Moose plan needs more study

[Lee Borgersen]

 
  Moose plan needs more study

Ely Echo Editorial

 

Reading the plan for the future of moose in Minnesota may not be on any bucket list, but for those who enjoy and/or are interested in the outdoors, it's a must read.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been struggling with the rapid decline of the moose population. In the northwest part of the state, the population has slid from 4,000 in 1986 to 100 today. The numbers around Ely are declining as well, although nowhere near the drop seen west of here.

The "moose line," a boundary line drawn on a map to indicate where moose can be found is marching east at a rapid pace. Today the north-south boundary is as close as the Vermilion River. West of that line, very few if any moose.

So the DNR convened a study group to look at the problem of a declining moose population and to come up with some recommendations. The public comment period on the study group's plan is open now.

What is missing in the plan is information on why the moose calves are declining at a precipitous rate. The information is nearly glossed over and it shows a glaring weakness in the DNR's moose studies. They know moose are dying but they have no idea why. They know there are fewer moose calves, but since they don't collar calves, they have absolutely no idea what is going on there.

This is more disturbing to us than the recommendations. If the future of the moose are the calves, then it makes sense to us to expand efforts to find out why there are fewer calves per cow. Tough to have more moose if the herd is having a hard time keeping the young ones alive.

Here's some info straight from the DNR:

• An aerial survey of 24 radio collared cows in late May 2010 indicated a calf:cow ratio of 1.13 calves/cow and 21% of the cow moose were accompanied by twins. By January, the calf:cow ratio among these radio collared cows was 0.46 and 1 cow (5%) was accompanied by twins.

• If data from the radio collared moose was representative of the entire northeastern population, there was substantial calf mortality between May and January. Although disturbing, it is important to note that adult survival is much more important to the population growth rate than calf survival.

That last statement helps us to understand why the DNR seems to be as clear as mud in figuring out why moose are steadily declining.

We understand that as long as there are enough bulls to keep the cows busy during mating season, you can have a limited bulls-only hunting season.

But if the adults are dying off (and we don't know why) and we know that the calves are dying off as fast or faster, how is this a good thing?

The headlines on the plan to date have been concentrated on banning recreational deer feeding. We're sure the idea of a law banning corn piles in people's yards will be a political hot potato no one is going to want to handle. But in the end it may or may not help the moose population.

Missing from the DNR files are population studies on moose predators, specifically bears and wolves. The DNR does not know how many wolves or bears there are in any specific areas.

Surveys are used to determine moose populations, but the DNR has yet to look at the predators. We've heard from St. Paul that the DNR doesn't believe wolves kill adult moose. Even if that was believable, we won't have very many adult moose if the moose calves are being served to the wolves and bears.

Read the plan, form your opinions and send them in to the DNR. The final Minnesota moose research and management plan will be completed in the fall.

Here in Ely we have the International Wolf Center on one end of town and the North American Bear Center on the other. What about a Moose Center? Or better yet, why not?

One of Minnesota's problems in relation to moose is the lack of an eminent moose biologist.

Maybe we need to identify a moose expert who would like to build a research center in Ely. If we're going to make Ely the home of the Moose Center, we need to hurry while there are still moose that call this area home. 
 

[stevejedlenski]

one of my professors in college spent many years in sweden studying moose, and knows way too much about them imo.  if one could talk to the right people maybe he could be our moose biologist. of course that would mean new funding which is hard to come by right now. hopefully someone can step up to the plate and figure out our problem... im sure delisting and controlled harvesting of wolves might help too