Lake Superior was a barrier to the northward and eastward movements of
the wolves. Apparently it also directed wolves No. 11, 12, and 13
southward around Keweenaw Bay, and possibly it prevented their eastward
movement on April 2 when they approached Keweenaw Bay from the western
side. The Bay is approximately 6-miles (9.6 km) wide there, and was
frozen until late April.
One to two miles (3.2 km) south of the release site, the Huron
Mountains, with an elevation of 1,500 feet (457.5 m) might have
prevented the southward movement of the wolves. Along the lakeshore, the
land is relatively flat, which may have facilitated east-west movement.
Wolves No. 11 and 13 were found at an elevation of 1,300 feet (490 m)
the day after release but had returned to the flat shore areas (600 to
700 feet, or 200 to 230 meters above sea level) by the next day.
Topography likely had effects in other areas but the actual travel
routes, in most instances, are unknown. The pack did travel along an
abandoned railroad grade near Gibbs City and for 2 miles (3.2 km) on a
muddy road north of Kenton. Wolf No. 10 used a railroad bridge to cross
a river in mid-March. It is well known that wolves generally choose the
easiest routes of travel (DeVos 1950, Stenlund 1955, Mech 1966).