Mark Wilcox Photo

HOUGHTON — The investigation is continuing into the deaths of two campers on Isle Royale National Park. In a press release, the National Park Service is referring to the deceased as “unidentified campers.”

According to the NPS release, at about 4 p.m. Sunday, park rangers at Isle Royale received two separate reports of two persons found deceased at a remote backcountry campground within the park.

Two rangers hiked overnight 11 miles to the campground to assess the situation, arriving early Monday morning, the rangers confirmed finding two unidentified persons deceased. The causes of death are unknown at this time.

Additional ground and aviation resources responded starting Monday. The incident is currently under investigation.

The deaths bring the numbers of deaths in the National Park to four within that past 12 months. On July 25. 2024, 70 year old John Nousaine of Superior, WI, died as the result of a scuba diving incident. Nousaine died while diving near the Emperor shipwreck.

On Aug. 12 of last year, 37 Year old Amy Shaw, of Battle Creek, died while backpacking near Lake LeSage. Shaw was hiking with her partner when she experienced sudden onset medical complications. As her condition deteriorated, she was eventually unable to walk, lost consciousness, and stopped breathing. CPR was provided but attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.

The Daily Mining Gazette contacted Isle Royale headquarters in Houghton Tuesday morning regarding the latest fatalities was told no more information was available at press time but more is expected to be released as it is made available. The Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that personnel from its department traveled by sea plane to the island to assist in the investigation.