Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale - Annual Report 1976-1977 (Covering the nineteenth year in the Isle Royale studies)
Peterson RO and Scheidler JM. 1977. Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale - Annual Report 1976-1977 (Covering the nineteenth year in the Isle Royale studies). Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University. Houghton, MI
This report summarizes the nineteenth year of field work investigating the wolf-moose relationships on Isle Royale National Park. The summer 1976 field season concentrated on examining and collecting remains of wolf-killed moose located during winter 1976 to determine age of moose taken by wolves. Moose herd composition and productivity were estimated by summer ground observations. Aerial survey conducted after October leaf-fall allowed a more accurate determination of calf production and recruitment. The 1976 calf crop was among the lowest recorded since 1970. Summer observations of wolves indicate a minimum of 8 pups alive on ISRO in late summer. Wolf observations during the 1977 winter study period indicate that this was the first year since 1969 that the wolf population did not increase and totaled 34 animals. One instance was observed of an ISRO wolf traveling to Canada across the ice this winter. Poor snow conditions precluded a reliable moose census in 1977, but the authors did note a substantial drop in the number of moose observed during routine flying.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Peterson, Rolf; Scheidler, Joseph
- Date of Issue
- 1977-04-30
- Publisher
- Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University
- Units
- ISRO
- Keywords
- Aerial Survey, Beaver (Castor canadensis), Ecology, Fox, Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), Isle Royale National Park, Mammals, Michigan, Monitoring, Moose (Alces alces)