ISLE ROYALE - Researchers on Isle Royale have discovered evidence of the island's two-wolf pack for the first time in 2017.

The wolves documented in 2015 are part of the same family, researchers have discovered. The male is now 8. The female, which is the daughter of the male and also his half-sibling, is 6.

According to Rolf Peterson, one of the leaders of the Wolves & Moose of Isle Royale Project and one of the world's foremost experts on wolves and moose, researchers observed the wolves traveling near a killed moose calf.

The two wolves haven't been confirmed as the two known last year to be on the 200-plus square miles of land, but Peterson said it is "very likely."

Researchers arrived at the kill a few days later and found a few bones from a very well-consumed carcass, with tracks frozen in slush indicating wolf presence during the thaw last week.

Scats were recovered at the location which will potentially confirm the identity of the wolf pair.

Wolves, along with moose, are the two iconic species of Isle Royale. The once-thriving wolf population is on the brink of disappearing with only the two known wolves remaining on the island.

Officials at Isle Royale National Park are in the process of determining whether or not they will relocate as many as 30 gray wolves to the island to bolster the population.

The National Park Service has drafted an environmental impact report to address the presence of wolves on the island. National Park Service officials are seeking comments from the public on the issue over a 90-day period set to conclude on March 15, 2017. Public comments can be made here.