Predator & Prey—50 Years of Interdependence
Scientists have been studying the interactions and interdependence of wolves and moose at Michigan's Isle Royale National Park for half a century. Now, a consortium of educational, governmental and natural resources organizations is banding together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the longest continuous predator-prey study ever conducted.[learn more]
Free Showing of Fortunate Wilderness film
A free showing of Fortunate Wilderness, a film about the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose study, is scheduled for 7:30 pm Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Rosza Center for the Performing Arts. Independent filmmaker George Desort, who directed the film, and John Vucetich, Michigan Tech wolf-moose researcher, will be on hand to answer questions. [learn more]
Isle Royale Wolf and Moose Photography on Display in Calumet
Two Michigan Tech wolf-moose researchers and the film maker who immortalized their research at Isle Royale National Park are mounting an exhibition of the best of years of still photography. The show opens at the Omphale Gallery in Calumet on Friday, Oct. 3.
Rolf Peterson, John Vucetich and George Desort will host an opening celebration at the gallery at 431 Fifth Street, Calumet, from 7 to 9 pm Friday. Their exhibition, called "Isle Royale Wolf and Moose Study Collection," will remain on display through Oct. 31.
See a preview of some of their photos:
Gala Celebration
Hundreds of visitors thronged Rock Harbor at Isle Royale on July 25-27
for a gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Isle Royale Wolf Moose Predator-Prey Study. [more]
Fortunate Wilderness
Independent UP film maker George Desort premiered his full-length documentary about the wolves and moose of Isle Royale, titled "Fortunate Wilderness," at a 50th anniversary celebration of the wolf-moose predator-prey study on Isle Royale July 25-27. View the trailer.
Headline News
News media including the Detroit Free Press, the Duluth News-Tribune, Audubon Magazine and Associated Press (AP) wire service have been reporting on the wolves and moose of Isle Royale. AP stories are published in newspapers around the world.
See: Free Press article, Duluth News-Tribune, Audubon Magazine
Carnegie Museum Celebrates Isle Royale
Three new exhibits, including one titled "Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale: Fifty Years of Research," will open at the Carnegie Museum in historic downtown Houghton, Mich., with a public reception from 6:30 to 8 pm. Saturday, April 12.
Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich, wlldlife ecologists from Michigan Tech, and George Desort, an independent film maker who has been chronicling their predator-prey research on Isle Royale, will introduce the exhibit and talk about their work.
The exhibit will be on display at the Carnegie Museum on the corner of Huron and Montezuma Streets through September. Two related exhibits include a selection of artwork from the Isle Royale National Park's Artist-in-Residence Collection and "Above and Below: Shipwrecks of Isle Royale," featuring underwater photos and historic newspaper accounts of Isle Royale shipwrecks.
Winter Study—Fact or Fiction
Anna Pigeon, America's favorite park ranger/sleuth joins Michigan Tech researchers' winter study, in Nevada Barr's latest novel of the same name. Winter Study, Barr's 14th Anna Pigeon mystery, is set on Isle Royale and is scheduled to be released April 1.
While researching her novel, Barr spent eight days with the Michigan Tech scientists during their real winter study in January 2007.
An editorial writer for the Detroit Free Press reviewed the new mystery.
You can order Nevada Barr's new book from the Isle Royale Natural History Association, at www.irnha.org.
Helping Support the Research
As we enter the next 50 years of research on the wolves and moose of Isle Royale, we’d like to build a financial foundation that will help meet the increased costs of emerging technology. Please consider how you might be able to support this work through a directed bequest or another form of planned giving. For more information, go to www.mtulegacy.org or contact Eric Halonen in the office of development at Michigan Tech (906-487-3325 or ehalonen@mtu.edu).
Audubon Magazine Features Wolf-Moose Study
The March-April issue of Audubon Magazine features a lengthy story about the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Study.[more]
A New Family of Wolves
Meet the Paduka Pack, a fourth pack of wolves just spotted on Isle Royale.
Read about this exciting discovery and other notes from the frozen field
on Isle Royale, in John Vucetich and Rolf Peterson's "Notes from Winter
Study." [more]
Michigan Science Teachers Meet the Wolves and Moose
Isle Royale Park employee Susan Sanders made a presentation about the wolf-moose study and its 50th anniversary to the Michigan Science Teachers Association annual conference on March 8. She also staffed a booth at the conference in Lansing, representing the National Parks of the Great Lakes Basin.
Lesson Plans for Teachers
These lesson plans were developed by teachers who have participated in courses through the Isle Royale Institute. Check back later for more lesson plans tied to the 50th Anniversary! [more]
New Edition of Wolves of Isle Royale: a Broken Balance
Michigan Tech wildlife ecologist Rolf Peterson's new edition of "Wolves of Isle Royale: a Broken Balance" has been published by the University of Michigan Press. [more]
Rolf & John on the Road
Rolf O. Peterson, the Michigan Tech wildlife ecologist who has led the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Predator-Prey Study for more than 35 years, and John A. Vucetich, a population biologist in Michigan Tech's School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, are bringing news of their research to audiences throughout the country over the coming months. [more]