Lake Superior’s wolves thriving as packs prey on moose, researchers say
Summary
Wolves on Isle Royale, a remote island in Lake Superior, have grown in number to the highest level since the 1970s, while the island’s moose population has dropped sharply. Researchers conducted a winter survey and found about 30–37 wolves but observed a big decline in moose, with no young moose seen for the first time in nearly 70 years.Key Facts
- Isle Royale is a national park on a remote island in Lake Superior between Minnesota and Canada.
- Scientists have studied wolves and moose there since 1958, usually in winter when the island is closed to visitors.
- The wolf population was estimated at 37 in 2024, the highest since the late 1970s.
- The moose population fell by 75% from 2,000 in 2019 to 524 in 2024.
- Wolves killed nearly a quarter of the moose in the past year according to researchers.
- For the first time in nearly 70 years, no moose calves were seen during the winter survey.
- Researchers faced challenges conducting surveys due to warm weather making ice unsafe for planes and other interruptions like medical issues.
- Scientists plan to continue studying the ecosystem in the summer to understand how wolves and moose balance each other on the island.
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