Slim Pickings for Wolves on Isle Royale

Moose and wolves have been studied on Isle Royale for 50 years now. It is of great scientific interest because the number of variables affecting predator and prey are much smaller than on the mainland (Isle Royale is a large island in Lake Superior, and a national park). Wolves are the only large predator and moose are they prey, and the populations of each have gone up and down many times of the fifty years. They do not move in in exact concert.

Now unusually warm summers have increased the tick population that debilitates moose in the winter on the island (and pretty much whereever moose live). Moose numbers are declining due to their weakness, and the wolves are getting hard pressed for food with interpack strife and they are declining in numbers too.

There are fox on Isle Royale too, and they are suffering as well.

I can’t help but hypothesize that some elements of this are present in the elk number decline and wolf number decline on the northern range of Yellowstone.

Story from the International Wolf Center. Slim Pickings for Wolves on Isle Royale

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Public comments on listing of polar bear reach record number

The number of people commenting on U.S. government conservation action proposals has been increasing over time, with hundreds of thousands commenting on roadless areas, snowmobiles in Yellowstone, and wolves.The comments on the Bush Administration’s study whether to list the polar bear as “threatened” has set a record.

Story. Polar Bears Draw Record Public Response to Endangered Species Listing. Ewire.

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George Wuerthner, We Ought Not Grow Cows In Dry West

George Wuerthner, a prolific naturalist, author, photographer and activist, has this guest column in New West today. We Ought Not Grow Cows In Dry West

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“Step it up 2007” to be largest grassroots climate action to date. It’s set for April 14

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“Step it Up 2007” is planning thousands of local events across the United States. There are 13 events planned in Idaho. Here where at I write, Pocatello, Idaho, the mayor will give a speech at the festivities.

This will be a significant political event even though Bush won’t listen and many politicians in Congress and the states won’t either. I can see it has already generated new activists, and they are networking.

Kempthorne offers 402K to offset energy impacts on Wyoming wildlife

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The amount is so small it is a total insult, but they even break it down into sub-categories to try to impress us. 😡

Story in the Jackson Hole News and Guide. Cash to offset boom? Critics say it’s not enough to alleviate drilling damage. By Cory Hatch