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Dead Moose on Isle Royale
Off Trail with the Citizen Scientists of the Wolf-Moose Project
by Jeffrey M Holden
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Pub Date
Jul 01 2025
| Archive Date
Jun 30 2025
Description
Isle Royale in Michigan is one of the most remote and pristine of all the U.S. national parks, and it is the site of the world’s longest-running predator–prey study. Every summer, Jeffrey M. Holden leads groups of citizen scientists on week-long expeditions to search for dead moose. Those intrepid enough to join him backpacking off trail in Isle Royale’s rugged beauty face challenges from treacherous weather conditions, to wildlife, primitive backcountry camping, traveling through swamps and wetlands, and backpacks that grow heavier with bones every time a new dead moose is found. Sometimes the moose they find are long dead, with only a scattering of bones remaining. Sometimes they are freshly departed, rotted, stinking, and covered with thousands of bloodthirsty ticks. Scientists use the bones, photos, and data they collect to reconstruct the moose population through the years, correlating it against other data on wolves, weather, and ticks. This book provides a fascinating look into the day-to-day realities of backpacking in the wilderness, while featuring the extraordinary scientific discoveries of the Wolf-Moose Project itself and highlighting the role and rewards for volunteers in this extraordinary endeavor. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in off-trail hiking, becoming a citizen scientist, or exploring America’s least-visited national park.
Isle Royale in Michigan is one of the most remote and pristine of all the U.S. national parks, and it is the site of the world’s longest-running predator–prey study. Every summer, Jeffrey M. Holden...
Description
Isle Royale in Michigan is one of the most remote and pristine of all the U.S. national parks, and it is the site of the world’s longest-running predator–prey study. Every summer, Jeffrey M. Holden leads groups of citizen scientists on week-long expeditions to search for dead moose. Those intrepid enough to join him backpacking off trail in Isle Royale’s rugged beauty face challenges from treacherous weather conditions, to wildlife, primitive backcountry camping, traveling through swamps and wetlands, and backpacks that grow heavier with bones every time a new dead moose is found. Sometimes the moose they find are long dead, with only a scattering of bones remaining. Sometimes they are freshly departed, rotted, stinking, and covered with thousands of bloodthirsty ticks. Scientists use the bones, photos, and data they collect to reconstruct the moose population through the years, correlating it against other data on wolves, weather, and ticks. This book provides a fascinating look into the day-to-day realities of backpacking in the wilderness, while featuring the extraordinary scientific discoveries of the Wolf-Moose Project itself and highlighting the role and rewards for volunteers in this extraordinary endeavor. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in off-trail hiking, becoming a citizen scientist, or exploring America’s least-visited national park.
A Note From the Publisher
Relevant Markets of Interest
• Nature and Wildlife Enthusiasts: Especially those interested in predator-prey dynamics, moose and wolf ecology, and citizen science.
• Outdoor and Adventure Readers: The book’s vivid accounts of rugged off-trail hiking, backcountry camping, and survival challenges will appeal to fans of wilderness exploration.
• Science and Education: Ideal for educators, students, and researchers interested in long-term ecological studies and public participation in science.
• Regional Interest: Strong appeal to readers in the Great Lakes region, especially Michigan, due to its deep ties to Isle Royale.
Relevant Markets of Interest
• Nature and Wildlife Enthusiasts: Especially those interested in predator-prey dynamics, moose and wolf ecology, and citizen science.
• Outdoor and Adventure...
A Note From the Publisher
Relevant Markets of Interest
• Nature and Wildlife Enthusiasts: Especially those interested in predator-prey dynamics, moose and wolf ecology, and citizen science.
• Outdoor and Adventure Readers: The book’s vivid accounts of rugged off-trail hiking, backcountry camping, and survival challenges will appeal to fans of wilderness exploration.
• Science and Education: Ideal for educators, students, and researchers interested in long-term ecological studies and public participation in science.
• Regional Interest: Strong appeal to readers in the Great Lakes region, especially Michigan, due to its deep ties to Isle Royale.
Advance Praise
“Jeff Holden’s account features cooperation, compassion, and awe—characteristics of all good science.”— Carolyn C. Peterson, author of A View from the Wolf’s Eye “In a wide-ranging book based on a couple of decades of tramping for science in Isle Royale National Park, Jeff Holden’s book is a treasure. With ample wit, humor, and insight, Holden regales the reader with real-world adventures, great stories, and humble recounting of inevitable foibles. It becomes obvious that after a week of ‘in-tents’ togetherness in the bush, a group of strangers can blossom into tight-knit camaraderie, all the while providing valuable contributions as citizen-scientists.” —Rolf O. Peterson, author of The Wolves of Isle Royale: A Broken Balance
“Dead Moose on Isle Royale’s genuine beauty is Jeff Holden’s personal experiences leading teams of ‘regular’ folks through the forest on expeditions to study the remains of moose killed by wolves—working as citizen scientists in service of world-class ecological research.”—John A. Vucetich, distinguished professor, Michigan Technological University, and author of Restoring the Balance: What Wolves Tell Us about Our Relationship with Nature
“Jeff Holden’s account features cooperation, compassion, and awe—characteristics of all good science.”— Carolyn C. Peterson, author of A View from the Wolf’s Eye “In a wide-ranging book based on...
Advance Praise
“Jeff Holden’s account features cooperation, compassion, and awe—characteristics of all good science.”— Carolyn C. Peterson, author of A View from the Wolf’s Eye “In a wide-ranging book based on a couple of decades of tramping for science in Isle Royale National Park, Jeff Holden’s book is a treasure. With ample wit, humor, and insight, Holden regales the reader with real-world adventures, great stories, and humble recounting of inevitable foibles. It becomes obvious that after a week of ‘in-tents’ togetherness in the bush, a group of strangers can blossom into tight-knit camaraderie, all the while providing valuable contributions as citizen-scientists.” —Rolf O. Peterson, author of The Wolves of Isle Royale: A Broken Balance
“Dead Moose on Isle Royale’s genuine beauty is Jeff Holden’s personal experiences leading teams of ‘regular’ folks through the forest on expeditions to study the remains of moose killed by wolves—working as citizen scientists in service of world-class ecological research.”—John A. Vucetich, distinguished professor, Michigan Technological University, and author of Restoring the Balance: What Wolves Tell Us about Our Relationship with Nature
Marketing Plan
Early Endorsements:
• Carolyn C. Peterson, author of A View from the Wolf’s Eye, praises the book for its themes of cooperation and awe in science.
• Rolf O. Peterson, a leading figure in the Wolf-Moose Project, calls it “a treasure” filled with wit, humor, and insight
Early Endorsements:
• Carolyn C. Peterson, author of A View from the Wolf’s Eye, praises the book for its themes of cooperation and awe in science.
• Rolf O. Peterson, a leading figure in the...
Marketing Plan
Early Endorsements:
• Carolyn C. Peterson, author of A View from the Wolf’s Eye, praises the book for its themes of cooperation and awe in science.
• Rolf O. Peterson, a leading figure in the Wolf-Moose Project, calls it “a treasure” filled with wit, humor, and insight
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Other Format |
| ISBN |
9781611865394 |
| PRICE |
$24.95 (USD)
|
| PAGES |
200
|
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Reader (PDF)
NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Download (PDF)
Additional Information
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Other Format |
| ISBN |
9781611865394 |
| PRICE |
$24.95 (USD)
|
| PAGES |
200
|
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Reader (PDF)
NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Download (PDF)
Average rating from 3 members
Featured Reviews
Julie C, Reviewer
What a delightful, informative book! Holden is a natural born storyteller, and each short chapter feels like a one-to-one conversation you are having with the author. The book leaves you with a good understanding of the Wolf-Moose Project, the natural history of wolves and moose on Isle Royale, and what it is like the backpack off trail in search of moose bones. Highly recommended for anyone interested in off-trail hiking, wolves, moose, and/or Isle Royale.
Ashley F, Reviewer
This is a really interesting little book about the author's experiences as a volunteer with the "Moosewatch" of the Wolf-Moose Project on Isle Royale. It's mostly written in a rather informal, conversational style that keeps it both entertaining and informative. The chapters tend to function sort of like mini-essays on various topics, and sometimes the flow from one chapter to the next isn't entirely smooth, but all in all it works very well. There aren't that many photographs, but those there are were well-chosen and tend to be effectively explained.
Having some amount of familiarity with the project this volunteer work serves is probably helpful in getting the most out of the book, but Holden does a good job of explaining the project and its purpose regardless. I am not a backpacker and haven't been to Isle Royale, but have read enough about the project to generally have a decent idea of what he's talking about and have spent enough time in northern Michigan to know what he's talking about on the mainland at least.
Does the book make me want to volunteer? Well... maybe someday, actually, if I get a little backpacking experience. He makes it clear that it can be an uncomfortable, sometimes outright gross experience--they're locating dead moose and gathering their bones, after all--while still capturing the idea that it's a really cool project, in a really unique place, and an experience that people keep coming back to participate in again. He also provides some information on the practicalities of volunteering, what kinds of equipment volunteers should provide, etc.--so I would imagine it would be a good resource for someone considering whether they might be interested in volunteering.
All in all, I think most people who are interested in citizen science, Isle Royale, northwoods ecology, or any number of other topics would probably find it interesting and approachable even as laypeople
Featured Reviews
Julie C, Reviewer
What a delightful, informative book! Holden is a natural born storyteller, and each short chapter feels like a one-to-one conversation you are having with the author. The book leaves you with a good understanding of the Wolf-Moose Project, the natural history of wolves and moose on Isle Royale, and what it is like the backpack off trail in search of moose bones. Highly recommended for anyone interested in off-trail hiking, wolves, moose, and/or Isle Royale.
Ashley F, Reviewer
This is a really interesting little book about the author's experiences as a volunteer with the "Moosewatch" of the Wolf-Moose Project on Isle Royale. It's mostly written in a rather informal, conversational style that keeps it both entertaining and informative. The chapters tend to function sort of like mini-essays on various topics, and sometimes the flow from one chapter to the next isn't entirely smooth, but all in all it works very well. There aren't that many photographs, but those there are were well-chosen and tend to be effectively explained.
Having some amount of familiarity with the project this volunteer work serves is probably helpful in getting the most out of the book, but Holden does a good job of explaining the project and its purpose regardless. I am not a backpacker and haven't been to Isle Royale, but have read enough about the project to generally have a decent idea of what he's talking about and have spent enough time in northern Michigan to know what he's talking about on the mainland at least.
Does the book make me want to volunteer? Well... maybe someday, actually, if I get a little backpacking experience. He makes it clear that it can be an uncomfortable, sometimes outright gross experience--they're locating dead moose and gathering their bones, after all--while still capturing the idea that it's a really cool project, in a really unique place, and an experience that people keep coming back to participate in again. He also provides some information on the practicalities of volunteering, what kinds of equipment volunteers should provide, etc.--so I would imagine it would be a good resource for someone considering whether they might be interested in volunteering.
All in all, I think most people who are interested in citizen science, Isle Royale, northwoods ecology, or any number of other topics would probably find it interesting and approachable even as laypeople
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