National Park Service announced the first phase of its plans to introduce wolves at Isle Royale.
UPDATE: Great news! The first two wolves were released in Isle Royale National Park on 9/26, one female and one male. Much more to come as more wolves make Isle Royale their home.
BACKGROUND: Today, the National Park Service announced the first phase of its plans for how it will eventually introduce 20-30 wolves over a three-year period at Isle Royale National Park. The first phase of the plan includes introducing six wolves this season, weather dependent, trapped and relocated from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Grand Portage area of Minnesota and eventually Ontario.
Without wolves, the island’s moose population will continue to grow, threatening the long-term health of the island ecosystem. Last June, the National Park Service announced that the best approach to address the imbalance between the park’s growing moose and dwindling wolf population is to introduce more wolves to the park. National Parks Conservation Association long-advocated for this action.
Statement by Lynn McClure, Senior Regional Director for National Parks Conservation Association
“Today we learned the National Park Service’s plans for the first phase of wolf introduction at Isle Royale National Park. While six wolves for this first phase may not be as many as people expected this year, we appreciate the multi-agency, science-based plan that we know to be thorough and diligent. And we support their efforts to ensure a success for the island, it’s ecosystem, the wildlife and all who visit this national park.
These efforts will help ensure the health of the Isle Royale landscape and help ensure this iconic species won’t disappear from the park.
“We look forward to witnessing this unfold, following along as the wolves make the island their new home. We are proud to be part of the vision for a healthy island ecosystem.”
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About National Parks Conservation Association Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its 1.3 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
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