Only Three Gray Wolves Left on Island Royale National Park: Report

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The wolf population at Island Royale National Park has dwindled down to only three according to the longest predator-prey study in the world.

The researchers from Michigan Technological University are baffled why the wolves are nearly extinct when the moose population is on the rise, according to National Monitor. The annual research has existed for 57 years, making it the longest predator-prey study worldwide.

According to the researchers, there were nine wolves observed last winter and have found that there is only one group with three or two members living in the island.

The researchers believe that inbreeding and illnesses are the main reason for the decline of the gray wolves in the area. In 2009, there were 24 gray wolves; the decrease is a massive 88 percent. The remaining three wolves on the island are believed to be a pair, and one pup that looks to be around 9 months old.

The pup appears to be unhealthy as it has "a constricted waistline, hunched posture and seems to have a deformed tail, according to the team.

"Those observations suggest that the pup is not well off. It would not be surprising if the pup was dead a year from today," said John Vucetich. Vucetich is from the wildlife ecology department and leader of the study together with Rolf Peterson, also a professor at MTU. 

Meanwhile, the moose population in the park surged to 22 percent. In 2007, there were 385 and now there are 1,250 moose.

"These are the last dying gasps. One thing we know with great certainty is that wherever there are large herbivores like moose, elk or deer you have to have a top predator to maintain ecosystem health," Vucetich said via Pioneer News.

In a statement at Michigan Tech, Vucetich added "It's not the presence of wolves that matters so much, it's whether wolves are performing their ecological function."

The Isle Royale National Park issued a statement opting against the emergency "genetic rescue" by bringing new wolves to the island last year at the NPS website. They chose instead to conduct an environment review of the park's dwindling wolf population.

However with wolf count down to three, Vucetich said that it is too late to consider a genetic rescue. The only option left is to bring a new pack of wolves but the park must wait for the remaining wolves to die out.

In addition to the wolf conundrum, the researchers have grown concerned over the health of the island. The spike in the island's moose population could once again cause damage to the park, as was what happened in 1996.

"At that time the moose population had considerable impact on forest vegetation. Concerns remain that the upcoming increase in moose abundance will result in long-term damage to the health of Isle Royale's vegetative community," according to the researchers report.