Courtesy Isle Royale Wolf & Moose Project
Wolf tracks
Isle Royale officials narrow environmental study to wolves
The National Park Service had planned to develop a broad new management plan for Isle Royale National Park, one that would look ahead at least 20 years and incorporate complexities like climate change. But faced with a wolf population teetering on the brink of extirpation, park officials will focus on the hot-button issue of wolf management.
John Myers writes for the Duluth News Tribune:
With just two wolves left alive on Isle Royale and little or no hope for the population to rebound naturally, National Park Service officials Wednesday said they are narrowing the focus of a study on whether or not to transport new wolves to the island.
Here’s the full announcement from Superintendent Phyllis Green:
Last year the National Park Service (NPS) began considering a broad range of management actions as part of determining how to manage the moose and wolf populations at Isle Royale National Park for at least the next 20 years. Following public comments and additional internal deliberations, the NPS has determined that it will revise and narrow the scope of the EIS to focus on the question of whether to bring wolves to Isle Royale National Park in the near term, and if so, how to do so.
Revised preliminary draft alternative concepts have been included in a public scoping newsletter, which is available online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ISROwolves. As a result of the revised scope, the NPS is offering an additional public comment period that will close 30 days after an amended notice of intent is published in the Federal Register. All comments already submitted have been posted online, however, we welcome additional input at this time. If you would like to submit additional comments for consideration, you must submit written comments online (at the same website) or mail or hand deliver them to the park.
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Michigan’s two-year fishing guide released
The 2016-2017 Michigan Fishing Guide is out and can be obtained anywhere that fishing licenses are sold. The DNR’s two-year guide covers regulations for 2016 and 2017 and is intended to be useful to anglers by being printed on higher-quality paper to better withstand the wear and tear of fishing in Michigan. It’s been produced in a smaller physical size to fit in tackle boxes and is printed in an easier-to-read font size. The Michigan Fishing Guide also is available in a user-friendly, electronic format online (if you’re bringing along your smartphone).
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