Isle Royale National Park in Michigan has one of the world's most closely monitored predator populations of gray wolves. The park consist of a chain of islands. Unfortunately the wolves there are now at their lowest number in more than a half-century. Scientists say it is highy possible that they could die out within a few years.

Isle Royale is a federal wilderness area where hunting and trapping are strictly prohibited. Because of this it is the wolf's greatest refuge in the world. It's the only place on earth wher they have never been killed by human beings. The island is also populated by moose which are believed to have crossed over by swimming from the Canadian mainland in the early 20th century. With no known predators at that time, the island's balsam firs, aspens and other trees were severely overbrowsed by the overpopulated moose population.

But in 1950, a pack of wolves crossed over on a ice bridge and eventually formed several wolf packs that began to keep the moose numbers in check. The wolves are now however at a grave risk of extinction on this island because of a big reduction in numbers. Their numbers had dropped from an already low number of 16 to just 9 last year. The only intact pack left has only six members. One wolf wanders alone, while a wolf couple with the only known female have staked out territory and apparently mated.

This drastic reduction in numbers is apparently the result of several factors. First a shortage of females has cut the birth rate, and second, the breakdown of several packs has boosted inbreeding and weakened the gene pool. With the reduction of wolves, the moose population is again spiraling out of control. Last year it went from 515 to 750 moose. The health of the island could be at risk again.

This has caused a debate as to whether the National Park Service should intervene. Some are saying to leave the wolves alone and hope that they will be able to make a come back. If the wolf pair has a healthy litter this spring that include females there is hope that another pack will be formed and more in the future. Others are suggesting that outside wolves should be brought in to strengthen the gene pool and increase the numbers more quickly than nature can.

There is also little chance that outside wolves can cross on an ice bridge to the islands on their own in the future as a male did in the late 1990's because a recent study has found that the Great Lakes ice cover has declined 71 percent over the past 40 years. Because this island chain has become so isolated, it presents a very unique problem. In this case it might just be one of the few exceptions for man to intervene.