The World’s Longest Running Predator-Prey Study is in Michigan

There is a predator-prey study that has been going on in Michigan for 65 years and it is the longest of its kind in the world.

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Moose and Wolves of Isle Royale

Isle Royale National Park is located about 56 miles from the Upper Peninsula shore in Lake Superior and about 15 miles from the Canadian shore.

How did the moose get on Isle Royale? There are two theories and one is the moose swum across Lake Superior from Minnesota in the early 1900s. The other theory is the moose were stocked on the island by man for recreational hunting.

How did the first wolves get to Isle Royale? In 1949 a few wolves, possibly only a single pair, crossed an ice bridge from Ontario to the island during a harsh winter. Discovered the moose supply and set up shop.

The Wolf-Moose Project

Researchers have been studying the wolves and moose of Isle Royale for 65 years making it the world's longest-running predator-prey study called the Wolf-Moose Project from the Michigan Technological University.

According to MLive, research teams are using a plan, skis, and snowshoes to study the Wolves and Moose and have been getting some incredible photos they have been sharing on the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project's Facebook page.

Last year the total number of wolves was 31 and the moose population was around 967. Soon researchers should be able to get a count of wolves and moose and update us for 2024 but that is still a few months away.

Warmer temperatures have been causing the harbor ice to be unsafe so in the 65 years of the Wolf-Moose project, this is the first time the plane had to move off the ice to land out of safety issues.

In the meantime, researchers are getting some amazing photos of the wolves and moose and you can see them all right here.