The Minnesota DNR is embarking on a two-year $1.2 million project to study moose mortality. I wonder when the agency will admit that they themselves are a major contributor to the decline of our moose herd.
The DNR’s management practices to keep success levels up for northern Minnesota deer hunters and maintain permit revenue levels have increased the deer/ moose habitat overlap, which has introduced the parasites that are in large part responsible for the decline in moose numbers.
As the northeastern moose herd declined by 50 percent since 2006, the DNR continued to host its annual moose hunt. While claiming “bulls only” seasons would not affect moose reproduction levels, the number of moose “harvested” has undoubtedly caused a reduction in the genetic diversity needed to maintain a healthy gene pool. Nearly 700 moose were allowed to be taken since 2006.
The DNR’s “for-profit” lottery system to regulate moose, bear and wolf populations by “selling” these animals to lucky winners is disturbing. Six thousand permits were offered at $30 each to “harvest” 400 wolves this past year. What next, an eagle lottery?
The newly funded mortality study will use helicopters to net, tranquilize and radio collar 100 moose…further stressing these animals as they struggle to survive another Minnesota winter. Dead moose located on a real-time basis using GPS tracking will be removed from the environment for necropsy in DNR labs and will deplete a valuable food source for wolves, likely causing increased predation on an ever-dwindling moose herd.
By the time results of this twoyear study are evaluated and a lengthy decision-making process is complete as how to possibly stabilize the remaining moose population, the number of moose will most likely have declined by another 50 percent.
Nature is an amazingly intricate self-regulating system. Man’s disruption and need for control has thrown the entire system out of balance. Nature will win in the end of course, as it self-regulates our species right off the planet.
Bob LaMettry
Grand Marais
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