Jasper’s recent warm weather and lack of snow might be hindering local wolf packs, according to Parks Canada officials.

Wolves typically have an advantage when hunting this time of year. Surface snow often crusts over, especially in the morning, allowing them to run on the top of the snow at higher speeds than their prey, says Jasper National Park wildlife biologist Steve Malcolm.

They can travel as a pack on top of the snow quickly, generating a lot of speed, while the deer and elk and moose break through the snow all the time, he says.

“This is where they usually end up gaining a little bit of advantage before they go into the denning season. But it hasn’t been like that too much. Some of the upper alpine areas, yes, but not in the valley,” Malcolm says.

Other than the lack of snow, the wolves have still been active in the area, even though a lot of kill sites around town haven’t been found. He says they are still fairly active with different packs scattered throughout the area.

Warmer weather also sometimes means a bear could come out of its den early, but it’s not a likely situation and Malcolm hasn’t heard of any sightings.

“They certainly could, but the problem is that they usually try and push their hibernation as long as they can because once they come out they need to find food, and there’s not a heck of a lot. It’s not uncommon…what happens, the temperatures start to melt the snow in some of their snow caves, and they end up getting forced out because of water and seepage and that kind of stuff,” says Malcolm.

But coming out of their den is not that efficient for a bear, as they likely won’t find much food. Going back to hibernate is quite difficult and it is still quite cool at night.

Sometimes a bear will be forced out of its den early and end up in a half-hibernating state in the branches of trees, Malcolm says, but those bears likely don’t survive too long and he hasn’t seen any signs of that.

Park wardens, resource management and public safety specialists are preparing for the spring when the bears do come out and begin scrounging everywhere for food.