The gray wolves of Isle Royale National Park, which scientists have studied closely for more than half a century along with the moose on which they feed, are on the verge of disappearing as the most recent census showed that only three remain, scientists said Friday.
Inbreeding and illness appear to have caused a sharp drop-off in wolf numbers on the Lake Superior island wilderness, where visitors thrill at hearing their quavering howls. The count stood at 24 in 2009 but has fallen every year since, according to Michigan Technological University researchers who lead what they describe as the world’s longest-running study of a predator-prey relationship in a closed ecosystem.
They have urged the National Park Service to bring more wolves to the island to reinvigorate the gene pool. But it may be too late to rescue the current population, which likely consists of one mating pair and a pup — all heavily inbred, biologist John Vucetich said.
“These are the last dying gasps,” he said.
Scientists have held out hope that the wolves, whose numbers stood at nine a year ago, would rebound. But federal officials probably will have to choose between starting over with a new group or leaving the park without a top predator, Vucetich said. In that case, the moose population — already 1,250 and climbing — could get so high that trees will suffer as that much more foliage gets eaten, he said.
via Scientists: 3 Wolves Remain at Isle Royale National Park – ABC News.