Researchers say Lake Superior island's wolves are thriving as packs prey on moose
Summary
Researchers have found that wolves on Isle Royale, a remote island in Lake Superior, are growing in number while their main food source, moose, is sharply declining. The wolf population increased to 37 in 2026, the highest in decades, while the moose population dropped by 75% since 2019.Key Facts
- Isle Royale is a large, isolated national park in Lake Superior used to study wolves and moose.
- Researchers have tracked the island’s wolf and moose populations since 1958.
- The wolf population was estimated at 37 in 2026, up from just two wolves about ten years ago.
- The moose population dropped from around 2,000 in 2019 to 524 in 2026.
- Wolves likely killed about 25% of the moose over the past year.
- Researchers saw no moose calves for the first time in almost 70 years during the 2026 winter survey.
- The island’s isolation requires researchers to land planes on frozen lake ice to conduct surveys.
- Scientists plan summer research to understand how wolves and the ecosystem might balance in the future.
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