people which is want we want to see with wild animals," Lizotte said.
"That's when we went back to William Mac and pulled that tap and relocated it."
Lizotte said if they do catch the animal it would be released in a remote location, likely out on Highway 3.
The wolverine sighting at William McDonald School last week prompted principal Jeff Seabrook to send an e-mail to parents on Sunday evening.
"Another (sighting) of a ... wolverine occurred on Saturday evening, and (Monday) afternoon an ENR officer placed a live trap on the school grounds," Seabrook stated.
Seabrook added if there are any further sightings at the school, staff would address the situation and take further precautions as needed.
He also encouraged parents to call him at the school if they have any further questions or concerns.
Last week when the animal was first spotted, ENR spokesperson Judy McLinton stated in an e-mail that people need to remember wildlife live in the forested areas in and around Yellowknife.
"Wild animals occasionally wander into populated areas of the city, usually attracted by accessible food. Residents are reminded to not feed wild animals and to treat them with respect," McLinton stated.
"Wild animals can be unpredictable and may see people, including children, as a threat and may attack to defend itself."
People are encouraged to can report wildlife sightings to ENR, McLinton stated.
