Wolves on Isle Royale National Park
As apex predators, wolves play a critical role on the main island of Isle Royale National Park by affecting the abundance and spatial distribution of moose, and by extension, the abundance, distribution, and type of vegetation on the island. Wolf-moose relationships have been studied on Isle Royale for over 50 years, providing one of the longest ecological studies of predator-prey dynamics in the world. In 2018 National Park Service (NPS) made the decision and began planning to introduce wolves to Isle Royale. Nineteen wolves captured in Michigan, Minnesota, and Ontario during September 2018–2019 were translocated to Isle Royale. We have partnered with NPS, to characterize the social organization and pack formation of wolves introduced to the island, document and quantify predator-prey relationships as wolves re-establish themselves on the island, and evaluate the success of wolf introduction efforts on Isle Royale.