Seems wolf/moose researchers have recently managed to reduce Minnesota’s wolf population by one in their attempt to repopulate Isle Royale’s wolf pack. Likely the result of a reaction to tranquilizers related to capture.
Was it wise to leave the remaining genetically compromised wolf pair to possibly mix genes with the newly trans-located wolves? Removing the existing pair would have reduced that chance to zero.
At the very least researchers missed an opportunity for a unique study on the island. The wolf/moose relationship has been studied to death…literally in some instances. Researchers claim that only about 20 percent of moose calves survive their first year due to predation by bears and wolves. How many might survive their first year without any predation? Had wolves not been reintroduced a unique opportunity to study moose in a setting void of predation could have yielded new data about moose regeneration.
Under optimal conditions a cow moose might bear two, sometimes three calves. How might an overpopulation of moose on the island affect this? Would over grazing of resources and stress due to too high moose numbers cause cows to have fewer offspring…possibly not to breed at all, naturally reducing further overpopulation? Will inbreeding eventually cause some similar genetic abnormalities in moose as those that happened with the island’s wolves?
Wolves could have been reintroduced at any time in the future, the moose aren’t going anywhere. The relocated wolves, each fitted with a radio collar, will now be incessantly monitored. Wolf dens will be located with GPS tracking and new pups will likely be collared for years of continued research. Hardly a wilderness study, but more akin to a managed science experiment that arguably should have been performed in a lab. Careers extended, grant money will continue to flow.
I have to wonder though… why isn’t anyone collaring Rusty Crayfish?
Robert (Bob) LaMettry
Grand Marais
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