ABOVE: The Isle Royale population of wolves was already down to just two adults and one pup in 2015. Researchers think that the young wolf probably didn’t make it.
ROLF PETERSON
For almost 60 years, the predator-prey relationship between wolves and moose on Isle Royale, a small island in the northwest part of Lake Superior in Michigan, has been the focus of ongoing research. In recent years, however, the number of wolves on the island has dwindled due to inbreeding; there now remain only two individuals—one male and one female—on the 200-square-mile island. This has led to unrestrained growth of the island’s moose herds, which graze extensively in the national park’s surrounding forest. The situation has sparked debate about whether to attempt a genetic rescue of the wolf population or forgo any intervention and allow extinction.
On September 22, the US National Park Service (NPS) announced its decision to restore the ...
