Isle Royale National Park officials are embarking on an EIS to examine the fate of the park's wolf populations/Michigan Tech

With Isle Royale National Park's wolf population perhaps on its last legs, the park is embarking on an environmental impact statement on a "Moose-Wolf-Vegetation Management Plan" that might be too late, at least for the trio of remaining wolves.

A document as voluminous as an EIS, one that must examine interactions of wolves and moose and moose and vegetation, is not an overnight production. With the first step -- collection of public comments on what the EIS should consider -- just getting under way, it will be months before the final document comes into focus. 

"The plan will provide direction for managing the Isle Royale moose and wolf populations for at least the next 20 years in light of the dynamic changes occurring on the island," the park said in a release announcing the scoping period for the EIS.

“I have received a wide range of comments from folks interested in this issue and the range of preliminary alternative concepts reflect the broad opinions that have been expressed to me," Isle Royale Superintendent Phyllis Green said in the release. "I look forward to reading your comments once they are submitted through our formal process.”

While the fate of the island-park's wolf population is largely, if not entirely, tied to formation of an "ice bridge" linking Isle Royale to the Canadian mainland, a bridge that wolves could use to reach the island, the formation of ice bridges in recent years has not bolstered the park's wolf population.

The story of wolves on Isle Royale is compelling and ever changing. Their population has fluctuated over the past 65 plus years since they were first documented on the island, but has been in steep decline for the past five years. This past winter was no exception. Researchers from Michigan Technological University found three wolves on the island and documented one mortality. In addition, an ice bridge formed again this past winter for the second year in a row, and a pair of wolves crossed the ice bridge from their home range on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation and traveled about 14 miles to Isle Royale. The pair explored the island, but did not stay, returning to the mainland five days later. Furthermore, five out of the nine wolves present in 2014 are unaccounted for. They may have survived, perished, or left the island during the 2015 ice bridge events.

The plan is intended, in part, to examine the "environmental impacts that could occur to the moose population and vegetation from the potential extirpation of wolves."

In addition, a wide range of issues has been identified by the Park Service, ranging from how sensitive species such as orchids might be impacted to changes in the visitor experience and "wilderness character."

The public is invited to attend one of the public open houses listed below. All open houses will have the same format and agenda and will run from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. The open houses will begin with a brief presentation followed by an open period when Park Service staff will be available to answer questions. Attendees will be able to submit written comments at the public open houses. If you are unable to attend a meeting, please submit your comments online or by mailing or hand delivering written comments to the park.

Dates for the Open Houses:

* July 27 – Houghton, Michigan – Superior Room inside the Magnuson Hotel Franklin Square Inn

* July 28 – Isle Royale National Park – Rock Harbor Auditorium

* July 29 – Grand Portage, Minnesota – Grand Portage National Monument Visitor Center

* July 30 – Isle Royale National Park – Windigo Visitor Center

The moose-wolf-vegetation food web is tightly coupled. Moose have important effects on island vegetation, including forest cover, and wolves are the only moose predator on the island. Given that the wolf population at Isle Royale is very low and their long-term survival on the island is in question, the moose population is likely to increase in the short term (5-10 years), which could result in impacts to vegetation and forest cover because of over-browsing.

Preliminary draft alternative concepts have been included in a public scoping newsletter, which is available at this site. The public comment period will close on August 29. Following the public comment period, the Park Service will analyze and consider all feedback received and begin the preparation of the draft plan/EIS.