Mammal biologist Dean Cluff of the Renewable Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development estimates there are about 5,500 wolves roaming through out the territory.

"That's just an educated guess we're going on right now," says Cluff.

Unlike some other species, wolves rebound quickly, even if a majority of them are killed or harvested. There is currently no quota limits on the number of wolves a resident hunter can harvest, providing they are licensed and have acquired the appropriate number of tags.

"In my opinion it's (the wolf population) fairly stable. I don't think we have any worries," says Cluff.

"We've known that from wolf control programs in the past elsewhere, where you can reduce the wolf population say, 70 to 80 per cent in numbers, and then in two to five years it's right back up to the same spot again."

While the Porcupine Caribou Management Board reports those herds are dwindling, Caribou biologist Anne Gunn says the Bathurst herd -- common to the central Arctic -- appears to be doing fine at the moment.

"Judging by what we've heard from hunters they seem to be in okay condition," says Gunn. "We certainly haven't had any reports of animals in poor shape."

RWED is planning on conducting a population count next June once the caribou return to their calving grounds in the Barrenlands. The last survey, conducted in 1996, estimated the population at 350,000. Gunn says one troubling find in recent years indicate fewer calves are surviving.

"We're trying to build the partnerships to do a census this June," says Gunn. "We've looked at calf survival over the last two years and it's certainly not very high."