Getting bold: Wolves on Isle Royale targeting camps

AN IMAGE TAKEN IN late September 2019 from a remote camera shows two pups born in spring 2019 on Isle Royale National Park. The park is having problems with some wolves encroaching onto campsites, tipping trash containers and trying to take food from visitors. (U.S. National Park Service photo)
Wolves have been encroaching onto campsites on the northeastern portion of Isle Royale, especially around the Rock Harbor area.
Two to three wolves of the 30 total on the island have been tipping over trash and recycle bins and have been lingering around and taking food from campsites. It is not normal for incidents such as these with wolves on Isle Royale to be the actions of more than one wolf.
One wolf was reported to have been dragging away a backpack. The usual tactics for discouraging wolves from lingering around humans have recently not been as effective as usual. While making loud noises and banging pans together would mostly send wolves retreating into the woods, they have not been affected and continue to stay near campsites.
Though there have been no direct human-wolf interactions, the wolves ignoring the loud noises and having it confirmed they were the same ones every time was concerning. As the reports continued to come in, the National Park Service knew they had to send out a statement and take action.
Last week, the NPS instructed visitors to better secure their food storage and to keep their trash collected and out from the open. It was also suggested that if the visitors are familiar with tying up their food and trash items on trees like they would normally do for bears to do so. Kennels and bear-proof canisters are now in place around the region for those who cannot keep their perishables in shelters.
“Don’t leave your packs unattended, ever,” Supervisory Park Ranger Liz Valencia said. “Especially if they have food in them.”
Valencia recommends that visitors always keep their packs with them, and if that is not possible to have someone from the group they’re in stay behind to keep an eye on the bags.
While the NPS is working on ways to deter the wolves from visitors’ recreational areas, Valencia emphasizes that the visitors have to do their part in being
responsible when it comes to the handling of food and garbage. She said that visitors need to be alert and be conscience that they might need to make changes to how they handle themselves.
It is suspected that once the wolves no longer have access to an easy meal that they will move back to gathering their food from the wild. In the meantime, the NPS has worked on methods of deterrence.
Shouting and banging pots and pans has had very limited success, so shooting wolves with paintball pistols has been utilized as well as putting up electric fences around garbage dumpsters. They have more options such as louder noisemakers, bright lights and water, but the NPS has not resorted to these methods yet.
While pushing the wolves to another area is an option, the wolves could likely continue their current behavior in other locations on the island, so it is preferred to try and discourage their habits in the area where they are already settled.
As the reports of the deterrents’ effectiveness continue to roll in, the NPS will use the information to make decisions on how to proceed based on ongoing assessments. Valencia said that the more visitors report what they see to park staff, the better of an understanding they will have on the situation and can better act upon it.
“Isle Royale is a wilderness, so there are certain things you should expect,” Valencia said. “There are wild animals that you may encounter and it’s still safe to go there but we’re asking people to be more vigilant and really take care of their food.”