Isle Royal: the home to animals and national parks

  Isle Royale is an island, located in middle of Lake Superior and is part of the State of Michigan. In 1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Isle Royale as a National Park. It’s known as a national park for recreational enjoyment and for preserving and protecting wildlife. It takes a little over three hours by a boat ride departing from Cooper Harbor Michigan to reach the island.         

  This island is home to wolves, moose and bald eagles to name a few. Wolves arrived on Isle Royale by crossing an icy bridge that formed between the island and Canadian mainland during the winter of 1948. Since that time, the number of wolves has decreased significantly. The wolf population can’t grow if there aren’t enough moose on the island to sustain the wolves. 

   In 1980, there was also a decline of wolves on the Isle by a virus introduced by a hiker’s dog, which spread through the wolf population, reducing numbers from 50 wolves down to 14 wolves.The state of Michigan listed wolves on the Endangered Species Act in 1973.

  Moose are also seen on the Isle. It’s common to see them feeding around the beaver ponds. The water helps keep the moose cool, and they like to graze on the aquatic plants. Since 1980, the moose population has fluctuated as low as 500 animals to as many as 2,400. The cause of the fluctuation is due to changes in vegetation and predators. 

Currently, Michigan Tech researchers believe there are up to 14 adult wolves on the island and estimate 1,876 moose.

  In addition to the rich wildlife on the Island, visitors may catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights if the timing is right and the skies are allowing.