About Wildlife Data

• A wildlife research or monitoring project typically targets a specific species for a specific purpose.

• Anecdotal observations of other species are often recorded while conducting a wildlife research or monitoring project - e.g. during a caribou survey, a biologist may record wolves, wolverines, raptors or muskox that they see.

• Random wildlife observations are also reported to ENR offices or by ENR staff on occasion for a wide variety of reasons.

• Comprehensive surveying for absence or presence of all of the different wildlife in an area is not routinely conducted.

• Animals move. Their presence in an area changes over time.

As a result…

• Comprehensive survey data about  wildlife in an area is not necessarily available.

• A data search of the Wildlife Management Information System (WMIS) is not intended as a final statement on the presence, absence, or status of species within a given area.

• Information available through WMIS was obtained for a specific purpose.

                                OR

• Information was obtained as an anecdote or random observation.

Available Wildlife Data from WMIS

Wildlife research and monitoring projects are always underway and new data is regularly being added to WMIS.  In addition to new data, historical data is regularly consolidated and/or digitized and added to WMIS.

Refer to the list of projects in WMIS, to review what is available as of September 2011.

Requesting Wildlife Data from WMIS

Complete this data request application, using the directions below and send by email to the WMIS Team. The request will be reviewed, and you will be sent a Release Agreement to sign if the request is approved by the Director of Wildlife.
 

What Your Data Request Should Include:

    1.  A full description of what you are requesting including: 

• Species
• Time Period
• Geographic Area
• If applicable, specific project

Example: Data is requested on numbers of barren-ground caribou observed during ENR surveys of the Cape Bathurst herd, Bathurst herd and the Ahiak herd in 2006 and 2007. 

    2.  Description of intended use of the data:           

• What it will be used for
• Why your require it
• Who the end users will be 

Data Requests are Reviewed

Data Request Applications are reviewed by ENR Biologists to ensure data available in WMIS is suitable for the purposes outlined in the request and that the GNWT has the authority to share the data. Requests for data may be denied: 

• If the data available does not suit the purpose outlined in the request.
• If the GNWT does not have the authority to share the data (the GNWT may direct you to the data custodian).
• Sensitive data may be excluded, masked or buffered.  

Information Regarding WMIS Data Requests

WMIS is intended to support the conservation and management of NWT wildlife. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act provides that Government may refuse to disclose information that could reasonably be expected to result in damage or interfere with the conservation of any rare, endangered, threatened or vulnerable form of life.

WMIS data will be provided only for a single use and for a described purpose.

WMIS data must be destroyed by the user upon expiry of the agreement or at the completion of the project.  A request should be sent to the WMIS Team should the user wish to renew or extend the agreement.

Measures are taken to protect the locations of particularly sensitive species to protect wildlife, their habitat, and stakeholders.
 
Source credits, acknowledging original collectors of the data, will be provided with any data distributed from WMIS. All end users of the data must cite these credits as per the WMIS Database Sharing Agreement.