Minnesota Moose population continues to decline; hunting season to be evaluated

[swamptiger]

As usual, it looks like there is probably some misinformation and media hype involved in this as well. The NE moose numbers are declining if you look at it one way, but are actually increasing or staying stable if you look at it another way. It looks like there was at least one misleading survey taken with a total count of 13,000 moose. So if you base the population on this number, yes, the herd is declining. If you go back a few more years, the herd has actually increased.

http://www.nrri.umn.edu/moose/download/Lenarz_moose_survey_2007.pdf

[john skarie]

Wow I guess nobody wants to believe that there may be localized issues, as in parasites in MN, that are not a factor in other geographical areas. It seems blinders are on to everthing but the wolf. Temperatures have a direct effect on parasites that live on/in the skin. Temps in MN, especially in the fall have been noticably warmer over the last decade. I deer hunt north of Ely and can remeber no snow and warm temps almost every year since 2000.

Wolf and Moose intercations have been extensively studied in MN. Most notably on Isle Royale. Maybe some of you have knowledge of that, but it seems not.

Many times the what appears to be the obvious answer is not, much like the world really wasn't flat.

JS

[swamptiger]

Wow - strong reaction, JS - did you bother to read the report I posted?

[john skarie]

How does the report you posted fit in with my reaction to people blaming wolves as the major culprit in the moose decline from it's historic numbers?

The report did note that the number of moose with hair loss from ticks was up to 11% from 6% in 2006.

A problem that is amplified with warmer weather in the fall.

As another poster mentioned, there are probalby many reasons all contributing to the decline. It's not just the wolf.

JS

[Transporter]

I am quite aware of Isle Royale and know the people heading the wolf/moose study, I also talked at length with many outside of the study from Canada and Norway during the international moose conference hosted in Minnesota in 2010. I won't even begin to pretend I have anywhere close to the knowledge that these folks do when it comes to moose, but it seemed to me that there was an overwhelming sense of climate change as the number one cause of declining moose populations. Those conversations left me feeling as if the blinders were on that group as well, this time to climate change. Moose are down in northwestern Ontario as well, there is some evidence of warmer temps, albeit minor in my opinion, the other common factor is the wolf, which is also experiencing record populations in Ontario. The parasites play a role to some extent but I've seen moose with brainworms and the behavior is unmistakable and really not that common as of late. Wolves kill and wound many moose each year, calves are a prime target with cows being injured or taken trying to protect the calf. If the state starts reducing the wolf population it will be interesting to see how the moose numbers react.

[swamptiger]

I thought you were replying to my post, but if not, it might possibly avoid confusion if you reply to whichever poster you want to address - just a suggestion..

Quote:

As another poster mentioned, there are probalby many reasons all contributing to the decline. It's not just the wolf.

There obviously was a huge decline in the NW moose population which was accompanied by an increase in the deer population. If you look at the numbers for the NE, I'm not completely convinced there is a problem. Seems obvious to me a moose herd can't possibly increase by over 3-fold in one year. So it also seems obvious the numbers aren't accurate. This was also alluded to in the report, so hopefully the counting methods are more accurate than they've been in the past..

[jay83196]

Global warming boys! let's leave the trucks in the garage and start riding our bikes to work

[jmd1]

No Wiser, one question that comes to mind about samples is why not have a mandatory check station or even a cull type hunt to find out what the samples show. This is the best way to get good samples and still find out if there is a problem within the herd. We do this in a few areas in AZ on the deer, one to pull good fecal samples, blood, hair, and brain. I understand that it is difficult to set up but depending on the number of hunts in the state it could be done. Have the DNR biologist right there to do the sample.

[Powerstroke]

To hockeybc and others who commented on my post, I am not suggesting that wolves are the only culprit. My point was that the increased presence of an apex predator into this area has contributed greatly to the mortality of all large mammals in northern MN. This has been noticed in official studies and through anecdotal reports. It is not only through depredation, but also through the added pressure put on moose by having a pack of wolves constantly harrassing you. This increased stress will also contribute to weakening animals.

I too know a few DNR wildlife biologists and hopefully someday will work for them. My point about the studies is that these studies aren't always about finding the right answer. Many of these studies are funded to study a certain aspect. A tick study or brain worm study will not point to wolves, however I can't think of any study that has gone to great lengths to study the effect of wolves on moose EXCEPT for the one on Isle Royale. That study shows very well that moose are eaten by wolves and a balance will be struck eventually. With the great expansion of wolves in MN, it seems naive and ignorant to hardly mention wolves in the report and to actually somewhat subordinate the effect of wolves by trying to mention how few moose in their collar studies were killed by wolves.

Moose are counted all across northern MN, but you know they are not being collared in the middle of the BWCA. Considering car kills were a major cause of death and there were actually 2 train kills, it shows that the collar studies does little to measure the cause of mortality across the moose herd.