NPS officially moving forward with introducing new wolves to IRNP

[MattC]

Just released today.

https://www.nps.gov/isro/learn/news/pre ... l-park.htm

[WanderinAngler]

I'm hoping to make a trip next year. Any idea if some of those wolves will be introduced by next summer?

[Ingo]

Ideally it will be this fall. They say they'll close the park to do the releases, so if it doesn't happen then not sure what it means for next spring/summer. So hopefully wheels will turn quickly and the first will be in the fall.

[MikeT]

Reading "hopefully wheels will turn quickly" when reading about the government doing something, made me laugh out loud

[Ingo]

Reading "hopefully wheels will turn quickly" when reading about the government doing something, made me laugh out loud

I went to the Optimist Club that day . The more realistic part me is thinking fall 2019.

[Midwest Ed]

Reading "hopefully wheels will turn quickly" when reading about the government doing something, made me laugh out loud

I went to the Optimist Club that day . The more realistic part me is thinking fall 2019.

The NPS has only approved the decision.

Are we sure there won't be another long study so the NPS can then approve the plan?

[MikeT]

I'm thinking they may have to study how/where to capture them and how/where to introduce them. It might not be in my lifetime

[torpified]

I took the Ranger III back to Houghton a week ago today. The natural historical entertainment was provided by a passenger: Rolf Peterson, who issued an update on the wolf reintroduction. He's not an official directly involved in it, but he's a very, very interested observer. This was a week ago, I didn't take notes, and my background knowledge is meager. So I'm not swearing the following is perfectly accurate or up to date (one theme was: this is early days). But what I gathered:

--the introductions are slated for THIS fall. October 2018 was the date given for when they'd start.
--they're aiming to introduce 20-30 wolves all together, from 3 areas with habitats similar to IR: the UP (where the wolves are worrying the locals and their domestic animals), MN, and mainland Ontario. Genetic diversity is one reason for tapping three different seed populations.
--(I don't THINK all the wolves will be introduced simultaneously --- but I'm putting this in parentheses because I can't tell whether this is something RP said or just something I've interpolated myself.)
--there will follow a period of wolves sorting things out, which won't always be pretty. Wolves will hurt and maybe kill other wolves.
--still RP seemed confident that the effort would succeed.
--he also thought the female at present on the island would welcome the presence of viable mates. ("She's getting tired of looking at her father.")

Also noteworthy:
--RP gave a reason Lake Ojibway, above Daisy Farm, has been so popular with moose: its abundance of aquatic plants, which are 30% protein, thus veritable moose power bars. Only the unpredated superabundant moose have eaten all the aquatic plants. (He also reported that the beaver dam holding the lake together had been breached.)
--other impacts on vegetables of fluctuations in the predator prey cycle were discussed, but I'm not interested enough in vegetables to retain their details. I did get the point that it's really a predator-prey-forest cycle the researchers are studying.
--it's REALLY EASY for wolves to kill island-bound caribou, because there just isn't enough space for the caribou to run away in. A sad (for the caribou, and now probably for the wolves) tale was told about another Lake Superior Island (Michipetowkin?) where the Ontario Provincial Gov't established a caribou population they hoped would be safe from predation. Only a land bridge formed something like the next winter, some wolves trotted over, and proceeded to eradicate the caribou. Another feature of this island, which is half the size of IR and sounds like an incredible place, is that it has 3000 beavers (or possibly beaver colonies --- I couldn't keep track of what the relevant quantum of beaver was) on it, which is 10x what Isle Royale has.
--wolves also like beaver. ("They don't run and they're all fat.") Only I gathered that beaver aren't normally a winter food source for wolves.
--so on this island this winter we're going to whether wolves can survive on beaver. . . .
--another Superior Island where Ontario is aiming to establish caribou is . . . (wait for it) . . . Caribou Island! (It must have been a real "who promoted Major Major?" moment when a minor wildlife bureaucrat busted out witht hat suggestion.)

[Midwest Ed]

I somehow got signed up on the mailing list for the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (NPLSF), a non-profit organization. I think it was because I submitted responses to the NPS regarding the wolf replenishment. I just received an interesting email but cannot find a supporting link so I will simply quote the email:

Considerations for where the wolves come from, "Why look to Canada?"

Islands present very challenging environments for predators and prey. A healthy moose on Isle Royale has every ability to fend off a wolf attack. This is not so for smaller caribou. A pack of wolves, including a breeding pair and their offspring, on Michipicoten Island in Ontario, are currently eating themselves out of house and home where the main source of food is caribou.

NPS is interested in this pack of wolves for the following reasons:
The environmental impact study (EIS) recommended moving an entire pack if available.
Wolves are not endangered on the Canadian side of the border.
The wolves meet all the criteria the NPS use to select wolves: The wolves have demonstrated successful breeding, they have experience hunting moose prior to arrival, tend to be larger-bodied wolves, and have low probability of coyote genes based on genetic work done from previous captures.

Here's a link to their website.

[philranger]

I’m all for reintroduces wolves to Isle Royale. My only concern is how these new wolves will react to humans. I can’t imagine being a solo hiker and run into a small pack on the trail. That would be scary.

[johnhens]

I’m all for reintroduces wolves to Isle Royale. My only concern is how these new wolves will react to humans. I can’t imagine being a solo hiker and run into a small pack on the trail. That would be scary.

The wolves will most likely come from Ontario. I can't imagine they have not had exposure to people. The chance of meeting a wolf or wolves on a trail will probably be comparable to what is was in the past. Most visitors to IR have not seen a wolf on IR. I would not be too concerned about running into a wolf on the trail.

[Midwest Ed]

I’m all for reintroduces wolves to Isle Royale. My only concern is how these new wolves will react to humans. I can’t imagine being a solo hiker and run into a small pack on the trail. That would be scary.

The wolves will most likely come from Ontario. I can't imagine they have not had exposure to people. The chance of meeting a wolf or wolves on a trail will probably be comparable to what is was in the past. Most visitors to IR have not seen a wolf on IR. I would not be too concerned about running into a wolf on the trail.

Based on reporting, I believe there had been an increase in recent years of Isle Royale wolves becoming more and more emboldened to approach humans. There are several recent photos of wolves in campgrounds. I think they had started to lose their innate fear or apprehension of people. I attribute it to the relatively close quarters that creates a consistent wolf population of familiarity with their surroundings. It took decades but it finally happened. Even given their rather short life span, this trait could probably be taught or passed on to next generations. A new pack (or packs) I think would have a reversing effect on this familiarity.

[johnhens]

I’m all for reintroduces wolves to Isle Royale. My only concern is how these new wolves will react to humans. I can’t imagine being a solo hiker and run into a small pack on the trail. That would be scary.

The wolves will most likely come from Ontario. I can't imagine they have not had exposure to people. The chance of meeting a wolf or wolves on a trail will probably be comparable to what is was in the past. Most visitors to IR have not seen a wolf on IR. I would not be too concerned about running into a wolf on the trail.

Based on reporting, I believe there had been an increase in recent years of Isle Royale wolves becoming more and more emboldened to approach humans. There are several recent photos of wolves in campgrounds. I think they had started to lose their innate fear or apprehension of people. I attribute it to the relatively close quarters that creates a consistent wolf population of familiarity with their surroundings. It took decades but it finally happened. Even given their rather short life span, this trait could probably be taught or passed on to next generations. A new pack (or packs) I think would have a reversing effect on this familiarity.

I recall wolves at Daisy eating apples one year, more folks seeing them (I think the NPS removed the apples or trees). When was the last time they were being seen in a CG?

[JerryB]

I saw one in Lane Cove three years ago. Very fleeting.

[philranger]

I saw one in 2007 at Daisy Farm.

There was a woman (Black Coffee ?) who posted pictures from two separate trips. She saw 2 near West Chickenbone and one at Siskiwit. It is very cool to see a wolf. Even cooler to get a picture of them and be able to share the image.