The moose, majestic icon of the north, has been the topic of hot discussion as their numbers in northwestern Minnesota plummeted and as numbers in the Arrowhead appear to be dropping as well. So why is the moose population declining? What is being done to find out?
On Monday, April 11 in Grand Marais and Tuesday, April 12 in Ely, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) will be hosting an informational meeting regarding Minnesota’s moose. Featuring Dr. Ron Moen of UMD’s Natural Resource Research Institute (NRRI) and Dr. Erika Butler, DNR’s wildlife veterinarian and moose research specialist, the meeting will provide a look into the most recent cutting-edge research being undertaken on Arrowhead moose.
Why MDHA and why moose? “Although we are recognized as a deer organization, MDHA’s mission is to work for tomorrow’s wildlife and hunters today through education, habitat, hunting and legislation,” reports MDHA executive director Mark Johnson. “In 2007, after hosting a Minnesota large mammal conference in Grand Rapids, MDHA’s board of directors decided that, since there was no interest group looking out for Minnesota’s moose and since moose are the granddaddy of the deer family, that MDHA would expand our sphere of concern and influence to benefit the moose.”
Subsequently, MDHA advocacy led passage of a legislative bill that directed DNR to place more emphasis upon moose including drafting a moose management plan and formation of the Moose Advisory Committee. MDHA advocacy also helped land two consecutive federal grants for Tribal/DNR cooperative moose research.
The meetings are scheduled for April 11 at the Cook County Community Center in Grand Marais and April 12 in Ely at the Vermilion Community College. Both start at 6 p.m.
For more information contact Joe Cannella at (800)450- 3337, ext. 14.
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