Isle Royale Wolf Relocation

Duration:

36 seconds

On September 26th, 2018 the first relocated female wolf took her initial steps on Isle Royale.

The spine-tingling howl of a wolf has long been a soundtrack to the Isle Royale wilderness.

NPS / Jim Peaco

Follow the Tracks of this Wolf

It all happened so fast—the unexpected capture, inspection, relocation. Then the cage door swung open. You caught the first glimpse of a land unknown. Curiously, you exited the cage and stepped further into a wilderness. Becoming familiar with this land filled with places to venture helped you eventually call it home.

You had no idea that your arrival was vital to restoring predator-prey relationships on Isle Royale. Between fall 2018 and fall 2019, nineteen gray wolves experienced similar first steps on the island.

Here is their story of arrival.

Wolf Relocation Project

Wolf Relocation Project Timeline

Spring 2018: Record of Decision for Relocation Project
Fall 2018: Minnesota Grand Portage Band Relocation Effort - 4 wolves
Winter 2019: Ontario Relocation Efforts - 11 wolves
Summer 2019: Researching Predation, Pack Formation, and Territorial Aggression
Fall 2019: Michigan Relocation Efforts - 4 wolves
Summer 2020: Researching Wolf Pups

Record of Decision for Relocation Project

• Extensive planning and consideration of why wolves should be relocated to Isle Royale took place before the Record of Decision was accepted.
• The Record of Decision was signed by Midwest Regional Director of the National Park Service (NPS) on June 7, 2018.
• This signified the beginning of efforts from the NPS and collaborating partnering organizations to relocate gray wolves to Isle Royale National Park.
• Press Release: National Park Service Releases Record of Decision to Introduce Wolves

Wolves were relocated to Isle Royale National Park from the Great Lakes Region.

NPS

Relocation Techniques

Genetically diverse wolves were relocated from Minnesota, Ontario, and Michigan. For all relocation efforts wolves were inspected by veterinarians after capture. Foothold traps, prebaited with nuisance beaver and vehicle killed white-tailed deer carcasses, were used to capture wolves in Minnesota and Michigan. In Ontario, net guns from helicopters were used to capture wolves.

Before each relocation a GPS collar, ear tags, and a passive integrated transponder (PIT) were attached to healthy wolves. Wolves that passed veterinarian inspection were transported to Isle Royale National Park by boat or plane.

Minnesota Grand Portage Band Relocation Effort

Four wolves from Minnesota were the first group to be relocated.

NPS / Jacob Frank

September 24 - October 5, 2018

Wolves were captured in northeastern Minnesota at the Grand Portage Indian Reservation.

Female wolf 002F died soon after capture because of an adverse reaction to anesthetics used for relocation. This wolf's death saddened NPS staff and partners. Even with thorough planning, wildlife relocation can be unpredictable. The NPS is committed to protecting the lives of all wolves involved in the relocation process.

Four wolves, one male (008M) and three females (001F, 003F, and 004F) were relocated to Isle Royale.

Ontario Relocation Efforts

International collaboration helped make the Ontario wolf relocation successful.

Photo courtesy of National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation

Eleven wolves were captured in Ontario and relocated to Isle Royale.

February 24 - March 1, 2019

Four wolves were captured in Ontario and relocated to Isle Royale during this period.

Female wolf 005F and male wolf 006M were relocated from the mainland near Jostle Lake.

Male wolves 007M and 009M were relocated from Michipicoten Island.

March 23 - March 24, 2019

Seven wolves were captured in Ontario and relocated to Isle Royale during this period.

One male wolf was relocated from the mainland near Jostle Lake.

Six wolves were captured from Michipicoten Island and relocated to Isle Royale.

Males: 010M, 012M, 013M, and 016M
Females: 011F, 014F, and 015F

Mainland Relocations

Wolves were relocated from Jostle Lake, Ontario within traditional lands of the Michipicoten First Nation. Jostle Lake is in the Lake Superior Highlands Conservation Reserve managed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF).

Three wolves were relocated from the Jostle Lake, Ontario.

Michipicoten Relocations

Michipicoten Island is found in northeastern Lake Superior about 9.9 miles from mainland Ontario. Most of Michipicoten Island is a provincial park. The remainder of the island consists of private and federal properties.

Wolves, caribou, and beaver inhabited Michipicoten Island between 2015 and 2018. The number of wolves increased while the amount of their prey, caribou and beaver, decreased. The caribou population decreased so much that scientists were concerned about extirpation. Fifteen caribou were then relocated to predator-free islands for conservation purposes. Wolves were then relocated from Michipicoten Island to Isle Royale National Park.

Eight wolves were relocated from Michipicoten Island, Ontario.

Wolf Relocates Itself

The map depicts locations for F003 between Jan 26th and February 02nd, 2019.  This female crossed over an ice bridge formed by the recent polar vortex on January 31st, enroute to an area close to Grand Portage where she was translocated from.

NPS

During winter 2019 a recently relocated wolf left the island. Field scientists researching by plane noticed a wolf’s collar emitting a radio signal from north of Isle Royale. As they approached the island’s northern shore, they realized the signal was emitting from even further north- towards the open waters of Lake Superior. Field researchers hypothesized that a relocated wolf had left the island via an ice bridge that had recently broken up.

Mark Romanski, Isle Royale National Park’s Division Chief for Natural Resources and project lead for the wolf reintroduction efforts, later received GPS coordinates from the wolf’s collar. It was confirmed that the wolf had reached the mainland. The map to the right shows wolf F003’s journey from Isle Royale to the mainland.

News Release: Wolf Departs Isle Royale on Ice Bridge

Predation, Pack Formation, & Territorial Aggression

Wolf project technicians Megan Petersohn (left) and Cara Ratterman (right) sample wolf scat detected at wolf GPS cluster site, spring 2019, on Isle Royale.

NPS / Tyler Petroelje

May - October, 2019

The NPS and collaborators researched wolf predation, pack formation, and territorial aggression after the majority of wolves were relocated to Isle Royale.

Summer Predation

Researchers investigated consecutive GPS locations, from wolf GPS collars, that occurred in the same area where wolves spent at least four hours. These groups of locations (called clusters) occur when wolves are feeding or resting, or during other activities. Researchers used evidence at the site and characteristics of prey remains to determine whether the cluster represented a predation, scavenging event, or resting site.

Findings

At the cluster sites 56 carcasses were found.

Moose were located at 24 sites (47.1%) determined as probable predation. The majority of moose predation clusters were calves.

Non-moose prey remains were present at 26 sites (52.9%) determined as probable predation events. The non-moose predation clusters included beaver (73.2%), snowshoe hare (11.5%), and other prey. Other prey included red fox kits, bird, and muskrat.

Pack Formation & Territorial Aggression

Between fall 2018 and fall 2020, eight wolves died.

Four cases of wolves killing other wolves (intraspecific mortality) were recorded. This type of conflict is common as wolves defend and establish territories and social hierarchy.

The causes of death of two relocated wolves remain unknown. One wolf died of pneumonia. Another wolf died of cellulitis and suspected septicemia.

Michigan Relocation Efforts

Wolves were inspected by NPS veterinarians before being released.

NPS

September 4 - September 14, 2019

Wolves were captured from the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, and Ontonagon counties.

Four wolves, two males (017M, 019M) and two females (018F, 020F) were relocated to Isle Royale.

Researching Wolf Pups

Images taken in late September 2019 from a remote camera show two pups likely born to wolf 014F in spring 2019, Isle Royale National Park.

NPS

Tracking the wolf population and reproduction efforts helps evaluate the long-term success of the wolf introduction and the impact wolves have on Isle Royale's ecosystem.

Ways to Evaluate Wolf Reproduction

DNA-based evidence from scats collected

GPS collar data

Remote cameras

Acoustic recording units

Information from aerial observations made by researchers at Michigan Technological University

Wolf Pups in 2019?

GPS location data suggested wolf 014F denned in 2019 and established several rendezvous sites. On September 29th, 2019 images of two apparent pups were captured on a remote camera. These two wolves are thought to be pups based on their behavior and size.

Researchers will analyze scats collected. If these scats belong to the pups and are genetically related to wolf 014F, that would mean 014F would have bred on Michipicoten Island before being relocated to Isle Royale.

No evidence supports any other reproduction that occurred in 2019.

Wolf Pups in 2020?

Data from GPS locations provided by GPS collars on wolves suggested denning activity in early April for wolf 001F. Wolf 001F’s GPS collar attempted to emit a signal in April 2020 but failed- this indicated that the collar was either underground or under thick vegetation.

Some data suggests potential denning activity for wolves 012M and 015F during spring 2020. This potential denning activity has not been confirmed due to collar failures.

Next Steps

Moving forward the NPS and partnering organizations will

• Continue to monitor the wolf population
• Plan for additional relocations of wolves

Stay tuned with the most recent wolf relocation updates.

Students from the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry prepare to move a gray wolf crate onto a plane. NPS veterinarian and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pilot prepare to load the wolf and transport it to its new home.

Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of National Resources

Park
Partnerships

The wolf relocation project was possible because of support from a variety of partnering organizations including federal, state, and private groups.


Get to know all of Isle Royale National Park's partners for endeavors beyond this project.