The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) aerial Minnesota moose count is in the books for 2017, and stands at 3,710, just off the 2016 estimate of 4,020.
And while the count appears to have stabilized over the last four years, moose show no signs of coming back to 2006 numbers when the DNR estimated there were 8,840 moose in northeastern Minnesota.
“At this point, results do not indicate that moose are recovering in northeastern Minnesota,” said Glenn DelGiudice, DNR moose project leader. “While it is encouraging to see that the decline in the population since 2012 has not been as steep, the apparent stability does not allow us to forecast the direction of the population’s trajectory into the future.”
The survey was conducted from January 5 to January 14, 2017. With snow depths from 8-16 inches in much of the study area, overall, conditions were rated as good for 90 percent, and fair for 10 percent of the plots studied.
Spotters counted 508 moose, 206 bulls, 217 cows, 74 calves and 11 unclassified adults. Nine cows with twins were spotted. In 2016, 506 moose were tallied.
DNR research suggests calf numbers were small, but similar to the 12-year average since 2005. Overall, cites the report, “Survey results indicate calf survival to January 2017 is low, but it is typical compared to most years since the population decline began following the 2006 study.
“Annual recruitment of calves can have a significant influence on population performance of moose, but it is not determined until the next spring’s calving season when calves observed during winter become yearlings,” wrote DelGiudice, who authored the report.
Studies have shown adult moose survival has the greatest long-term impact on changes in the size of moose populations. The DNR’s moose mortality research project indicates survival of adult moose remained between 85 and 88 percent from 2014 to 2016, a bit higher than the average of 81 percent during 2002 to 2008, and 81 percent in 2013. Wolves prey on healthy adult moose and calves, although research data have indicated modestly higher calf survival in the past couple of years compared to 2013, which may be contributing to the population’s recent apparent stability.
Multiple factors are contributing to killing moose, say wildlife researchers. Scientists cite brain worm spread by deer, winter ticks, poor nutrition, parasites, warming temperatures, lack of habitat, and predation by bears and wolves among other things.
Minnesota DNR Enforcement pilots flew two helicopters with spotters over 52 survey plots of 13 square miles each. The DNR estimates that the 2017 count was 90 percent accurate with the population as high as 4,710 and as low as 3,010.
While this recent short term trend is noteworthy, said DelGiudice, “It applies only to the current survey stimulates, not the future trajectory of the population.”
DNR aerial moose surveys have taken place since 1960. In 2005 adjustments were made to make the survey more accurate and annual results more comparable.
The count is conducted in partnership with the Divisions of Enforcement and Fish and Wildlife, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the 1854 Treaty Authority. Both the Lake Superior Chippewa and 1854 Authority also contributed personnel for the annual moose survey.
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