Officials prepare to relocate wolves to Isle Royale park
Source: Associated Press
John Flesher, Ap Environmental Writer
Updated 5:25 pm CDT, Friday, September 21, 2018
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) A mission to rebuild the depleted wolf population at Isle Royale National Park is getting underway in Michigan and Minnesota, as specialists prepare to trap six to eight of the predators on the mainland and fly them to the Lake Superior archipelago, officials said Friday.
The initial relocation this fall is part of a three-year plan to place 20 to 30 gray wolves in the island wilderness, where since the late 1940s the species has helped preserve ecological balance by keeping the moose herd in check.
Inbreeding, disease and accidental deaths caused a sharp drop-off of wolves in recent years, leading the National Park Service to plan a rescue as a warming climate prevented formation of winter ice bridges that previously enabled natural migration to the island. Only two wolves remain.
Wolves targeted for movement to Isle Royale will be taken from populations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation in northeastern Minnesota, park Superintendent Phyllis Green said. Officials also hope to get wolves from the Canadian province of Ontario in the future, she said.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Officials-prepare-to-relocate-wolves-to-Isle-13248241.php
elmac
(4,642 posts)took a 14 boat around it. Met hikers from Poland and Germany there, had some good cold war stories.
DownriverDem
(6,232 posts)Love Michigan my Michigan!
GusBob
(7,286 posts)Wolves need 2 things: lots of room and competitive packs for breeding
One alpha male and female per pack and territory, otherwise you will have In breeding, which wolves naturally avoid
There ain't enough room on that island for more than one pack. Either they will kill each other or inbreed.
They could adapt, but that would take generations, you can't take a deep woods wolf and put them on an island
Kaleva
(36,354 posts)Changing weather patterns have led to the formation fewer ice bridges that allowed mainland wolves to migrate to the island. This led to severe inbreeding and the unhealthy pups did not survive to adulthood and the wolf population crashed. Without the wolves, the island moose population has exploded and there is fear that there will be massive moose die offs in coming years as the island cannot support so many.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)Transplanting wolves doesn't fix the ice bridge problem. And the bridge works both ways. Wolves need space with their alpha/beta male/females pack dynamics and breeding. They need to migrate OFF the island as well, otherwise there is inbreeding. 2 year old wolves leave their natal packs for points elswhere.
Reading suggestion: American Wolf, by Nate Blakeslee.
The Isle Royale wolves should have adjusted to their habitat by now. The ice bridge failure messed that up. Bringing outside wolves will not solve the problem as they cannot adapt to a change in enough time, in my opinion
Maybe they should consider culling the moose or relocating some. Perhaps introducing other predators like black bears
rwsanders
(2,606 posts)adding and removing wolves over time.
There was also a option for a phased introduction. It appears though they took the easy way and are just going to dump some more in to see what happens.
Another thing that might help is if they weren't being killed everywhere around the area. Even if the ice bridge is for a shorter time, or limited, a larger population would more naturally add or draw away wolves. I mean a young male probably isn't going to roam as far if there is no chance to find a female elsewhere.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)I am pretty sure they also don't know what will happen with the transplant
I'd bet the wolves there have been well studied. They probably have also studied the introduction of wolves into Yellowstone ( a huge success ).
I am actually not a huge fan of wolves. I like ungulates. But I get their place in the predatory cascade. The proper balance of wolves is vital for the biosphere
I hope the moose don't have a die-off up there
Kaleva
(36,354 posts)Your comment:
"Maybe they should consider culling the moose or relocating some."
The moose themselves crossed over ice bridges during the early 1900's to get to the island. Moose are not native to the island.
" Both the wolves and the moose first became established populations on Isle Royale in the 1900s."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves_and_moose_on_Isle_Royale
Your comment;
"Maybe they should consider culling the moose or relocating some. "
That doesn't really fix the problem either does it?
GusBob
(7,286 posts)Yes, it solves the problem, pronto
Problem is it would be next to impossible to establish a moose hunting season on the island due to lack of access
Once again I would recommend the book I mentioned
Wolves are the predators, moose are the prey. You need balance
Kaleva
(36,354 posts)One one hand, you say maintaining a healthy wolf population on the island by artificial means doesn't work but maintaining a healthy moose (which is a non-native species) population on the island by artificial means can work.
The proper thing to do would be to eliminate both the wolf and moose populations on the island and bring back the coyotes which were killed off by the invasive wolf.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)It's called wildlife management. When mother nature fails, man steps in. When man fails, try and let mother nature take it's course
There is no guarantee the wolf relocation plan will work. They have no idea what will happen. I don't think it will work. Mother nature is handicapped by mans failure, global warming. You cannot predict the science. As the previous poster Has indicated, they opened up the idea for public comment. Hint, they don't know what will work. It's not an argument pal, it's a discussion.
If the moose population is out of control, you step in. Harvest or relocate to reduce the herd. Thats why they have hunting and quotas, they know the carrying capacity of the land. That's easier science
Kaleva
(36,354 posts)They have a good idea of about how many wolves the island can support.
Anyways, it's a done deal. Mainland wolves will be relocated to the island starting in a few weeks.
roamer65
(36,747 posts)You enter a lottery for the chance at a license. Many try for years and dont get one.
Only 100 licenses are given, of which only 30 can shoot antlered elk. The other 70 are antlerless.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)That would be interesting
NickB79
(19,274 posts)Over 200 square miles.
But yeah, without ice bridges forming anymore (likely almost never again due to global warming), the packs will need "refreshing" by humans every few decades indefinitely.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)They cover a lot of ground, and they are territorial too
There might have been inbreeding, and packs may have been attacking each other.
Packs fighting each other occurs even in the wide open west
Bayard
(22,168 posts)I would also worry if there's enough turf for all though.
Xolodno
(6,401 posts)This is a temporary fix....or a solution of mutual extinction on the island. Wolves wipe out the moose...and soon after the wolves are gone.