Wolf-Moose Foundation Newsletter

(Volume 1, Issue 1)

Bull Moose Browsing on Tree 

Photo Credit: Sarah Hoy    

In this Issue

Welcome to the Wolf-Moose Foundation Newsletter!

We are excited to bring you the latest updates and insights from the Wolf-Moose Project. As you may know, the Wolf-Moose Project is the longest-running study of a predator-prey system in the world, focusing on the interactions between wolves and moose on Isle Royale. We hope you enjoy reading this first edition. If you would like to continue receiving our newsletter, please consider becoming a Foundation Member by making a donation here.  Already a Foundation Member? Thank you for supporting the Wolf-Moose Foundation! We cannot wait to get to know each of our Members as we work to ensure the continuity of this amazing Project. As a Member, you will not only continue receiving our newsletter but also gain priority access to upcoming talks by scientists associated with the Wolf-Moose Project and related topics, along with other exclusive member benefits yet to be revealed.

These images offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the wolves and moose that are central to the Wolf-Moose Project. They reflect the dynamic environment and the profound connections we aim to highlight in our ongoing exploration of this remarkable ecosystem.

With each new edition of our newsletter, we plan to bring you inside looks at the lives of Isle Royale wolves and moose, the groundbreaking science made possible by this unprecedented long-term study, and the personal stories of those connected to the Project.

So, once again, welcome! Thank you for joining us in our mission to further this vital research and share the wonders of Isle Royale with the world.

Letter from the President

In a little over 2 weeks, as I write this, I will be on Isle Royale looking for dead moose for the second time this summer. I’ve been going to Isle Royale off and on since the late 1970s, but since 2002 I’ve been on Isle Royale supporting – and enjoying – the Wolf-Moose Project. The twenty-plus years I’ve been helping the Project sound like a lot, but it only constitutes one-third of the entire length of this landmark predator-prey study, now entering its 66th year.

The Wolf-Moose Project is unusual in the impact that citizen scientists, volunteers, have. Volunteers comb the island for weeks at a time in the spring and summer and are a major part of the effort to find, document, and bring back key bones supporting the Wolf-Moose Project. These bones constitute a valuable addition to the unique and comprehensive dataset describing the Isle Royale moose population—bones and data that support research and findings unlike any other project anywhere. An excellent example of the uniqueness of the data and science being done is the recent study examining the connection between periodontal disease and osteoarthritis and osteoporosis in moose and how that relates to those diseases in humans. The length of the moose bone dataset, which in part exists and is as comprehensive as it is due to the work of the volunteers, is unique in the science world and provides insights that are not easily replicated in human populations. For more on this study, please see the 2023-24 Annual Report, pages 10-11.

The continuation of the Wolf-Moose Project is the reason the Wolf-Moose Foundation was established by Rolf Peterson, John Vucetich, and Sarah Hoy in mid-2023. Long-term funding for the Project is becoming ever more tenuous, and the mission of the Foundation is to advance research and education that promotes the conservation of predators and their prey, especially the wolves and moose of Isle Royale. The Foundation aims to enlist the friends of the Wolf-Moose Project to support the Project both financially and through volunteering.

If you’re receiving this newsletter, you’ve helped with or expressed interest in the Wolf-Moose Project in the past, and we want to thank you for your past help. And to encourage you to continue your support as we work to ensure the Project will be doing world-class research for many more years to come.

Jeffrey Holden

Fundraising Goal Update

The Wolf-Moose Foundation's fundraising goal for 2024 is to raise at least $400,000. Through the end of June 2024, the Foundation has completed two targeted fundraising campaigns. One campaign generated approximately $44,000 (target was $40,000), while the second campaign raised $209,000 (target was $200,000), for a total of $253,000 raised to date this year.

Between now and the end of the year, the Foundation will have at least one more major fundraising effort, along with other targeted initiatives.

The above images show Don Glaser, long-time pilot for the Wolf-Moose Project, with his Super Cub plane, and a photo of an Isle Royale wolf pack taken by Rolf Peterson during an aerial study. A critical component of the Project's research, the winter study relies heavily on countless hours of aerial surveys conducted over the years. These surveys are just one of the many ongoing costs essential to sustaining this long-standing study. Your funding helps ensure this vital work can continue. 

We'd love your support!  Please consider clicking the 'Donate' button below to visit our donation page.

Member Engagement

Every newsletter needs a great name—something like The Moose Gazette, The Wolf Free Press, orThe Antler Herald.  

Volunteer Opportunities at Wolf-Moose Foundation

The Science of Isle Royale

 By  Loreen Niewenhuis

Isle Royale is home to the longest-running predator/prey wildlife study, the Wolf-Moose Project, now in its 66th year. Over these many decades, over 100 scientific publications have come out of the study. In this recurring feature, The Science of Isle Royale, we’ll take a closer look at one of these publications. 

Title:  Winter Tick Burdens for Moose Are Positively Associated With Warmer Summers and Higher Predation Rates

Authors:  Sarah R. Hoy, Leah M. Vucetich, Rolf O. Peterson and John A. Vucetich

Scientists on Isle Royale came up with a novel way to measure how many winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) were attached to a moose. 

[Note: this species of tick prefers moose over other hosts. It rarely attaches to humans.]

These ticks will irritate moose as they burrow in their skin and drink their blood (as you can imagine), so moose will groom their coats excessively and even rub against trees to remove them. As the moose aggressively grooms itself, hair is scraped off their body. Scientists take photos of moose and estimate the areas that are either bald or have hairs damaged by trying to get rid of ticks. By assessing the hair loss, scientists have a measure of how many ticks are on a moose without actually counting each tick…which would be difficult work since moose won’t stand around for the count.

Photo Credit: Rolf Peterson

Photo above:  Close-up of ticks infesting a moose. Would YOU want to count them? 

For this study, data was gathered from 19 years. [Note: This is one of the advantages of having a long-term study: having data that spans decades.] Photos of over 800 moose were evaluated for hair loss.

Photo Credits: Sarah Hoy

Top photo: Example of a moose profile used to estimate hair loss due to ticks. Undamaged hair is brown, damaged guard hairs are light gray or white, and areas where the hair is completely missing (i.e., bare skin) are dark brown or black.

Lower photo: The image is colorized to show the three hair categories: red for undamaged hair, green for damaged hair, and blue for missing hair/bald spots. The proportion of hair lost or damaged was calculated as the sum of the green and blue areas divided by the sum of all areas.

Weather records were examined along with population of moose each year, and number of moose killed by wolves in each of those years. Moose density and wolf predation are two of the dominant non-climatic factors in this system.

If there are more moose, there are more hosts for the ticks. And, as the burden of ticks increases, moose are weakened, making them a bit easier to be taken down by wolves.

Temperature records were especially important April through September when ticks detach from moose, lay their eggs, and when the new generation of ticks hatch. The larvae ticks climb up vegetation and “quest” for a host. That is, they extend their front legs to hitch a ride on a passing moose. 

Scientists wanted to see if warmer temperatures in these months favored larger tick populations. And they did find a correlation. As temperatures in July increased, the area of hair loss (indicating tick burden) increased the following year.

Warmer summers, the paper stated, probably favors tick eggs as they develop and hatch. More larvae emerge and quest for moose, so more ticks eventually attach to the moose. 

The number of moose killed by wolves also increased as tick burden increased.

This paper adds evidence to the detrimental effects of increased warming of our climate on our planet and the creatures living here with us.

Candy's Column

The pair of loons that hang out between Bangsund Cabin and Daisy Farm were back, as well as a couple pairs of Common Mergansers, but the woods were pretty quiet.  It was too chilly for the spring peepers to be singing, and the only birds I saw or heard were Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, and, across the way, Sandhill Cranes.  Two adult Bald Eagles flew over, giving an unfamiliar call, and we heard a Merlin.

The beaver family at Daisy Farm had a productive winter, and they have a new lodge northeast of Shelter 5.  The water level has rendered at least one shelter unusable.  The park folks will have to decide how to co-exist with these industrious neighbors.

Mostly, it is simply good to be on the island, tuned in to whatever adventures might be ahead.

Candy Peterson

Candy at Bangsund Cabin

Photo Credit: Amanda Griggs

Volunteer Profile

An Appreciation of a Moosewatch Volunteer

By Dick Murray

When Ron Eckoff finds an activity he likes, he sticks with it.  In 1965 he began a career at the Iowa Department of Public Health that lasted 35 years.  His dedication won him the Public Health Hero Award in 2014.

When Ron and his wife Barb purchased 75 acres of Iowa pasture, Ron learned everything he could about Iowa's native prairies.  Then he put years of effort into eradicating invasive species on his land.  In 2023 he was awarded the Hagie Heritage Award for that work. The award "recognizes Iowans who have demonstrated extraordinary personal service and commitment to improving the quality of Iowa's natural environment, while encouraging others to do the same." 

This year, he and Barb donated most of the restored land for preservation as a natural area.

Many have been drawn to Moosewatch through Ron’s passion. His four grandsons became involved in the program as well as several other Iowans who heard Ron’s Isle Royale stories. 

Throughout his trips, Ron took many photographs. He recently assembled lovely Isle Royale albums and donated them to the program. If you were one of Ron's teammates, you can relive your trip through these photo albums on the island.

Lately his trips haven't involved searching for bones.  Now in his 80s, he comes to Isle Royale at the end of the summer to clean the bones for storage.  Recently he wrote an essay called, "Making a Difference: A Personal Story" that was included in the book Tending Iowa’s Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future. 

Ron’s dedication to Moosewatch has certainly made a difference on Isle Royale.

Moosewatch Group with Ron Eckoff  (center)

Photo Credit: Ron Porritt

Upcoming Events/Talks

Starting this fall, the Foundation will be hosting periodic presentations and talks with the scientists of the Wolf-Moose Project, as well as other scientists connected to wildlife research and conservation. Stay tuned for the next edition of the Wolf-Moose Foundation Newsletter for details about our first event.

Priority "seating" will be given to Foundation Members for all talks and presentations. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with leading experts and learn more about Isle Royale's fascinating research! Become a member today by making a donation through the link below.

In the News

Welcome to our "In the News" section, where we bring you the latest updates and fascinating stories on a wide array of topics. From wolves, moose, and Isle Royale to scientific discoveries and beyond, we curate a diverse collection of articles and news items. This section highlights important developments and insights related to our ongoing work and other groundbreaking projects across the globe. Stay informed and inspired with the latest from the world of wildlife, conservation, science, and more.

• Isle Royale issues new rules to reduce visitors’ contact with wolves.

• Suspension of Winter Study due to warm weather.

• Stateside podcast interview with Dr. Rolf Peterson.
• Study tracks how wolf reintroduction at Isle Royale affected foxes, martens.

• Winter count of Minnesota’s moose shows numbers holding steady.

• Gray wolf in southwest Michigan, far from Upper Peninsula range.

• Trail cameras used to study wolf population in Michigan.

• Red wolf pups thriving at Missouri Wildlife Reserve.
• How do Wolves Know if they are Fighting or Playing?
• Queen of the wolves: One-eyed 11-year-old defies difficulties in a wild Yellowstone.
• Northwest ecosystems changed dramatically when wolves were nearly exterminated, study finds.
• JWM: Indigenous Knowledge Informs Alaska Wolf Listing.
• Russian scientists conduct autopsy on 44,000-year-old permafrost wolf carcass.
• Wildlife advocates push for federal protection of wolves on Capitol Hill.
• 10 Unusual Wolves That Made The News
• Minnesota moose embarks on great adventure, wins the hearts of thousands.
• Baby moose trapped in a lake is saved by Alaska man and police as its worried mom watches.
• Moose kills Alaska man who was trying to take photos of her newborn calves.

Winter Study Cut Short

Photo Credit: Wolf-Moose Project

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The Wolf-Moose Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable nonprofit organization.

Our Federal Tax Identification Number is

93-4654981.