My Demons

Cloudburst

Between 1998 and 2000, Isle Royale’s Middle Pack (MP) increased from four to twelve wolves. During this period they expanded their territory westward, ultimately causing the extirpation of West Pack. This left Isle Royale with just two well-organized packs, and three pairs of wolves all trying to carve out a territory. In February 2000, a lone, dispersing wolf trespassed on the east end of MP’s territory. MP chased this wolf into the icy waters of Lake Superior, attacked it, and left it for dead. The lone wolf, a female, survived. A few hours later, a male wolf from MP found the female on the shore, stayed with it, and licked its wounds. We believe that this pair of wolves became the alpha pair of the Chippewa Harbor Pack (CHP). In the following years, CHP became a successful pack and caused MP to give up significant portions of its territory.

In 2006, East Pack (EP) killed the alpha male of CHP, who was ambushed at the site of a calf moose CHP had killed. Afterward, EP began to take over part of CHP’s territory. To the left, EP is seen examining a CHP scent mark on Chickenbone lake – disputed territory in 2006.

Much drama in a wolf community is attributable to territoriality and the behavior of tenacious and opportunistic wolves.

"Speak"||Osprey

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My Demons

Cloudburst