The Wolves of Isle Royale: A Broken Balance

“Few can rival what Rolf Peterson has accomplished on Isle Royale. His study, a true classic, offers lessons and examples to us all who hope to do the same. This book reveals some of the secrets and details of this one-of-a-kind wolf study.”
—Douglas W. Smith, Leader, Yellowstone Wolf Project

Isle Royale National Park—with its lush northern landscape, wolves, and moose—is an ideal laboratory for wildlife biologists. For nearly half a century it has been the site of a comprehensive study on wolves (2008 marks the fiftieth anniversary)—the world’s longest-running study on any wild animal.

The Wolves of Isle Royale is author and wildlife biologist Rolf Peterson’s fascinating first-hand account of the relationship that exists between the wolf and the moose on the island. Illustrated with over 100 photographs, this book reveals the true nature of this mysterious and little-understood animal, and it offers novel solutions to the conservation crises as the wolf population falters to its lowest recorded level.

Rolf O. Peterson is known worldwide for his wolf research. His photographs have been published in National Geographic, Audubon, and National Wildlife. He is Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Michigan Technological University.