The wolves on Lake Superior’s Isle Royale (that big Island off Minnesota that gives the lake an eye) have dwindled in number from close to 30 just ten years ago to only 3 today. They are soon expected to die out completely. Thought to have originally crossed the ice from Canada in 1949, the wolves have been in near total isolation on the Island ever since.
Biologist have been studying the wolves and their favorite prey, moose, for nearly 60 years. But due to a genetic disorder that has become more prevalent with each inbred generation, the wolves aren’t going to last much longer.
That’s too bad. It’s a shame nobody noticed the problem earlier they may have been able to introduce some fresh breeding stock and strengthen the line. It sounds like they found a niche in the island.
It’s Gods will…..leave it alone….
why aren’t the british royals extinct
Come to Oregon and take some of ours! The phucking greenies at ODFW reintroduced them a few years ago and they are now breeding like cockroaches. Decimating wildlife and livestock.
Because college of heralds or whoever keeps track of the royal bloodline, tells them when they need to stop inbreeding and get some common blood or they’ll all start looking like they’ve spent too much time in the x-ray room.
Why do you think Diana was chosen? Common breeding stock. Sarah Ferguson? Common breeding stock. Now those children have to get some common breeding stock and then it’s back to inbreeding for a century or so. Until the next time…
57 years of studying and they couldn’t figure it out. The science is settled.
Yea but, with all this global warming, the lake has been freezing over. It is possible that some new wolves have (or will) migrate over. Especially if there is yummy moose meat. Nature works that way.
“…why aren’t the british royals extinct?”
Well you see, unlike the wolves,
they are a special kind of wild game.
You might even call them
the “game of thrones”…
XD
(Please don’t beat me.)
in the wild breeding wolf populations will be extinct.
you will find they can only exist in large enough numbers in the wild to survive prey fluctuations when there are large herds of herding animals roaming vast swaths of undisturbed land for them to feed upon, (caribou and buffalo).
Lions would be or will be too if or when they are faced with the same situation as the wolves have been.
the only population increase successes, which are temporary, for the recently reintroduced wolf populations is due to farmers herd animals picking up the slack when the natural game populations are depleted when the wolves are introduced.
sorry but there are not enough beavers and whitetail deer in the wild to make it successful.
I was glad to see they weren’t blaming climate change for the decline of the wolf population on Isle Royale. It demonstrated honest discipline in their part not to use the go to excuse for all thing unfortunate that happen in nature.
The wolves moved into Grand Marias, more ATM’s and C-Stores for their EBT cards.
well, I for one think all those nasty wolves’ pelts would make for really nice BIG FUR HATS
The moose probably aren’t shedding any tears.
Course, now the island will be asshole deep in moose.