Wolves in snowy Michigan.
Each year brings new and different developments across the United States.
In the park live a largely isolated population of wolves, moose, foxes, and other creatures.
Wolves in snowy Michigan. (Photo:Michigan Technological University)
Each winter Michigan Technological University researchers camp out for seven weeks in snow-surrounded tents.
This year, the researchers were on the island from January 20 to March 3, 2023.
They carefully tracked, photographed, and investigated the animal inhabitants of the island.
Sweet wolf pups. (Photo:Michigan Technological University)
The results are a mixed bag of uplifting and concerning.
The good news first: wolves are rebounding.
From 2015 to 2018, the population of the island was struggling.
Foxes frolic in the park too. (Photo:Michigan Technological University)
There were no pups as the group was too inbred.
New wolves imported in 2018 shifted that trend.
More litters are expected to appear in 2023.
Moose populations are sadly declining in the region. (Photo:Michigan Technological University)
In total, there are now 31 wolves on the island.
Their social structure is also changing.
Unfortunately, the wolves' success is tempered by the moose’s struggle.
Winter camping for the researchers at Isle Royale. (Photo:Winter Study field crew members Isabella Evavold and Brenna Cassidy/Michigan Technological University)
Moose numbers are down by 379they went from 1,346 to 967 in the past year.
From a 2019 peak, the population is down 54%.
Calves are no longer 13% of the population, but now only a measly 2%.
Wolves account for some natural predation, killing 26 moose during the weeks of observation.
However, starvation is sadly the main driver of population decline.
Balsam fir saplings have declined due to overbrowsing and spruce budworms.
Moose are forced to graze upon the bark of other trees.
Malnutrition takes a hard toll.
However, this loss of population is not unprecedented.
It mirrors a decline in the 1990s.
Michigan is seeing a rebound in wolf populations in the Isle Royale National Park.
Foxes frolic in the park too.
Moose populations are sadly declining in the region.
Winter camping for the researchers at Isle Royale.
