Relocation can be perilous for these creatures, as seen when a female wolf died last fall due to sedation complications during transport. The initial period was likely filled with tension and uncertainty as the wolves adapted to their new surroundings and learned to find food.īut the efforts are not without risks. Accustomed to family packs, they found themselves in unfamiliar territory, with strangers instead of pack-mates. Once on Isle Royale, the newly-arrived wolves faced a disorienting situation. This project is the longest-running study of any predator-prey system globally. It could be old, young, or injured when captured,” explains John Vucetich, an ecologist leading the Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale project. “You don’t get to choose the wolf you trap. The chosen wolves had to be neither too young nor too old, with good dental health to ensure their hunting prowess. The task was not without its complexities. Over the next five years, the National Park Service plans to bring a total of 20 to 30 wolves to the park. It is hoped these new additions, along with two wolves introduced in 2018, will reduce the moose population and replenish the local wolf count. Four Canadian wolves, adept at hunting moose in cold climates, were trapped in Ontario and transported via helicopter to Isle Royale. To rectify the situation, park authorities took an unprecedented step. Their absence left Isle Royale’s two remaining wolves effectively marooned, and prevented fresh wolf blood from bolstering the population. These bridges provided a pathway for new wolves to migrate to the island. This growth has put increased pressure on the island’s vegetation, threatening to destabilize the park’s ecosystem.Īdding to the challenge, in the past two decades, the formation of ice bridges – which once connected Isle Royale to the mainland – has become less frequent and less stable due to climate change. But the wolf count has been dwindling, leading to a surge in the moose population.

Historically, the park’s wolf population naturally kept the moose numbers in check. A Unique Environmental ChallengeĬovering 894 square miles, Isle Royale has been grappling with an ecological imbalance. Four Canadian wolves, transported via helicopter from their native Ontario, found themselves in new, unfamiliar territory, their mission as unique as their journey: to tackle the park’s burgeoning moose population and aid the dwindling local wolf count. In the vast wilderness of Isle Royale National Park, located on an island in the US Great Lakes, an unusual air-drop operation unfolded. It’s a bird it’s a plane – wait, it’s a helicopyer designed to accommodate air dropped wolves?!

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