Study shows two wolves remain on Isle Royale

ISLE ROYALE — The small population of wolves on Isle Royale has become even smaller.

The National Park Service has announced findings from this year’s Wolf-Moose Project Winter Study, which is done annually by Michigan Tech University researchers. This year, the study observed tracks from only two wolves on the island — down one from the previous year. Officials say wolf numbers on the island have been declining for years due to loss of immigration across ice bridges and mortality.

The moose population, on the other hand, is up to an estimated 1,300 — including a higher percentage of twin calves that experts say could bolster moose numbers. More about this and other studies on Isle Royale can be found here.