NEWS BLIPS
Wolves Airdropped Into Isle Royale National Park For Special Purpose
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through IFLScience's website.
Canadian gray wolves were recently airdropped into Isle Royale National Park in Michigan for a very important assignment - to check the 2,300-square-kilometer island's moose population. In the absence of this canine predator, the moose population has exploded, Moose, as large animals, can outcompete other herbivores for food. Previous population explosions have resulted in thousands of deaths due to starvation. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) hopes this new project will change that.
As stated in an IFLScience article, wildlife specialists at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) hope their introduction will revive the island's wolf population – a conservation technique known as rewilding. Four wolves (one female, three males) will be joining a pair introduced in September, and the OMNRF hopes to introduce a further 14 to 24 sometime over the next three to four years. As wolves are being reintroduced to Isle Royale, the federal government is reconsidering their protection under the Endangered Species Act. According to reports, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is set to propose a rule to delist the animal, which was added during the 1970s when conflict with agriculturists caused populations to drop.
Learn more on the Isle Royale National Park project here.
Environmental Issues, Michigan, National Parks, Nature, News, Open Road, Wildlife