Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment

Official page of the study of wolves and the Isle Royale environment led by a research alliance between @globalwild_cc at MSU & Isle Royale National Park

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

In collaboration with Isle Royale National Park, Michigan State University (MSU) is seeking outstanding
technicians for the 2024 field season 1 May – 15 Sept, 2024.
https://t.co/8YkKeWqshA

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Wolf groupings are constantly changing throughout the seasons. Depending on the time of year, presence of young, availability of food, group dynamics, etc., the numbers in scouting groups and the main pack change.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Ever wonder how big a red fox is compared to a red squirrel and a snowshoe hare?

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Play is incredibly important for younger wolves. It helps them socialize and strengthen pack relationships as well as helps start the process of learning how to become good predators and hunters.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

River otters' streamlined body not only makes them great swimmers but also great at belly sliding on snow.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

On average, moose live to be around 8 years but can live passed 20. This bull is quite old based on how large his antlers have grown.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Bull moose regrow and shed their antlers every year. During most of the growing period, the antlers are covered in fuzzy membranes called velvet. Velvet helps supply blood, hormones, and nutrients to the antlers. This bull is in the process of shedding its velvet.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Caption this:
#wolfwednesday

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Snowshoe hare fur changes to white to hide from predators in the late fall. Years with less snow can leave white-furred hares vulnerable to predators. This photo was taken in late November 2020. The white fur likely made it easier for this red fox to hunt the hare.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Red fox are good hunters but sometimes their prey can avoid being caught. Here is a red fox walking past a camera as a deer mouse sits on a rock (middle left) watching the predator stroll by.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Can you guess what this animal is?

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Isle Royale has closed up for the season. While it is closed to visitors until mid-April 2023, the island's mammal residents take full advantage of the trail network.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

"Are you coming or not?"

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Snowshoe hares are one of only a few mammal species that change their fur seasonally to help camouflage themselves. Their brown fur helps them blend into a variety of vegetation as shown in this camera trap image.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

When doing field research, you never know what you are going to find. During today's camera check, our researcher discovered a squirrel destroyed camera. This squirrel had quite the precision and with it the retirement of a camera.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

In the bottom right portion of the sequence, a deer mouse can be identified by its eyeshine as it tries to avoid a red fox. The deer mouse is one of only a few rodents found on the island. It makes up a significant portion of the red fox's diet.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Isle Royale National Park is located in Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes of North America. Globally, it is among the largest freshwater lakes. Ice bridges can form in between the main land and Isle Royale, allowing wildlife, such as wolves, to walk across Superior.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Wolves can chew on moose antlers! These two photos show an adult wolf carrying a small moose shed. Antlers more commonly chewed on by smaller mammals, such as hares and mice. However, antlers can provide a variety of minerals, such as calcium, to supplement the wolf diet.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

Can you spot the animal in this photo?

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

For more current information on the fire, please check out the Isle Royale main website for updates: https://t.co/rF3kyhiH5P

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

1/3 Fire has come back to Isle Royale this summer. From the park service: "Early afternoon on Saturday, August 13, park and concessions employees reported seeing a plume of smoke coming from an apparent wildfire burning in the three mile area.

[Wolves and the Isle Royale Environment @ISROWolves]

3/3 "Approximate fire size is 10 acres."