Isle Royale photos offer unique view of island's last 2 wolves
Brandon Champion-February 9, 2014
Researchers on Isle Royale have discovered evidence of the island's two-wolf pack for the first time in 2017. Photo courtesy of Rolf Peterson
ISLE ROYALE - New images released by researchers on Isle Royale offer up unique views of the last two wolves known to live on the island.
The wolves documented in 2015 are part of the same family, researchers have discovered. The male is now 8. The female, which is the daughter of the male and also his half-sibling, is 6.
The photos taken in the first week of February show the wolves from a variety of angles. One image taken from a remote camera is particularly interesting. It shows one of the wolves going about its business and stumbling upon the camera.
The close-up view of the wolf is obscured by blowing snow caused by high winds. Other images are taken from a survey aircraft and depict the wolves traveling through the interior of the island.
Wolves, along with moose, are the two iconic species of Isle Royale. The once-thriving wolf population is on the brink of disappearing with only the two known wolves remaining on the island.
Officials at Isle Royale National Park are in the process of determining whether or not they will relocate as many as 30 gray wolves to the island to bolster the population.
The National Park Service has drafted an environmental impact report to address the presence of wolves on the island. National Park Service officials are seeking comments from the public on the issue over a 90-day period set to conclude on March 15, 2017. Public comments can be made here.
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