Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale - Annual Report 1978-1979 (Covering the twenty-first year of research)
Peterson RO, Scheidler JM, Shelton PC. 1979. Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale - Annual Report 1978-1979 (Covering the twenty-first year of research). Michigan Technological University. Houghton, MI
This report summarizes the twenty-first year of field work investigating wolf and moose ecology on Isle Royale National Park. For the past five years, Isle Royale has supported the most dense wolf population known to exist; 43 wolves were present on the island. The summer 1978 field work concentrated on locating and examining moose carcasses, and aspects of summer wolf ecology were studied, including food habits, location of rendezvous sites, and presence of pups. The moose population was estimated in both summer and fall, with calf abundance estimated at both times. Trends in moose mortality are discussed. Winter field work included counting the wolf population, examining territory and pack size, and observing wolf-moose interactions. The moose population census was completed during the winter study period, the first time since 1974. Direct counting of the plots yielded a preliminary estimate on 738 (+-) 16% moose, which when adjusted for sightability provided a final estimate of 826 moose during early February, 1979. Beaver studies involved aerial surveys, live trapping, and examinination of colonies by ground; 156 sites were observed.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Peterson, Rolf; Scheidler, Joseph; Shelton, Philip
- Date of Issue
- 1979-04-30
- Publisher
- Michigan Technological University
- Units
- ISRO
- Keywords
- Aerial Survey, Beaver (Castor canadensis), Ecology, Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), Isle Royale National Park, Mammals, Michigan, Monitoring, Moose (Alces alces)