Isle Royale National Park said on Tuesday, July 14, that it has closed Duncan Narrows Campground for the second time this month following increased wolf activity at campsites due to improperly stored food.
The new closure runs to July 31, with the possibility of an extension if necessary, the park announced on Facebook.
“Over the weekend, a wolf or wolves accessed the interior of a shelter by tearing, scratching and pushing though the screen. They pulled clothing and other items out of the shelter and chewed at a cooler stored improperly in the shelter. No campers were in the shelter or harmed when this activity occurred. An investigation is ongoing,” the park said in the release.
In addition to the Duncan Narrows closure, the Three Mile Campground also is closed through the end of the month because of habituated wolves visiting the site.
Park staff will monitor the closure and conduct hazing to discourage wolves from entering the Duncan Narrows Campground. Increased staff presence and hazing will be similar to the efforts currently taking place at Three Mile Campground, including paintball guns, air horns, and installation of motion-sensing noise-producing devices.
The goal is to reopen Duncan Narrows and Three Mile campgrounds on Aug. 1, but the closures could continue and additional regulations or closures could occur throughout the park if necessary.
Three Mile Campground has been closed since July 9. The park closed individual tent and group sites, and prohibited tent and hammock use, at Three Mile Campground. In addition, off-trail camping zones surrounding Three Mile Campground are closed, the National Park Service said.
“Over the past week, a wolf has been spotted in the campground, sniffing and pawing at tents, dragging backpacks away from tents, and entering a tent. The wolf has become increasingly bold, showing signs of habituation and a growing reliance on human food,” the park service said.
The park previously closed Duncan Narrows Campground from July 6-8.
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Food storage requirements can deter wolves
The National Park Service earlier this summer warned visitors to the island to pay attention to food storage rules.
“Unless you are actively using and attending to these items, they must be properly stored at all times,” the park service said. “Never leave backpacks/bags unattended – keep them within an arm’s reach. Even if scented items are removed and properly stored, wolves are interested in backpacks/bags because they smell like humans. Humans = food.”
The park service warned that if food, trash, and scented items are not properly stored, Isle Royale wolves “can and will”:
Wolves are interested in any item with a scent, including:
What are main requirements for food storage at park?
The park updated its food storage rules in April 2026:
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Habituated wolves force Isle Royale to close second campground
Reporting by Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
