It comes as no surprise that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently confirmed that the moose population in northern Minnesota continues to decline.
Aerial survey results show that the numbers hover around 4,900, down from 7,800 two years ago. The DNR has witnessed steady drop over the past 14 years, with a ratio of 24 calves for every 100 cows.
Studies of radio collared moose confirm these statistics. Research since 2002 has shown that non-hunting mortality is higher in the Arrowhead region then moose populations outside of Minnesota.
So why all the loss of moose? Researchers aren’t very certain. Some moose are thought to have died from disease or parasites. Of the 150 moose in the radio collar study, 114 have died of unknown causes. Some of the others where killed by vehicle traffic, trains or wolves.
Interested in pinpointing the cause of the high mortality rate, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Natural Resources would like a study to begin in 2012.
As a result, the DNR is likely to reduce hunting permits of moose this fall. A little more than 100 permits are expected to be issued. This is about half of the number of permits granted last season. The new changes would average out to a harvest of around 3% of the adult moose population.
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