Report from Isle Royale
Information from the 1994/95 Annual Report from Isle Royale
An important transition is taking place among the wolf population at Isle Royale as one generation is being replaced by the next.
The wolf population remained stable in 1994-1995, with 16 animals being counted in January, 1995. After the 1995 winter study there remained only one wolf, a male, that had ever reproduced. There were also 11 wolves less than four years old, with ample numbers of males and females ready to assume the alpha role that permits reproduction. Two aging alpha wolves died in the past year, as did another established alpha wolf. Two pups survived from only one of the three territorial packs that reproduced.
The population of old moose will increase steadily during the 1990s, providing ample food for the wolves and Isle Royale is now free of important wolf diseases. This means that genetic decay will likely remain the only reasonable explanation for the low reproduction that is preventing expansion of the wolf population, if the next generation of wolves reproduces at rates similar to the last.
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