The gray wolves of Voyageurs National Park are an integral part of the area’s ecosystem. In the park, there are about 30-50 wolves each year, split into six to nine different packs. And each pack requires their own hunting territory, making the population widespread across the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem.
These aloof predators aren’t often spotted by casual park-goers. However, if you want to catch a glimpse of one of the wolves, your best bet is visiting during the winter months and looking along the shorelines of big lakes. Wolves are more active during sunlight hours when temperatures are lower and the park is less crowded.
While it can take a lot of patience and luck to see a wolf in the winter, it’s almost impossible to spot one in the summer months. In fact, the Voyageurs Wolf Project began in 2015 as a University of Minnesota research project seeking to address one of the biggest knowledge gaps in wolf ecology — what do wolves do in the summer?
During these warm, busy months, wolves are much more likely to nap during the day and hunt at night, making it difficult for scientists to track and study their movements.
With the help of advanced GPS-tracking technology and remote video cameras, the Voyageurs Wolf Project has been able to get an unprecedented look at the ecology and behavior of wolves in the park.
The project supports over 350 trail cameras, which have caught wolves hunting beavers, fishing, and eating berries. While it’s clear that large animals such as deer, elk, bison, and moose are the preferred food source for wolves, scientists were excited to learn more about the wolves’ summer diets.
Keep up with the Voyageurs Wolf Project by following their Instagram @voyageurswolfproject
Where can you view wolves in Voyageurs?
While some animals will be practically impossible to view in the winter, your odds of spotting a wolf increase during the cold, snowy months.
A wolf will often hear or smell you first and walk away, but if you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this mammal, keep your distance. Back up slowly, stay quiet, and give the animal space.
While Voyageurs hosts a healthy population of wolves, the chances of seeing them are highest in the winter when they are hunting or moving along the shorelines of the big lakes. Wolves may also be often spotted crossing the park entrance roads.
