ISLE ROYALE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Tech University has recently published a study regarding wolf and moose populations on Isle Royale during the winter months. 

MORE NEWS: Trump Takes Michigan

Researchers from MTU visited the island between January and March and found among other changes to the wolf population that it has increased by three in the last year. 

“They found a stabilized wolf population with a dynamic, somewhat unexpected social organization that includes lone wolves and small groups outside established packs,” according to MTU. 

One of the three main researchers, John Vucetich, addressed the wolf population that is now more than 30. 

“Prior to the translocation of wolves to Isle Royale in 2018, the wolf population most commonly consisted of three stable packs and a small number of lone wolves,” Vucetich explained. “By contrast, over the past 12 months the population appears to be characterized by three to four reproducing groups, of which only two seem to have well-established territories, and many wolves that are not closely associated with an established pack.”

After new wolves were introduced in 2018, there was a single litter born in 2019, double that in 2020 and 2021, and an estimated four litters in 2022. 

“During the 2023 breeding season, we observed evidence of four, possibly five, breeding females,” said Rolf Peterson. 

MORE NEWS: Michigan Supreme Court Oversees Much of Everyday Life and Now is Heavily Democratic

According to the team’s research, the moose population has declined 28% from last year’s study, dropping from 1,346 to 967. 

“For every moose we found that was killed by wolves, one to three other moose had died of starvation. Forty-six percent of the dead moose we examined over the past year died of malnutrition,” Peterson said, adding that the elevated starvation rates continue a pattern researchers first detected in 2019.

One of the contributions to the starvation is the shortage of balsam fir saplings, a preferred winter food source for the moose in the winter months.  Researchers found evidence that the moose are starting to pursue other food sources in its absence. 

“Over the past year, we observed that many balsam fir saplings had either died or had few green branches left,” Isle Royale wolf-moose study co-leader Sarah Hoy said. 

The Isle Royale study of the relationship between wolves and moose is entering its 65th year, and is the world’s longest lasting study of a predator-prey relationship.