The “capture related mortality” count continues to increase in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s moose mortality study with the reported death of three newborn moose calves…11 percent of the first 28 calves captured. One died after being collared, two apparently were abandoned by their mothers. It’s not hard to understand why a cow moose would choose to abandon its calf, fearing a repeat of the capture it experienced this past January.
Four adult moose had died from “capture related mortality” after being located by helicopter, tranquilized and radio collared by researchers earlier this year. As of early May, 12 percent of the adult moose radio collared have died since January.
The practice of separating a cow and calf to put a radio collar on a oneto four-day-old newborn is troubling. Disrupting the early bonding of cow and calf would seem, at best, to be ill advised. One also wonders if these collars expand sufficiently as the calf grows or are calves recaptured (this time tranquilized) to be re-collared as they rapidly increase in size? Will they be lifelong subjects in this study?
What’s causing the decline in moose numbers? Climate change, increased deer numbers, tick related disease, mosquitoes, predation could all be contributing factors. This study appears to be raising more questions than answers…though more grant money for the researchers might be easier to find as they present new areas of inquiry. It’s unlikely that the DNR will be able to do much in halting the demise of the Minnesota moose herd…but it’s a good bet there will be ample data, charts and graphs compiled not reaching any real consensus as to why the population declined.
There is one thing the moose continuing to die of “capture related mortality” will have in common…they are all the unfortunate and unwilling participants in this costly DNR research project.
Bob LaMettry
Grand Marais
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