Nonprofit Launched to Protect 68-Year Wolf-Moose Study in Michigan

The Wolf-Moose Foundation aims to raise $2.2 million to safeguard the world's longest-running predator-prey research project on Isle Royale.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Supporters of the world's longest-running predator-prey study on Michigan's Isle Royale have launched a new nonprofit foundation, the Wolf-Moose Foundation, to raise $2.2 million and protect the 68-year ecological research project from uncertain federal funding.

Why it matters

The Isle Royale wolf-moose study is a unique and invaluable long-term ecological research project that has provided critical insights into predator-prey dynamics and the impacts of climate change. Ensuring the study's continuity is important for advancing scientific understanding and informing conservation efforts.

The details

The Wolf-Moose Foundation was created by supporters of the Isle Royale study to secure the future of the research project, which has been ongoing since 1958. The foundation aims to raise $2.2 million to supplement federal funding and protect the study from potential budget cuts or discontinuation.

  • The Isle Royale wolf-moose study has been running since 1958.
  • The Wolf-Moose Foundation was launched in 2026 to raise funds to protect the research project.

The players

Wolf-Moose Foundation

A new nonprofit organization created to raise funds and protect the long-running wolf-moose study on Michigan's Isle Royale.

Isle Royale

A remote island in Lake Superior that has been the site of the world's longest-running predator-prey study, focusing on the interactions between wolves and moose.

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What’s next

The Wolf-Moose Foundation plans to continue fundraising efforts to reach its $2.2 million goal and ensure the long-term future of the Isle Royale wolf-moose study.

The takeaway

The launch of the Wolf-Moose Foundation underscores the importance of protecting long-term ecological research projects, which provide invaluable insights into the natural world and can inform conservation efforts for decades to come.