And then we left

And then we left

7-8 Mar

Winter Study

notes from the field

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The last time we saw Romeo he was traveling in his own tracks up the Little Siskiwit River.

7 Mar – Sometime this morning, the thought occurred to the alphas of Middle Pack. It was time to check on that moose they’d wounded nine days ago near Little Todd Harbor. With ravens waiting on their arrival, Middle Pack found their moose, dead beneath a lone spruce tree just a few yards from where they’d wounded it. If past behavior is any indication, they’ll spend much of the next few weeks at this site.

We were surprised to find Romeo traveling alone. Where was his friend? As he headed southwest across Mud Lake, he stopped every few moments to look over his shoulder. What was his concern?

We continued on up the island, wondering about Romeo, and listening for the telemetry signals of Chippewa Harbor Pack (CHP). Within a few moments, the first faint signals registered. The signal took us straight to where Romeo and his friend had been feeding.

CHP was bound to discover the site. For the past three days, CHP had been sleeping at their kill site just about 2 miles to the northeast. As a son of CHP, Romeo wouldn’t have been in mortal danger. However, they would kill his friend if they could. Was Romeo alone because they’d killed her? Or, did they both escape by splitting up? Perhaps she and Romeo will be reunited by the afternoon.

From Mud Lake, Romeo went on to Hay Bay and then up the Little Siskiwit River (see map below). We thought he’d bed down and lay low for a while. However, when he got to the river’s source he reversed course and walked down the river. Near the end of the river, he turned again and headed up the river for a second time. Then he bedded down. Did he know his friend was alive? Was he laying a track that would be easy for her to find?

8 Mar – Chippewa Harbor Pack left the creek bottom where they struck fear at Romeo and his friend. Near Little Todd Harbor, Middle Pack rested about ½ mile east of their feeding site. Another ½ mile further to the east, Romeo was bedded. Thick cover prevented us from seeing any of the wolves. We only heard signals. We can only suppose that Romeo’s friend had returned to Middle Pack, her natal pack. Why else would Romeo take on the risk of being so close to Middle Pack?

The snow going fast, the lakes are turning to slush. The morning forecast caught us by surprise – several days of rain. Very likely, today is the only day this week we’d make it to the mainland. After a short flight to find Romeo and the packs, we decided to pull the plug. To leave by 3pm, we’d have to dismantle the operation quickly – tear down the bone boiling pot, strip the Flagship of her research gear, pack food into boxes, decommission the water hole, and secure the compound.

Like so many episodes in life, Winter Study often ends suddenly and with no definitive conclusion. However, like the opening act of a drama that would have inspired Shakespeare, we’ve only a brief, suspenseful pause in observing the wolves and moose of Isle Royale. In a couple months, we’ll be back. Romeo’s radio collar will tell us for certain whether he survives. If he’s alive, and if his telemetry signal is localized in April, we’ll have reason to believe that he’s bringing food to his friend and a den full of pups.

Thanks to all who followed our adventures this winter. Perhaps we’ll see some of you this summer when you visit Isle Royale. Until Winter Study 2011, best wishes from Don, Rolf and Candy, and John and Leah.

By early May, our annual report will be available. Check back for that at www.isleroyalewolf.org.

Feb 7th: Middle Pack began feeding on the carcass of a moose they wounded 10 days ago (A). Chippewa Harbor Pack left their old kill site (B), and discovered where Romeo and his friend had been feeding (C). CHP followed Romeo up to about point (D). Romeo walked up and down the Little Siskiwit Rive (E) and bedded for the evening at NW end of his route.