Isle Royale Loon Researchers hurting Loons
Posted by Ken Liimatta
January 25, 2004

This letter is in response the December 2003 story about Joe Kaplan and his research on Isle Royale on how canoe traffic may be hurting loons on Isle Royale.

To view the original Detroit Free Press story go to:

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw89141_20031208.htm

"Canoes may be hurting loons at Isle Royale?" Is this guy serious?

As a person with a passion for the outdoors and nature, I cannot sit idle and let these "Loon Researchers" try to falsely sway public opinion. Let's try to set the record straight on the loon research practices and see who has more of a negative impact, the boaters, canoeists and hikers or loon researchers?

I have been to Isle Royale six times backpacking and canoeing and have no disagreement with preserving the island. Isle Royale is an awesome wilderness and for that reason I will return year after year.

In the article, Joe Kaplan says that it the canoeists that have an impact on Loon fledging. Has anyone thought about the impact these researchers have on loon fledging? Let's take a look at loon research practices:

Loon Banding - Terrorizes Loons.
The first question that comes to my mind is "how do loon researchers band loons? The answer is a team of 2 to 3 loon researchers show up on the lakes in the middle of the night using a canoe or motor-boat. They play a tape-recorded mimic call of a loon to pinpoint their location. They then sneak up on loons, shine a spotlight (1 million candle-power light ) and capture them with a salmon landing net. The loons are then restrained and taken to shore. Once on shore, the loons are banded and poked with a syringe to take blood samples (for mercury exposure research).

Which has more impact a canoe or loon researcher? I know of no hiker, canoe, kayak or boater that has ever terrorized a loon with net and a needle. I think the loon researchers have more of a negative impact than any hiker, canoe, kayak or boater!

Loon's pattern canoes - What about Loon Researchers.
The article also describes that the loons that do not get used to people's patterns and overreact leaving their nests and never returning. If I may ask, "How do loon researchers get to all of these nesting spots to study loons? "Don't you use a canoe and motor-boat?" In the 2000 Common Loon Survey at Isle Royale National Park the researchers studied 92 loon locations over a two-month period. All of these sites were reached by boat, canoe, kayak or walking the shoreline. Are the loons used to these patterns?

Inaccurate Loon Research Reporting
If you have ever visited Isle Royale, you have inevitably seen the researchers' posters they put up on the inside of the privy (outhouse) doors. Prior to the 2000 Common Loon Survey, the researchers stated that on Isle Royale Loon population was 50 nesting pairs. In 2001 after seeing those signs, I conducted my own count of loons. Our journey that year covered less than ¼ of the Isle Royale and I counted 36 different pair of loons. How could I count 36 pair and there only be 50 pair total reported by the loon Researchers? More recent research indicates that number was false and there are well over 200 loons on Isle Royale. Are we to assume that the research they conduct is 50% accurate?

All of this false reporting or lack of reporting the truth, creates rules and laws that prevent the public from their given rights. I have run into Joe Kaplan and his cohorts on Isle Royale and politely refuse to take their survey's because I know the results will be skewed to reflect their personal intentions.

I believe the Isle Royale National Park exists for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the United States. It is the American tax-payer that pays the bill for Isle Royale's existence and the researchers' salaries. Year after year, Isle Royale has more rules and less access for its visitors. Unfortunately, it is the researchers, government officials and the agencies that seem to want to keep the public away and have it for their own use.

As I finish this writing, I am opening my checkbook and joining the Isle Royale Boaters' Association (www.isleroyale.org). It's now my time to join in the fight.

Ken Liimatta
Green Bay, WI
www.sportsmans-link.com
fish@sportsmans-link.com

For more information on Isle Royale go to:

http://www.sportsmans-link.com/sportsmanslink_isle-royale.htm

To view or discuss this topic go to:

http://isleroyale.proboards23.com/