Genetic rescuing considered for shrinking wolf population on remote Michigan island

There are only three wolves left on Isle Royale, a small island in Michigan Lake's Superior, according to biologists. Researchers said that they do not know what to do or what should be done in order to save the wolves from dying and disrupting the ecology.

span style="line-height: 15.8599996566772px;">MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - There were around 24 wolves on that island a few years ago. According to a recent report from the researchers, the wolf-count in Isle Royal is now down to two once one of the wolves left the island.

Amongst the three, one of them seems to be deformed due to inbreeding. The group of wolves came to an island that doesn't suit their lifestyle; the place lacks enough room and wilderness with limited prey, and there isn't enough food for their sustenance.

Officials from Michigan Tech are thinking of bringing new wolves into the island to re-diversify the wolves' gene pool, but they aren't sure if the current wolves on the island will be staying or if they would even be interested in mating with the new wolves. This is what they call a "genetic rescue."

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The Isle Royale has around 450 smaller isles surrounding it; it is 45 miles long and 9 miles wide, which can accommodate a pack of wolves. The isles that surround this island are what make up the Isle Royale National Park.

This is the third largest island on the lake, in the contiguous United States, and the second largest in the Great Lakes. The island does not have a permanent population of humans; the place has a visitor center, a lodge and a campground.

Scientists are puzzled as to why there is a decline in the number of wolves living in the area. According to them, the fewer and smaller ice bridges could have been trapping the wolves on the island and keeping new wolves from coming through. They also added that the development in the mainland could also be preventing the wolves from populating.

The population of the moose living on the island is increasing with a number of 1,250. The overcrowding of moose can disrupt the ecological balance on the island. The wolves are needed to keep the population of moose in check.

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