Canadian Wildlife DNA Databases

The following is a list of Canadian Wildlife DNA databases which currently exist or are in the process
of being completed. These databases are utilized in the determination of the frequency of a DNA profile
or "fingerprint" in a population to allow individual identification, parentage analysis and population identification in wildlife forensic analysis.

This database also allows for species identification (list of species available for testing). Wildlife DNA databases utilized in DNA profiling have required 10 to 20 samples from the areas in which the infractions occur.

Western Canada

British Columbia
Provincial data bases are in place for the individual identification of:
moose (Alces alces)
mule deer (Odocoileus heimonus)

Alberta
Provincial data bases are in place for the individual identification of:

• Moose (Alces alces )
  
• Mule deer (Odocoileus heimonus)
  
• Elk (Cervus canadiensis)

Manitoba
Provincial databases are in place for the individual identification of:

• Moose (Alces alces)
  
• Mule deer (Odocoileus heimonus)
  
• Elk (Cervus canadiensis)

Ontario
Provincial data bases are in place for the individual identification of:

• Moose (Alces alces )
  
• White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus )
  
• Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
  
• Black bear (Ursus americanus)
  
• Canis sp.
  

Samples for a wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) database are being collected.

Newfoundland & Maritime Provinces
Provincial databases for Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and NewBrunswick are in place for the
individual identification of:

• Moose (Alces alces)
  
• White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
  

Samples for a caribou (Rangifer tarandus) database has been developed for Newfoundland.
Samples for Mallard Duck (Anas pl), Atlantic Puffin (Fraterculini arctica arctica), Black Guillimot (Cepphus grille arcticus) and Dovekie (Alle alle alle) database are currently being developed for
the Atlantic Provinces.

Areas with Isolated Herds of Animals
To account for population substructuring and the possibility of a lower amount of genetic variation,
areas with isolated herds of animals should establish their own databases.

These areas include Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, which has established databases
for their isolated herds of elk (Cervus canadiensis) and moose (Alces alces).