Seven new wolves have been brought to Isle Royale National Park as part of the ongoing wolf relocation effort.
This latest relocation effort brings the total number of wolves on the island up to 15.
Liz Valencia is a spokesperson for the park. She said six of the new wolves were brought from Michipicoten Island - a Canadian controlled island in Lake Superior.
“They’ve gone through their food source there on Michipicoten and their outlook didn’t look good for them so it’s good to have moved them to Isle Royale where there’s lots of moose and they have a new chance to form packs and thrive there.”
Valencia said the final wolf was brought from mainland Ontario. She said the gender balance of the wolves brought to the island is good.
“Of this new seven, there are three females and four males so we’re really feeling like we have a nice mix.”
Previously, Valencia said, the wolves that were on the island were overwhelmingly female.
She said the goal will eventually be to bring between 20-30 wolves to the island.
So far, Valencia said, researchers haven’t seen any changes to the ecosystem because of the new wolves.