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 has had problems with some wolves encroaching onto campsites, tipping trash containers and trying to take food from visitors. (U.S. National Park Service photo)

HOUGHTON — A wolf on Isle Royale that had been going into campsites for human food has been killed after other measures to discourage it failed, park officials said.

Managers at the Lake Superior island became concerned earlier this summer with the activities of at least two wolves known to have obtained human food at campgrounds on multiple occasions, according to a news release Friday from Liz Valencia, supervisory park ranger at Isle Royale National Park.

“The wolves were repeatedly sighted in campgrounds and developed areas, exhibiting signs of habituation and a reliance on human food sources. For example, wolves were seen dragging away food storage bags and backpacks at numerous campsites,” the news release states.

Despite proactive management efforts — including aversive conditioning and changes in waste management practices and food storage regulations — the wolves continued to grow more bold around visitors, campsites and staff housing areas, with a rising number of incidents reported.

After extensive monitoring and attempts at deterrence, and in consultation with state, federal and tribal agencies, “the difficult decision was made this month to lethally remove one of the wolves.”

Park personnel will continue to track wolf interactions with humans and remove additional wolves only if necessary, the news release states.

“Our priority remains the safety of park visitors and staff, and the protection of wildlife in their natural state, including our objective to maintain a wild wolf population,” Isle Royale Superintendent Denice Swanke said in the release. “While lethal removal is deeply unfortunate, it became necessary due to a growing public safety risk. All who appreciate and enjoy Isle Royale National Park need to understand the importance of adherence and vigilance to food storage regulations and our collective role in minimizing negative human-wildlife interactions.”

This is not the first time park officials have dealt with problem wolves.

In July 2024, wolves encroaching onto campsites, especially in the Rock Harbor area, led the NPS to advise that Isle Royale visitors better secure their food storage and keep trash collected and out from the open. It was also suggested those who know the practice of tying food and trash items up in trees to keep bears away do the same for the wolves. Kennels and bear-proof canisters were placed around the region as well.

The restoration of wolves to Isle Royale National Park, located about 56 miles from the Keweenaw Peninsula and 15 miles from Canada, has otherwise been a success story.

After the park’s wolf numbers had dwindled to only two, a father and daughter, the NPS relocated 19 wolves from Michigan, Ontario and Minnesota in 2018 and 2019 in hopes of better controlling the island’s moose population. About 30 wolves were thought to be on Isle Royale in 2024, according to the Park Service.