Moose ready for round 2 ?

[Lee Borgersen]

Northern Minnesota: Researchers to collar 52 moose to further study die-off

02/03/2014



Researchers plan to collar 52 adult moose in northeastern Minnesota starting this week in the second year of a high-tech study that seeks a better understanding of why the iconic species is disappearing from the state.

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The radio collars use GPS technology and stomach implants to transmit alerts when a moose's heart stops beating, or if the animal stops moving for six hours, indicating that it likely died. Biologists then try to rush to the carcass within 24 hours before it decomposes or scavengers destroy the evidence.

The idea is to replace the 22 study moose that died over the past year to try to keep the sample at around 100 animals, said Michelle Carstensen, wildlife health program supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. DNR biologists plan to start collaring 36 moose across northeastern Minnesota on Thursday, she said, while researchers for the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa began collaring the first of 16 moose on the reservation for their own study Monday.

DNR researchers also plan to collar 50 moose calves shortly after they're born this spring. Seventy-four percent of the 49 calves collared last May have died, DNR research biologist Glenn DelGiudice said.

"We've got alarm bells ringing on both ends," Carstensen said. "We've got adults dying and a very high calf mortality rate. Neither of these things is good when it comes to wanting to have a stable moose population."

The DNR's aerial survey last winter showed Minnesota's moose numbers continuing to plummet. The population was estimated at 2,760, down 35 percent since 2012 and 52 percent from 2010. The state had about 8,840 moose as recently as 2006. Scientists suspect some combination of higher temperatures, parasites, diseases and changing habitat. While DNR says hunting was not a major factor, it canceled the season, perhaps permanently.

DelGiudice said he's finishing up this year's estimate and that it could be released later this week. He declined to say what it will show.

Among the collared adults studied over the past year, the mortality rate was about 20 percent. That's high compared with non-hunting adult mortality rates elsewhere of 8 to 12 percent, Carstensen said.

Of the 111 adults captured last winter, eight were killed by wolves, including at least three moose that had been weakened by health problems. Two died from infections caused by wolf attacks that they initially survived. Ten died of health problems such as parasites. One developed a fatal infection from a compound leg fracture of unknown cause. One cause of death could not be determined, she said, because all researchers found was the collar.

Four died from complications of being tranquilized and captured, a mortality rate of 3 percent, which Carstensen said was below average.

"Anytime you have to handle an animal it's a stressful event," Carstensen said. "We do everything we can to minimize it."

Eleven calves died soon after being collared, most after their mothers abandoned them, while 20 were killed by predators in their first four months. One more died from in November from an infection caused by a wolf attack, and another's collar broke off in late December or early January as the collars are designed to do when a calf gets bigger, DelGiudice said.

[Lee Borgersen]

  DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE Feb 14th RELEASE  
                                                                  
  ......Update: Aerial moose survey results for 2014


Minnesota's moose population trend shows no significant change

  more ......
Aerial moose survey results for 2014 show no significant change in Minnesota's moose population even though more animals were seen than last year.

Results of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' annual aerial moose survey place the 2014 statewide moose population estimate at 4,350. The 2013 estimate was 2,760 but due to variability in the estimates, this year's estimate does not represent a statistically significant change.

"The higher estimate this winter likely is related to ideal survey conditions rather than any actual increase in the population," said Lou Cornicelli, wildlife research manager for the DNR. "This year's heavy snows across northeastern Minnesota made it comparatively easy to spot dark-bodied moose against an unbroken background of white."

Cornicelli said this year's estimate is very close to the 2012 estimate of 4,230, which suggests that last year's estimate may have under-counted the population.

"All wildlife population surveys have inherent degrees of uncertainty," he said. "Long-term trend and population estimates are more informative and significant than annual estimates."

That long-term trend shows Minnesota's moose population is continuing a significant downward trend. Even with this year's higher population estimate, the number of moose is about half of 2006's estimate of 8,840.

DNR's ongoing moose mortality research also is providing important information on population status.

"Mortality rates of 21 percent among adult moose and 74 percent for calves in the first year of the studies illustrate the complexity of Minnesota's moose population problem," Cornicelli said. "Even though we counted more moose on this year's survey than last year, the radio-collar data and overall population trend over time indicate a continuing population decline."

The adult and calf moose mortality studies are in their second year. Researchers just completed collaring an additional 36 adult moose to replace those that died in 2013. Another 50 newborn calves will be collared this spring. Researchers hope information and insights gathered during the study will help identify potential management and habitat options that may stop or slow the long-term population decline.

No final decision about moose hunting will be made until after the DNR consults with the affected Chippewa bands in the 1854 Treaty ceded territory of northeastern Minnesota. The DNR suspended the season in 2013 because of last year's low population estimate.

The DNR has conducted aerial moose population surveys in northeastern Minnesota since 1960. The survey involves flying a helicopter across 52 randomly selected areas of northeastern Minnesota to count moose. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the 1854 Treaty Authority contribute funding and provide personnel for the annual survey.

A copy of the 2014 aerial survey is available online at www.mndnr.gov/moose, a Web page that also provides information on the DNR's ongoing moose mortality research project.

[Lee Borgersen]

            Collar grows with young moose


YOUNG ONE - A day-old moose calf fitted with an collar that expands as the animal grows. A GPS transmitter is attached to the collar, allowing Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wildlife researchers to monitor each calf’s location via satellite. The collars are designed to automatically drop off this coming winter before they become too small for the young moose.

Photo by MN. DNR


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