Moose deserve more funding from state

[Lee Borgersen]

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Moose deserve more funding from state

Ely Echo editorial


One of our state's well-known critters is in need of some help from the state legislature. We believe a five-year study on the moose population needs to be extended another five years with state funding.

This study has been going for four years and uses radio-collared moose to study everything from the animals' range to mortality rates.

What has been learned so far is our moose die from non-hunting causes at a higher rate than the average for North America.

Last year the study found a mortality rate of 17 percent, much higher than the average of eight to 12 percent.

The reason for this? Unknown. What should be done? Study the moose for another five years to find out if this is a statistical anomaly or something serious.

The moose herd in northeast Minnesota is estimated at somewhere between 6,000 and 8,000 by the DNR.

The radio-collared moose have had a mortality rate of between nine and 24 percent during the survey. What's troubling is the unknown cause of death of some of the moose in the survey.

Scientists have ruled out known diseases and parasites that kill the large animals, leaving a mystery as to why 15 emaciated prime-aged radio collared moose have been found dead over the past four years.

The moose population is already at a point where hunting is limited to 279 permits per year and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those fortunate enough to be drawn in a lottery system.

But moose are valued by the non-hunting public as well. Our local Chamber of Commerce and the DNR office in Tower receive numerous requests each year from visitors hoping to photograph moose in the wild.

The study now coming to an end was largely funded by the northern Chippewa bands, including through the 1854 Authority.

We would like to see our state Senator and Representative make funding available and extend this study as a priority during the upcoming legislative session.

Moose can live to be 20 years old and we think having more teenagers out in the woods is always a good thing. We're hoping Sen. Tom Bakk and Rep. David Dill agree.

** Photo by Dr Bob & smallmouthguide