The Gray Wolf
I just finished attending the International Wolf Symposium held in Minnesota. Every four years this amazing event brings biologist and researchers together to share their latest scientific findings and studies. Nearly 500 people who work with wolves and representing 18 countries gather for four days to share what they know about the Gray Wolf (Canus lupus). Well, that is not exactly true, there was many breakout sessions about Red Wolves (Canis rufus), Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) and the Eastern Wolf (Canis lycaon).
I attended so many fabulous sessions that discussed everything from the unique genetics of wolves, to case studies done on male Alpha wolf displacement out of their pack and how this act might change the ecosystem. In addition, this is National Wolf Awareness Week in the U.S. (third week of October each year), so I thought I might summarize some of the nuggets of wolf wisdom I picked up over the past 4 days.
One presentation that stands out in my mind is the study of the wolves on Michipicoten Island. This is a small island, about 72 square miles, in Lake Superior that is part of Ontario Canada. The island is mostly forested and uninhabited by people. Researchers estimated that the population density of beaver on the island was higher than any other place in North America. In the not-so-distant past Caribou were relocated by people to this island and were growing in population. By 2010 there were about 450 to 500 Caribou on the island. The winter of 2014 was so cold that Lake Superior froze over allowing three to four wolves to cross over on the ice from the mainland and inhabit the island.
In a very short time, the wolves had reduced the number of Caribou on the island to the point that the remaining Caribou were taken off the island to preserve their genetics. By 2017 there was only 70 caribou left and the wolves started to starve to death. By 2018 all Caribou were gone leaving the wolves to hunt only American Beaver. At this time Isle Royal was looking to recolonize with wolves after the wolf population died out on Isle Royal. Canadian officials caught the last few remaining wolves on Michipicoten Island with the exception of two wolves, which eluded capture, and moved the rest to Isle Royal which had a strong moose population.