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People

Laura Finnegan

Organization
fRI Research
Category
Program Lead
Job Title
Caribou Program Lead
Phone
780-865-8311

About

Laura grew up on an island with only 23 species of land mammals. Despite this she decided wildlife research was a good career choice and completed a PhD on red squirrels at Trinity College Dublin. After completing some independent contracts for the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service and (too) brief time following zebra in Botswana she moved to Ontario. There her postdoctoral research was focused on conservation and management genetics of moose, caribou and geese. She also worked as a sessional lecturer and carried out contract work for COSEWIC and Environment Canada. She took up her position running the Caribou Program at fRI Research in 2013. She has broad research interests and is passionate about carrying out research that can be applied on the ground to help with wildlife conservation. When she manages to escape from the office Laura can usually be found exploring the Rockies or working on perfecting her home brew.

Program & Project Involvement

Caribou Program
Program

Caribou Program

The fRI Research Caribou Program carries out applied research, in partnership with industry and the Government of Alberta, to help maintain caribou herds in Alberta into the future.

Analysis and restoration of seismic cutlines in Southern Mountain and Boreal caribou range in west-central Alberta
Project

Analysis and restoration of seismic cutlines in Southern Mountain and Boreal caribou range in west-central Alberta

Starting in 2013, this project is looking at how caribou and wolf behaviour is related to cutlines.

Response of threatened species to linear features and landscape change in a managed forest ecosystem in West Central Alberta
Project

Response of threatened species to linear features and landscape change in a managed forest ecosystem in West Central Alberta

How are caribou affected by the roads and seismic lines criss-crossing their habitat?

Assessing disease prevalence and caribou health in west-central and north-western Alberta
Project

Assessing disease prevalence and caribou health in west-central and north-western Alberta

Collecting baseline health data for Alberta caribou herds.

Analysis and improvement of linear features to increase caribou functional habitat in west-central and north-western Alberta
Project

Analysis and improvement of linear features to increase caribou functional habitat in west-central and north-western Alberta

This project uses direct and indirect methods to determine how caribou respond to linear features at different stages of re-vegetation.

Potential Impacts of Mountain Pine Beetle and Management Actions on Grizzly Bear and Caribou Populations in West-Central Alberta
Project

Potential Impacts of Mountain Pine Beetle and Management Actions on Grizzly Bear and Caribou Populations in West-Central Alberta

This project will determine how MPB-killed stands are impacting caribou and grizzly bear habitat.

Caribou behaviour and calving success in relation to oil and gas development: are all disturbances created equal?
Project

Caribou behaviour and calving success in relation to oil and gas development: are all disturbances created equal?

Do caribou avoid well sites? Does activity at well sites affect caribou survival?

Can forestry and silviculture practices help increase caribou functional habitat in west-central Alberta?
Project

Can forestry and silviculture practices help increase caribou functional habitat in west-central Alberta?

This project will evaluate and mitigate industrial impacts on west-central Alberta Caribou herds.

Identifying High Residency Habitat and Functional Movement Paths for Caribou in West-Central Alberta
Project

Identifying High Residency Habitat and Functional Movement Paths for Caribou in West-Central Alberta

Locating habitat and prioritizing restoration in west-central Alberta.

Determining the importance of grizzly bear predation on southern mountain caribou populations
Project

Determining the importance of grizzly bear predation on southern mountain caribou populations

This project will look at the impact of grizzly bears on caribou populations.

Restoration of Seismic Cutlines in Caribou Range in West-Central and North-Western Alberta: maximising success and targeting areas used by alternate prey
Project

Restoration of Seismic Cutlines in Caribou Range in West-Central and North-Western Alberta: maximising success and targeting areas used by alternate prey

A single year Habitat Stewardship Program Species at Risk project with the Caribou Program.

Assessing Pathogen Prevalence and the Health of Ungulates in West-central Alberta Caribou Ranges
Project

Assessing Pathogen Prevalence and the Health of Ungulates in West-central Alberta Caribou Ranges

This project will gather data on the disease and parasites carried by moose, deer, and elk to determine the risk of transmission to caribou.

Caribou Conservation through Better Cutblock Design
Project

Caribou Conservation through Better Cutblock Design

Beginning in 2018, this project will investigate how cutblock design can be less favourable for deer, moose, and elk.

Moose Response to Disturbance in West-central Alberta
Project

Moose Response to Disturbance in West-central Alberta

This project examines how moose respond to different re-vegetation trajectories on seismic lines after disturbance and different silvicultural treatments used by forestry. A re-vegetation prescription or silvicultural treatment that moose avoid may be less of a problem for caribou.

Caribou and Grizzly Bear Response to Pine Forests Killed by Mountain Pine Beetle
Project

Caribou and Grizzly Bear Response to Pine Forests Killed by Mountain Pine Beetle

In west-central Alberta, pine forests comprise much of caribou and grizzly bear habitat. This project will determine the response of these threatened species to MPB-related disturbance of these areas.

Woodland caribou calving areas and calf survival in relation to habitat selection, anthropogenic disturbance, and exposure to predation risk
Project

Woodland caribou calving areas and calf survival in relation to habitat selection, anthropogenic disturbance, and exposure to predation risk

This project will identify caribou calving habitat and relate calf survival to predation risk and anthropogenic disturbance.

Advancing Harvest System and Silvicultural Practices for Improved Woodland Caribou and Fibre Outcomes
Project

Advancing Harvest System and Silvicultural Practices for Improved Woodland Caribou and Fibre Outcomes

This 3-year study will evaluate the potential of new forest management practices to benefit both woodland caribou and growth and yield.

Response of Wildlife to Restored Wellsites
Project

Response of Wildlife to Restored Wellsites

Many wellsites have been certified as reclaimed, but their condition varies. This project will assess wildlife use of wellsites to understand how restoration treatments contribute to important species like moose, bears, and deer.

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