Precipitous Moose Decline in Minnesota

[Glenn MacGrady]

"The moose is under threat in the mosaic wilderness in far northern Minnesota, close to the Canadian border. It’s estimated moose once numbered 10,000 in the state, but the population fell by 64 percent more than a decade ago."

Paddle-Powered Research On Precipitous Moose Population Decline

Ian Finch leads a field team of canoeists into the northern Minnesota woods to study the iconic mammal.

paddlingmag.com

 

[Tryin']

Huh. Seems they forgot to mention the wolves. Don't get me wrong, the brainworm and other parasites they are picking up from ticks and snails are taking their toll, but yeah. Don't offend the wolf lovers.


ETA: I did not see the portion of the article telling of the impact grey wolves are having on calf recruitment. Entirely on me.

What's behind Minnesota's moose population decline?

Research conducted by William Severud, a South Dakota State University assistant professor, is providing new insights into brainworm, one of the leading causes behind Minnesota's moose population decline. For many years, the Grant Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa — a federally recognized...

www.sdstate.edu

 

[memaquay]

Deer are moving north up here, and bringing brain worm with them. Our population is starting to crash too.

 

[Gerald]

memaquay said:

Deer are moving north up here, and bringing brain worm with them. Our population is starting to crash too.

Same here in Québec province. When I first started canoeing in La Vérendrye in the early 70's. We would see moose every day, even in the most southern part. Now from the Le Domaine south it's almost exclusively deer. Some say it has to do with all the clear cut logging over the years.

I can remember seeing moose quite a lot in Algonquin park over the years, and I believe they still have a healthy population even with the presence of deer.

G.

 

[Modified Ottertail]

Huh. Seems they forgot to mention the wolves. Don't get me wrong, the brainworm and other parasites they are picking up from ticks and snails are taking their toll, but yeah. Don't offend the wolf lovers.

Did you read the article?

Packs of wolves howled, and we howled back from the shoreline. Moore estimated two active packs surrounded us. I uncovered wolf scat on a long, narrow portage trail. On closer inspection, Moore noted the scat predominantly consisted of moose calf hair.

. . . He told us in recent decades, warming winters have allowed white-tailed deer to migrate farther north into moose territory. As part of the natural predation cycle, wolves followed the white-tailed deer, only to discover the easy pickings of moose calves, derailing the repopulation of the next generation. [Ed. Emphasis added.]

 

[Tryin']

Did you read the article?

I did. And I read it again. Then I posted. And then when you just quoted my post, I read it again. And I discovered that on my mobile, there is a Honda ad that is superimposed over the following paragraph:

"In moments like this, Moore transformed from paddler to biologist. He reached into the depths of research and data he’d uncovered so far, sharing the grim story he felt was unfolding for the moose if left to the natural cycles. He told us in recent decades, warming winters have allowed white-tailed deer to migrate farther north into moose territory. As part of the natural predation cycle, wolves followed the white-tailed deer, only to discover the easy pickings of moose calves, derailing the repopulation of the next generation."

It shows up fine on my desktop, so I dunno.

So,
1. Mea culpa
2. Thank you for pointing it out