Researchers say remote Lake Superior island’s wolves are thriving as packs prey on moose
Researchers estimated 37 wolves and 524 moose, with wolves killing nearly a quarter of the herd and no calves seen for the first time in decades.
- Researchers from Michigan Tech University released a report Monday showing Isle Royale's wolf population reached 37, the highest count since the late 1970s, while the moose population dropped 75% from 2,000 in 2019 to 524.
- A team led by Michigan Tech conducted the survey from Jan. 22 through March 3. Scientists braved wind chills of minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, with clear skies enabling exceptional observations of the wolf packs.
- Researchers estimated wolves killed nearly a quarter of the moose population over the last year. For the first time in almost 70 years, scientists observed no moose calves during the winter survey.
- The National Park Service previously forced researchers to evacuate the island during 2024 after unsafe ice on Lake Superior halted surveys. Past obstacles included the 2021 pandemic, making this year's successful survey a significant achievement.
- Scientists plan to conduct summer research on Isle Royale to determine how burgeoning wolf packs can maintain ecosystem balance. The island serves as a natural laboratory offering scientists rare observation opportunities largely free from human influence.
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Wolves are thriving on Lake Superior's Isle Royale, researchers say
Wolves on a remote island in Lake Superior appear to be thriving, but they’re making deep dents in the moose population that they rely on as a leading food source, according to a report released Monday. Isle Royale is a 134,000-acre (54,200-hectare) national park in far western Lake Superior between Grand Marais, Minnesota, and Thunder Bay, Canada. The island is a natural laboratory, offering scientists a rare opportunity to observe wolves and m…
Island Study Is Good News for Wolves, Bad for Moose
Wolves on a remote island in Lake Superior appear to be thriving, but they're making deep dents in the moose population they rely on as a food source, according to a report released Monday. A team led by scientists at Michigan Tech University conducted a survey on Isle Royale and...
Wolves thriving on Michigan's Isle Royale as packs prey on moose, researchers say
Researchers estimate the island's wolf population has grown to 37, up from 30 in 2024. They estimate that the island's moose population has dropped 75% since reaching a high of 2,000 in 2019. They attribute the decline to wolf depredation.
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