Ironically, the wolves that caused no problems with livestock sustained the highest human-caused mortality. Alberta has a Wolf Management Plan that calls for a population of 50 wolves to be maintained in southwestern Alberta. This plan is consistent with the interest of Parks Canada for maintaining wolf populations as part of healthy park ecosystems. The recovery of wolves in southern Alberta is complicated by current hunting regulations. Albertans can hunt wolves without a licence for about nine months of the year.
Land owners can destroy wolves on or within five miles of their land.
There is also no quota on how many wolves trappers can take each year. The goal of managing a stable wolf population with minimal conflict is further complicated by the many myths, legends and misconceptions associated with them. Wolves are bloodthirsty killers who waste more than they can eat. Given the right conditions, wolves will kill more than they can eat. Normally they eat most of their kills.