Watershed Fauna
There are many mammal, reptile, and fish species that dwell/swim in the northwoods. Our watersheds are home to the typical gamut of white tailed deer, coyote, fox, rabbit, and other common fauna. More notable animal species include the Grey Wolf and the Moose.
The Grey Wolf was nearly exterminated from the Upper Peninsula by the 1950’s. After the federal listing of the animal on the Endangered Species List in the 1970’s, a slow trickle of individuals eventually made their way back to the U.P. 1991 was the first year that a pair had mated and produced pups in Michigan since the wolf’s decline. As of the 2004 census, 361 individual wolves inhabit the U.P. Confirmed wolf packs in Marquette County include the Echo Lake, Ford Road, and Huron Mountain Club packs. Each pack generally stays within a 100 square mile territory and does not overlap. YDWP staff have documented wolf evidence including scat, tracks, and calls. The Grey Wolf has been taken off of the federal and state Endangered Species List and is managed by the MDNR. Currently, a draft management plan is open for public review. Please feel free to take a look and send them your thoughts by clicking this link.
As with the wolf, moose were once found throughout the U.P. until the era of logging and mining came to its climax. By the early 1900’s, moose sighthings had dwindled to almost nothing. A reintroduction was tried in the 1940’s but failed to repopulate the area. In 1989, another attempt was more successful. MDNR transported Canadian moose to northwest Marquette County. Biologists have determined that the original number transplanted has grown but they do not know to what extent. Modeling and surveys have produced results that differ and the MDNR did not achieve the 1000 moose by the year 2000. That is not to say a moose sighting is uncommon. YDWP staff have encountered several moose throughout both the Yellow Dog and Salmon-Trout watersheds. Tracks are frequently found at the NAWCA property and the Jean Farwell Wilderness.
Coaster Brook Trout: Although no coasters have been found in the Yellow Dog River, the adjacent watershed for the Salmon-Trout River has yielded results that prove the fish to not only reside but to spawn in this river system. The spawning areas are so limited for the coasters that this river is known as the only area on the south shore of Lake Superior where they naturally reproduce. Other rivers provide spawning opportunities with assistance from the MDNR. Some issues have come unto fire such as if the coaster is actually a separate species or not. Phenotypically, it is unsure and universities and U.S. Fish and Wildlife are doing research to make this determination. The coaster does have different behaviors and appearance than river brook trout. Currently, work is still being done to determine if it is a separate species. Read legal update on the Coaster Brook Trout ruling. If it is found to be so, steps will be made to include the coaster as a federally listed endangered species.
