Isle Royale Forums

I think I understand, that some of the new wolves are interested in our food. Do we need to bring something like my container that bears can't open? Do we need to hang our food in trees like I've done elsewhere? This is assuming I'm in a tent and not a shelter. Like many of you, over the years I never had an issue with any animal and my food. But that was before, the recently introduced animals to the island. Years ago I had a fox, squirrels and a grey jay interested in my food (I never shared anything with them).

Apparently the problem last year was limited to 2 young wolves (yearlings) on the NE end of the island. The hope was (and is) that they will de-acclimate to us humans over the winter and will have learned to fend for themselves. That may be wishful thinking--but don't know of any good precedent to predict from (on IR or otherwise). In the meantime, they put food storage boxes at all the NE campgrounds last summer and required that all food be stored in them. I'd think that if it's still a problem this summer it will be apparent fairly early on and the park will update/modify food storage rules, so I'd certainly check before leaving.

Last year, the rangers were contradicting themselves on the issue. some said to worry only in those campgrounds with lockers. Others said to hang food everywhere. I did speak to hikers who had a quite close encounter with wolves on a trail. Let’s hope things are better this year, but i would plan on hanging food, just in case. (Just don’t leave camp and forget your hanging food like this idiot did!)