Isle Royale

By John Myers
Today at 1:38 PM
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News reporting
DULUTH — First, the U.S. Forest Service cracked down on camper food to keep bears away in the Boundary Waters. Now, the National Park Service is trying to keep wolves away from human food and trash on Isle Royale.

Isle Royale National Park officials have imposed new regulations on visitors and taken major steps to keep wolves from getting at campers' food supplies and garbage in campsites, dumpsters and other developed areas of the island park.
....
For more information on new regulations and information for campers and others visiting Isle Royale, go to nps.gov/isro/index.htm

OMG…can’t get away from this…hiking Isle Royale the first week of August, now I have to follow food guidelines there. Is the FOrest Service pranking me?… LOL just kidding…I guess those Ursacks will come in handy now.

Thanks for posting,

T

The wolves have been causing problems for a few years now. I am not aware of any troubles on the west end; however, things are ever changing. The park service has taken to shooting the wolves with mace-pepper loads in paint ball guns.

These new wolves have grown up in an interesting environment. These wolves have lived their live with much intervention from humans. From being air lifted to Isle Royle by helicopter. wolf airlift

From the beginning. these wolves had problems feeding themselves. The NPS along with the "researchers" decided to help the wolves with food. So, they hunted and killed moose to feed the wolves. Some of the killed moose was frozen and later fed to the wolves. The rest was left on site for the wolves to feast. I know that at least a half dozen moose were "euthanized" to feed the new wolves.

5 years ago, there were more then 2000 moose on Isle Royale. Now the population is about 1/3rd of what it was. Around 800. So, if the reason for flying the wolves to Isle Royale was to reduce moose numbers it is working in a few different ways,

I would say the "research" is showing us what happen when man tries to control wildlife. Maybe "experiment" would be a better word.

Findian: "The wolves have been causing problems for a few years now. I am not aware of any troubles on the west end; however, things are ever changing. The park service has taken to shooting the wolves with mace-pepper loads in paint ball guns.


These new wolves have grown up in an interesting environment. These wolves have lived their live with much intervention from humans. From being air lifted to Isle Royle by helicopter. wolf airlift


From the beginning. these wolves had problems feeding themselves. The NPS along with the "researchers" decided to help the wolves with food. So, they hunted and killed moose to feed the wolves. Some of the killed moose was frozen and later fed to the wolves. The rest was left on site for the wolves to feast. I know that at least a half dozen moose were "euthanized" to feed the new wolves.


5 years ago, there were more then 2000 moose on Isle Royale. Now the population is about 1/3rd of what it was. Around 800. So, if the reason for flying the wolves to Isle Royale was to reduce moose numbers it is working in a few different ways,


I would say the "research" is showing us what happen when man tries to control wildlife. Maybe "experiment" would be a better word. "

where is your source of info park service is killing moose for the wolves? I would like to read that? Sounds not quite right.

Here you go Pinetree. I agree with you Pinetree, it is not right!

I found out about the Euthanizing of the moose for food at the 55th North American Moose Conference and Workshop May 22-26, 2023 Grand Portage, Minnesota WTIP used to have a link with an interview with biologist at the conference talking about the hunt. It was online however it disappeared.

This is a copy past from page 12 and the Isle Royale Environment:
WOLVES
RESTORING AN ISLAND ECOSYSTEM
2018–2020

We provided moose carcasses as supplemen
tal food for introduced wolves. Six Isle Royale
moose (5 males and 1 female) in fall 2018, and
1 female moose in March 2019 were eutha
nized by trained personnel of USDA APHIS
Wildlife Services. Necropsies were performed
and data will provide insights regarding their health, including occurrence of diseases and
parasites. Portions of moose carcasses were
frozen and distributed near release locations
or left on site when practical. About 45 kg
of carcass was distributed at each location,
except for the female moose euthanized in
March 2019, where the entire carcass re
mained where euthanized. Location data from
GPS collars and remote cameras confirmed
wolf use; and the Isle Royale Environment: WOLVES RESTORING AN ISLAND ECOSYSTEM 2018–2020

Findian

Thanks for the info-It sounds like mainly at the time of release and that winter until they got established. Very interesting, I will have to read more on the issue.
Thanks.

I know we have debated it before, but brings the whole research project back into question. When the research showed the wolves (almost) died out, they intervened and are now researching the researcher's actions, not nature.

Interesting saga.

Don't get me started on the decision to reintroduce the wolves. It was a bad decision fueled by ego and the oppressive weight of tradition and prestige. Reintroduction wasted an opportunity to expand the study beyond just wolves/moose interaction.

If researchers have taken the extra step to feed the wolves, then this "research" isn't anything more than an evolved form of what Edward Abbey called industrial tourism. NPS has advertised Isle Royale as a place that a visit means you have a good chance of seeing a wolf or a moose in the wild.

Minnesotian: "
Don't get me started on the decision to reintroduce the wolves. It was a bad decision fueled by ego and the oppressive weight of tradition and prestige. Reintroduction wasted an opportunity to expand the study beyond just wolves/moose interaction.


If researchers have taken the extra step to feed the wolves, then this "research" isn't anything more than an evolved form of what Edward Abbey called industrial tourism. NPS has advertised Isle Royale as a place that a visit means you have a good chance of seeing a wolf or a moose in the wild. "

One of the criteria the park took into consideration is whether or not humans play(ed) a role in the disappearance/demise of a species, and if "yes" this is a point in favor of re-introducing that species. In the case of Isle Royale, the answer was yes, due to our warming climate and fewer winters w/ ice bridges to the mainland making it possible for novel wolves to cross over to the island.
Also - if you go to the Isle Royale National Park web page -- there is no mention of either wolves or moose. If you watch the 2" front and center promo video, they make no mention of either, they do show a moose or two, along with birds, flowers, etc. (no wolves). Historically, humans introduced many critters to the island for their own selfish desires. Moose/wolves not among them. Moose, unchecked, will forever upend the ecosystem on the island, and most likely, it'd lead to their own demise. I'll add this: if the PS was feeding the wolves in an ongoing fashion, that would be problematic. To toss the newly introduced wolves some frozen moose carcasses to tide them over until they get oriented seems humane and logical. The wolf-moose study is the longest running of its kind. There is much to be gained from its continuation.

Food boxes brought to Rock harbor on the Island. These will be moved to campsites on the east end. Seems odd...these are the same cages they moved the wolves to the Island in.

I highly doubt that temporarily supplementing food for reintroduced wolves a few years ago had any lingering affect on their behavior. Wolves find and eat dead critters on their own too. To not reintroduce wolves to Isle Royale would have been a disaster, because the moose population would have grown out of control, stripped the island of anything they can eat, and led to their mass starvation.

Oddly enough, there is good evidence to suggest that moose were actually introduced to the island (around 1905?) by a Duluth hunting club. The original "deer" species on the island were woodland caribou.

arctic: "I highly doubt that temporarily supplementing food for reintroduced wolves a few years ago had any lingering affect on their behavior. Wolves find and eat dead critters on their own too. To not reintroduce wolves to Isle Royale would have been a disaster, because the moose population would have grown out of control, stripped the island of anything they can eat, and led to their mass starvation.


Oddly enough, there is good evidence to suggest that moose were actually introduced to the island (around 1905?) by a Duluth hunting club. The original "deer" species on the island were woodland caribou. "

agree

arctic: "I highly doubt that temporarily supplementing food for reintroduced wolves a few years ago had any lingering affect on their behavior. Wolves find and eat dead critters on their own too. To not reintroduce wolves to Isle Royale would have been a disaster, because the moose population would have grown out of control, stripped the island of anything they can eat, and led to their mass starvation.


Oddly enough, there is good evidence to suggest that moose were actually introduced to the island (around 1905?) by a Duluth hunting club. The original "deer" species on the island were woodland caribou. "

And you hit on why I have disappointment for the reintroduction of the wolves. The hypothesis is that without the wolves, the moose would explode in population then crash when they eat themselves out of house and home. But why not study that hypothesis and confirm if it is true? What if there is a population crash but some survive and find a way to balance? Or what if moose can reconize a scarcity of food and self-regulate birth based on that?

Or why not reintroduce the woodland caribou like they did on the Slate Islands? Maybe there would be population stability if there are more then one large herbivore in place.

I just think there was a lost oppertunity to study animal interaction beyond just wolves/moose.

Minnesotian: "

arctic: "I highly doubt that temporarily supplementing food for reintroduced wolves a few years ago had any lingering affect on their behavior. Wolves find and eat dead critters on their own too. To not reintroduce wolves to Isle Royale would have been a disaster, because the moose population would have grown out of control, stripped the island of anything they can eat, and led to their mass starvation.



Oddly enough, there is good evidence to suggest that moose were actually introduced to the island (around 1905?) by a Duluth hunting club. The original "deer" species on the island were woodland caribou. "

And you hit on why I have disappointment for the reintroduction of the wolves. The hypothesis is that without the wolves, the moose would explode in population then crash when they eat themselves out of house and home. But why not study that hypothesis and confirm if it is true? What if there is a population crash but some survive and find a way to balance? Or what if moose can reconize a scarcity of food and self-regulate birth based on that?


Or why not reintroduce the woodland caribou like they did on the Slate Islands? Maybe there would be population stability if there are more then one large herbivore in place.


I just think there was a lost oppertunity to study animal interaction beyond just wolves/moose.


"

That's very interesting. We visited Isle Royale about 20 years ago. Did not know the history of moose and woodland caribou on the island. Thanks.

Call me crazy, but I'm thinking that there is an easier way to control an over population of moose than relying on wolves to do the job. And the NPS could maybe make a little money on the idea. Just saying.

arctic: "I highly doubt that temporarily supplementing food for reintroduced wolves a few years ago had any lingering affect on their behavior. Wolves find and eat dead critters on their own too. To not reintroduce wolves to Isle Royale would have been a disaster, because the moose population would have grown out of control, stripped the island of anything they can eat, and led to their mass starvation.


Oddly enough, there is good evidence to suggest that moose were actually introduced to the island (around 1905?) by a Duluth hunting club. The original "deer" species on the island were woodland caribou. "

I heard it said that hunters moved moose to the Island. It has always been just speculation. Can you please provide us with some first-hand info on this theory?

In the February 1963 National Geographic there was an article about the moose-wolf of the Island. Reads like this.....
“Our studies thus far indicate that the moose and wolf populations on Isle Royale have struck a reasonably good balance.” The wolf numbers had remained stable, at around twenty or so, and the moose numbers, as best as they could count them, seemed to be holding steady, too. “The notion of balance was firmly ingrained in everything,”

I know in the early 1950s some wolves were brought to Isle Royale by Lee Smits, a newspaper man and conservationist. It didn't go well, but messing with nature mostly goes south.

The Minnesota Anishinaabe have done traditional substance hunting of moose for years. With the falling moose numbers in the state the decision was made by the Tribes to all but quit hunting moose in the state. Each Band of Ojibwe now only take a few moose a year. According to the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe the Natives have the right to hunt Minong (isle royale). With moose starving to death on the Island the Natives wanted to take a few moose from the Island each year. The Park Service told the Indians to pound sand. Then went on to shoot and kill moose to feed the new wolves. I have heard some pretty racist comments about the Indians from a few of the researchers. I now have a very different view of some of these so called "researchers".

4th of July 1981 2 friends sailed their boats to Isle Royale, both brought their dogs. One boat from Duluth the other from Chicago. Soon after both dogs died from Parvovirus. One of the dogs might have brought the virus to the Island. Parvovirus can live for years and be easily carried. A hiker could have brought it over on their boots.

Very curious to see what happens with the wildlife experiment on Isle Royale. With moose numbers dropping from over 2000 to 800 in a handful of years tall plants and grasses are already starting to overtake some trails.

chessie: "

Minnesotian: "
Don't get me started on the decision to reintroduce the wolves. It was a bad decision fueled by ego and the oppressive weight of tradition and prestige. Reintroduction wasted an opportunity to expand the study beyond just wolves/moose interaction.



If researchers have taken the extra step to feed the wolves, then this "research" isn't anything more than an evolved form of what Edward Abbey called industrial tourism. NPS has advertised Isle Royale as a place that a visit means you have a good chance of seeing a wolf or a moose in the wild. "

One of the criteria the park took into consideration is whether or not humans play(ed) a role in the disappearance/demise of a species, and if "yes" this is a point in favor of re-introducing that species. In the case of Isle Royale, the answer was yes, due to our warming climate and fewer winters w/ ice bridges to the mainland making it possible for novel wolves to cross over to the island.
Also - if you go to the Isle Royale National Park web page -- there is no mention of either wolves or moose. If you watch the 2" front and center promo video, they make no mention of either, they do show a moose or two, along with birds, flowers, etc. (no wolves). Historically, humans introduced many critters to the island for their own selfish desires. Moose/wolves not among them. Moose, unchecked, will forever upend the ecosystem on the island, and most likely, it'd lead to their own demise. I'll add this: if the PS was feeding the wolves in an ongoing fashion, that would be problematic. To toss the newly introduced wolves some frozen moose carcasses to tide them over until they get oriented seems humane and logical. The wolf-moose study is the longest running of its kind. There is much to be gained from its continuation. "

Ice bridges are a factor, but the major factor of the decline of wolves is some a$$hole brought their dog over and introduced parvo to the wolves. That’s when the decline started.

The last 3-4 ice bridges more wolves left than came to the island unfortunately.

Although man did cause the decline of wolves, I was personally against reintroduction. This was a pretty pure study, it no longer can claim that.

T

arctic: "
Oddly enough, there is good evidence to suggest that moose were actually introduced to the island (around 1905?) by a Duluth hunting club. The original "deer" species on the island were woodland caribou. "

Good evidence? I am really curious…I’ve heard here say and rumors…it’s certainly plausible but “good evidence”? Never heard that. Can you cite your source and share that evidence. I am very interested in this.

T

timatkn: "OMG…can’t get away from this…hiking Isle Royale the first week of August, now I have to follow food guidelines there. Is the FOrest Service pranking me?… LOL just kidding…I guess those Ursacks will come in handy now.


Thanks for posting,


T"

What is your itinerary?

timatkn: "

arctic: "
Oddly enough, there is good evidence to suggest that moose were actually introduced to the island (around 1905?) by a Duluth hunting club. The original "deer" species on the island were woodland caribou. "

Good evidence? I am really curious…I’ve heard here say and rumors…it’s certainly plausible but “good evidence”? Never heard that. Can you cite your source and share that evidence. I am very interested in this.


T"

According to this report, woodland caribou were still on Isle Royale until 1928:

"The woodland caribou's distribution and abundance along the southern edge of
its range declined dramatically in the late 1800s and early 1900s (Bergerud
1974). In the Lake Superior region, woodland caribou were extirpated from the
mainland of Michigan in 1912 (Baker 1983) and from Isle Royale in 1928.
They disappeared from Minnesota in the 1940s (Fashingbauer 1965), but there
were sporadic sightings of at least two woodland caribou in extreme northeastern Minnesota during the winter of 1981-82 (Peterson 1981, Mech, Nelson & Drabik 1982)."

Restoration of Woodland Caribou to the Lake Superior Region, 1994, National Park Service's%20distribution%20and,from%20Isle%20Royale%20in%201928.

Sorry I wasn’t clear, I knew about Woodland Caribou, it’s the introduction of moose by people I’ve never heard “good Evidence” of, Just rumors. I heard it was in the 1920’s they were introduced.

To be honest it’s probably all fake stories, it’s much more feasible moose came over on ice bridges, but that’s why I was curious if Arctic actually had evidence. I would be interested in the stories.

T

Findian: "

timatkn: "OMG…can’t get away from this…hiking Isle Royale the first week of August, now I have to follow food guidelines there. Is the FOrest Service pranking me?… LOL just kidding…I guess those Ursacks will come in handy now.



Thanks for posting,



T"

What is your itinerary?"

The area, we were going actually wasn’t affected by the food order. I just was trying to be funny.

Unfortunately my son has some intestinal issues after summer camp and we had to drop out of the trip yesterday. Missed the last trip due to both of us getting COVID 2 years ago so super disappointing.

We were going over from Grand Portage on Sunday, off loading at Windigo, then hiking to Island Mine that same day. Siskiwet Bay for 2 days—-day hike to Halloran to try some fishing—then on to the Fire tower and Feldtman Lake/Rainbow Cove—final Hike to Windigo—-camp—then back to Grand Portage. 4 days of hiking averaging 8ish miles/day. Trying to start the scouts on a fairly easy, but not too easy trip.

T

Interestingly I reviewed animal species history on Isle Royal on the National Parks Website.

Moose were documented as early as 1905 on the Island. There is documentation that initially more moose swam to the island than travelled over an ice bridge.

Woodland Caribou were present and fairly plentiful until the 1920’s but their population was more of a migratory population and as logging and fires occurred in the arrowhead region the fauna became more favorable to moose (who prior to the 1900’s were relatively rare in Minnesota), the caribou migrated more northward and no longer visited the island.

Wolves were actually introduced prior to them establishing a population. They couldn’t get live wild ones so they tried zoo raised wolves supplemented their feeding (sound familiar) then the wolves harassed campers/tourists and eventually were killed off.

Coyotes were on the Island prior to wolves, some were hunted/trapped but there actually isn’t good evidence why they disappeared. They disappeared well before wolves arrived.

Mammal History of Isle Royal

After reading this thread I went back to the John Tanner biography to see what he said about Isle Royale. The biography includes a trip to Isle Royale Tanned did with his adopted Ojibwa family in the 1790s. Tanner mentions hunting caribou and sturgeon and collecting gull eggs but said nothing about moose. Hunting plays a major role in the biography and Tanner included specifics on type of animals and numbers he took.

Locations in BWCA/Quetico area mentioned several times in the book. Tanner and his family travelled between Lake of the Woods and Lake Superior many times in the book.

Samsquatch Is the book you speak of known as "The Falcon"?

Yes, The Falcon is the book I was referring to.

timatkn: " Interestingly I reviewed animal species history on Isle Royal on the National Parks Website.

Coyotes were on the Island prior to wolves, some were hunted/trapped but there actually isn’t good evidence why they disappeared. They disappeared well before wolves arrived.
Mammal History of Isle Royal "

Very intresting. Thanks for finding that.

Fun fact, the history of known coyotes on Isle Royale was enough that one of the places you were going to visit, the Feldtmann tower on the loop, is actually located on a geographic location known as Coyote Ridge. Beautiful area with some amazing views, and when I visited many years ago, was my "lightbulb" moment when I started wondering about the history of the island. Why was it named Coyote Ridge?

The St. Matthews Island reindeer serve has a good example of unchecked populations (they went from about 29 to 6,000 to zero in about twenty years' time).
To a previous remark re moose getting to the island. Many of the island old-timers indicated that they came over on the ice. However, if you've ever watched moose on ice, they pretty much freeze/don't move when they hit smooth ice. They either don't walk too well on smooth ice, or don't care to, or both.

chessie: "The St. Matthews Island reindeer serve has a good example of unchecked populations (they went from about 29 to 6,000 to zero in about twenty years' time).
To a previous remark re moose getting to the island. Many of the island old-timers indicated that they came over on the ice. However, if you've ever watched moose on ice, they pretty much freeze/don't move when they hit smooth ice. They either don't walk too well on smooth ice, or don't care to, or both. "

Your correct, I have seen them in Quetico on ice often tho when it has adequate snow cover to prevent slipping.

chessie: "The St. Matthews Island reindeer serve has a good example of unchecked populations (they went from about 29 to 6,000 to zero in about twenty years' time).
"

Intresting. That was a good read. And a good example of what could happen with the moose if left without any predation on Isle Royale. I wonder if the lack of vegetation diversity on St. Matthews increased speed of population collapse?

I saw this in the Isle Royale FB page, dated July 24. It’s interesting to see the photo examples.

Minnesotian: "

chessie: "The St. Matthews Island reindeer serve has a good example of unchecked populations (they went from about 29 to 6,000 to zero in about twenty years' time).
"

Intresting. That was a good read. And a good example of what could happen with the moose if left without any predation on Isle Royale. I wonder if the lack of vegetation diversity on St. Matthews increased speed of population collapse?"

There was a high quality and quantity of forage initially. This led to high body weight, high rates of reproduction/high birth rate, and there was low mortality. Eventually they eliminated food sources, and their body weights & birth rate declined. In 1944, 29 animals were introduced. The population increased to 6,000 by the summer of '63. However, this population was stressed as noted above. In the winter of 1963-1964, pretty much the entire population died of starvation [42, all females, survived]. This is a good/sad example of introducing this type of animal to a restricted range, free of predators, and they initially had mild winters with abundant lichens. The large scale die off was attributed to many factors (overgrazing of winter forage (lichens), excessive numbers competing for scarce forage, poor physical condition going into the winter of '63, and a severe winter). Seems instructive.

Samsquatch: "I saw this in the Isle Royale FB page, dated July 24. It’s interesting to see the photo examples.
"

Huh. Yes that is interesting. That barrel sure doesn't look like an NPS-approved bear canister to me.

The blue barrel in the photo from the FB post is labeled bear-proof canister. The post includes instructions to not leave shoes and socks outside. Are the wolves running off with peoples’ shoes?

Samsquatch: "The blue barrel in the photo from the FB post is labeled bear-proof canister. The post includes instructions to not leave shoes and socks outside. Are the wolves running off with peoples’ shoes? "

1. More Forest Service buffoonery…in one area blue barrels are bear proof and another they aren’t. The answer is they aren’t bear proof of course but proven effective for keeping food hidden, but hey the FS just makes stuff up now…A blue barrel would be wolf proof or at least close. I would never hike with a blue barrel though.

2. The socks and shoes is more for fox on the island. With less wolves there are more fox. When you hike and sweat, salt collects on your shoes and socks. The fox are attracted to the salt…they will come up to your tent/hammock at night and steal them…maybe wolves are doing this now? That would be a huge shift though. Even when wolves were at their peak they left hikers and their shoes/socks alone.

T

At one point, black bears were common on the Isle Royale. However, in the early 20th century, hunting and habitat loss decimated the population. By the 1940s, there were no bears left on the island. In 1958, the National Park Service began to reintroduce bears to the park. Today, there are an estimated 20 to 30 black bears living on Isle Royale.

There are no black bears on Isle Royale. Nor have there been bears in recent history.

timatkn: "

Samsquatch: "The blue barrel in the photo from the FB post is labeled bear-proof canister. The post includes instructions to not leave shoes and socks outside. Are the wolves running off with peoples’ shoes? "

1. More Forest Service buffoonery…in one area blue barrels are bear proof and another they aren’t. The answer is they aren’t bear proof of course but proven effective for keeping food hidden, but hey the FS just makes stuff up now…A blue barrel would be wolf proof or at least close. I would never hike with a blue barrel though.




T"

It seems today any government branch with "service" in its name is full of "buffoonery". Isle Royle is the National Park "service". Seems the Secret "service" is in the news every day.

These "services" are very tight group with taxpayer's funds and pensions. Why is it more people have gone to the moon then have been fired from these "services"? There was a time when people who got paid from our tax $$$ work for the people. Now the people work for them.

Pinetree: "At one point, black bears were common on the Isle Royale. However, in the early 20th century, hunting and habitat loss decimated the population. By the 1940s, there were no bears left on the island. In 1958, the National Park Service began to reintroduce bears to the park. Today, there are an estimated 20 to 30 black bears living on Isle Royale."

I think you have some Islands confused? There aren’t any bears (nor mini bears—raccoons) on Isle Royale and I cannot find anything about bears ever being on Isle Royale. I referenced a document earlier from the NPS that lists all mammals current and past and bears aren’t listed.

For Hiking on Isle Royale you don’t really need to worry about your food (until this year with wolves) because of the lack of bears/raccoons.

T

timatkn: "

Pinetree: "At one point, black bears were common on the Isle Royale. However, in the early 20th century, hunting and habitat loss decimated the population. By the 1940s, there were no bears left on the island. In 1958, the National Park Service began to reintroduce bears to the park. Today, there are an estimated 20 to 30 black bears living on Isle Royale."

I think you have some Islands confused? There aren’t any bears (nor mini bears—raccoons) on Isle Royale and I cannot find anything about bears ever being on Isle Royale. I referenced a document earlier from the NPS that lists all mammals current and past and bears aren’t listed.


For Hiking on Isle Royale you don’t really need to worry about your food (until this year with wolves) because of the lack of bears/raccoons.


T"

Thats what I thought, but took this from a Isle Royale site. I will do some digging on this.

Like I was told in college, always get your info from more than one source. I found no evidence of bears present except for this source. bear-no bear is the question

Pinetree: "Like I was told in college, always get your info from more than one source. I found no evidence of bears present except for this source. bear-no bear is the question "

It says it right there in your link, can’t disagree…but I don’t think it is correct. But it does appear to be Park site, I got my info from a Park site too…so we can’t trust anything LOL

I am leaning towards your link is a mistake (not your mistake though). That’s based on the 70 years of Moose/Wolf studies on predator/prey relationship on Isle Royale. There hasn’t been a mention of bears. In the MN DNR studies Bears actually were the highest predators on moose calves. Bears seem to be the only predators that can smell a calf (deer, moose, caribou) while others like wolves can’t. Having bears on Isle Royale would be game changer in the whole wolf/moose relationship studies on Isle Royale.

But I do admit I am not as certain now after reading the link. The guy I hike Isle Royale with will “s” his pants of it is true :) He’s been going for 30 years and takes no precautions on food.

T

Some interesting sources for information on the Island that I have are. February 1963 National Geographic. Online cheap. Everyone saved them. 20-page article with pictures. it says in 1930 there were more then 3000 moose. Nature got them, starvation and disease. Numbers dropped to a few hundred. I find it interesting how things have changed with time.

Seems there is very little available on the parvo. I had a PDF from the vet in Duluth who looked at one of the dead dogs. I can't find it now.

I can't get this link to post but. It talks of the dogs from Duluth and Chicago that died of parvo. https://www.irkpa.org/uploads/b/4346c870-9208-11e9-a8d5-c9e9e018a541/May%202020%20Wolf's%20Eye%202.pdf

T"
Thats what I thought, but took this from a Isle Royale site. I will do some digging on this."

Here's a link to the definitive list for Isle Royale. NPSpecies was a huge effort through the NPS to evaluate and list all species contained within each park unit, together with sources. It does not include black bears, so they found no evidence from reports, surveys, etc. Isle Royale species list

Yea the link that states bears are and have been present appears to be a private website. I initially thought it was an official NPS site.

I am going to file this under similar stories I’ve heard in canoe country…Lake trout on Kawnipi, Walleyes on Argo, or Lake Trout in Alice Lake (BWCAW)…make great stories and add wonder, but probably not true :)

T

Had the chance to visit Isle Royale this summer in July. Took the day trip from Portage MN to Windigo Bay. Wonderful trip, beautiful scenery. And we had the chance to see a moose feeding at the end of a bay. I took my grandson along and they really enjoyed it. Met campers and they started on east end of island and hiked to the west. Did not see many moose on the east but many on west end. Wolves were not a problem for them. Really wonderful place to visit.

arctic: "Oddly enough, there is good evidence to suggest that moose were actually introduced to the island (around 1905?) by a Duluth hunting club. The original "deer" species on the island were woodland caribou. "

In the 1930s moose were actually removed from Isle Royale. Some were takin to Munising. Source Images of America Isle Royale

timatkn: "Yea the link that states bears are and have been present appears to be a private website. I initially thought it was an official NPS site.

T"

That website looks like the product of Generative AI crafting. No information as to who set the site up, where it operates, where it gets its information. I wouldn't trust anything on Parks Guide USA for any of the national parks.