The northern Minnesota moose population has been in crisis for a few years now. A precipitous drop in the number of moose in the region has led to the cancellation of the moose hunting season and widespread concern that disease, climate change and a crowded habitat are conspiring to drive moose from a state that was once known as a moose haven.
Marshall Helmberger of the Timberjay weekly newspapers in Vermilion country reports on a surprising new study of Minnesota moose calves.
The moose calf mortality rate in Voyaguers National Park was 71 percent just since the beginning of the year. Nearly half of all moose calves were killed by wolves, with another smaller group killed by bear. Sadly, ten young moose died in the research collaring process (usually because their mothers abandoned them), a factor removed from the statistics.
These numbers will increase this winter, a time when young moose are vulnerable to weather and more predators.
It bears mentioning that these are just the calf mortalities. A mysterious disease has been killing adults and Minnesota moose in general have been relocating further north because of changing climate and habitat.
All these factors taken together give a clearer picture of why it’s been so much more difficult to see a moose in the famed land of Bullwinkle’s Frostbite Falls.
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