The effort to relocate wolves to Isle Royale in Lake Superior has ended for the season after just four animals were moved, the National Park Service announced Friday.
The effort to bolster the park's depelated wolf population was aiming for at least six animals moved this fall, but bad weather hampered efforts to move trapped wolves from Minnesota and Michigan to the island.
"Though the original goal called for two additional wolves from Michigan to be relocated this year, cold weather, extensive rain and snow showers made it necessary to end trapping efforts,'' the Park Service said in its statement, saying animal welfare was their prime concern. One Minnesota wolf died last month after being trapped before it could be released on the island.
High winds not only roiled Lake Superior for water transport but made aviation efforts uncertain.
"The park and its partners in this project are already looking at the next phases of the translocation process, which may include relocating (up to four) wolves from Canada this winter,' the agency noted.
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The three year goal is to relocate 30 wolves from Minnesota, Michigan and Ontario to the island where only two native wolves remain, unable to reproduce because they are genetically deformed.
The single male and three females brought to the island form the Grand Portage Chippewa Reservation in Minnesota's Arrowhead are radio collared and apparently doing well in their new home.
Isle Royale is located about 15 miles off Minnesota's North Shore.
