Wolves nearly gone from Michigan's Isle Royale National Park

There is good news and bad news concerningLake Superior's Isle Royale.

The good news is the moose population on the Michigan island is now estimatedat 1250 animals, and it'sgrowing by22per cent a year.

The bad news is the moose's only predator on Isle Royale, the wolf,is just about gone.

Michigan Tech universityresearcher Rolf Peterson says only three wolves remain on Isle Royale, and those animalsare in-bred.

"We've got two solid wolves there, probably a male and a female," said Peterson."And they have reproduced the last couple of years. It's just that they can't produce viable offspring very well."

Peterson saidthe wolfnumbers on Isle Royale aredown from a populationof24 in 2009, andhe says the remaining animals are not likely to rebuild the population.

He saidthat 's whyhe and acolleague have beenpushingfor a small wolfintroduction on the island.

" John Vucetich and I, the co-principal investigators, havebeen encouraging the National Parks Service to seriously consider this for the last fouryears, "said Peterson." And that wouldbe to put a couple mainland wolves on the island andhave them breed with the residents."

Peterson saidnow, because the residentwolves are so low in number, are-introduction probably wouldn't work

Peterson saidtwo mainland wolves visited the island last winter for five days, but did not stay.

He saidwithout predators, the moose population will go unchecked, which createsthe potential of long term damage to the island's forest eco-system. He also said there may not be enough food for the herd, which could lead to starvation.

Peterson said at one time, as many as 50 wolves lived onIsle Royale.