Yesterday, the state of Minnesota released its long-researched
management plan that it hopes will help save a northwoods
ungulate that has long been an icon in the state — the Canadian
moose. A large portion of the plan is dedicated to controlling
deer numbers in moose range. Minnesota’s moose population is
down to about 4,900 in the northeastern corner of the state (11
percent lower than last year, and far below the 8,000 animals
just 10 years ago). Northwestern Minnesota’s smaller population
center is nearly gone, down from thousands in the 1970s to less
than 100 today. The reasons for the moose decline are not
clearly understood. Climate change could be one cause. A trend
to warmer summers and winters gives parasites more opportunity
to weaken moose. Also, it is believed extremely hot summers
cause moose to expend too much energy and thus enter winter with
minimal reserves. Warmer winters also allow deer to thrive
farther north, crowding out moose and increasing the risk of
brain worm, which whitetails car