The Wolves on Isle Royale are Disappearing: Only Three Remain After This Winter

Only three wolves remain in Isle Royal National Park. Researchers conducted their annual Winter Study in the park and have found that the group of wolves is at an unprecedented low, showing a sharp decline from the nine wolves seen last winter.

For 57 years, researchers have observed wolves and moose in Isle Royale. In fact, this is the longest running predator-prey study in the world. While there are still an estimated 1,250 moose on the island, though, there are now only three resident wolves.

"It's not the presence of wolves that matter so much, it's whether wolves are performing their ecological function," said John Vucetich, leader of the new study, in a news release.

Unfortunately, with only three wolves, it's unlikely that the wolf population to survive. While it's possible that ice bridges that form to the island may allow other wolves to cross over, it may be too late for a genetic rescue.

The pack of three wolves consists of two adults and one nine-month-old pup. However, the pup does not appear healthy; it was a constricted waistline, hunched posture and seems to have a deformed tail. It's very likely that inbreeding is the cause of these abnormalities.

"Those observations suggest that the pup is not well off," said Vucetich. "It would not be surprising if the pup was dead a year from today."

There are currently two remaining options for the wolves on the island. Scientists could either reintroduce wolves to the island, or do nothing and see what happens. If they do nothing, though, it's likely that the moose population will continue to grow, and may impact vegetation on the island in major ways.

The annual report of the island is available online.

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