The annual Voyageurs National Park(Minnesota) Moose population count that was completed In March of this year reveals a small, stable population of some 40-51 animals........The Park's.Calf to Cow ratio continues to be of concern(as it is throughout the state) standing at a low index of 0.38(38%), similar to a year ago..................Ron Moen, a moose researcher at the University of Duluth is on record stating that Moose can thrive with a .40 calf to cow ratio(40%)........... Overall, fewer than 30 percent of Minnesota's moose calves have survived in recent years---a decade ago, the Calf to Cow ratio was as high as 60% in northeastern Minnesota.................Over the past 5 years, annual adult Moose mean mortality in Voyageurs has stood at about 7% versus the free falling Moose population in the northeastern sector of the state which has experienced a 20% annual mean sink in their numbers........Wolves seem to be less a predator of Moose in Voyageurs, as deer and Beaver are at this point abundant and easier to kill than Moose..........Some speculate that while the winter tics and deer brain disease are equally at play in both Voyageurs and the northeastern sector of Minnesota, Wolves have had a bigger impact on the disease stressed northeastern population............On-going studies across the Minnesota Moose population will continue to evaluate cause and effect of Moose population stress factors so as to come up with an optimum management plan for them.............Rarely do we hear about our alteration of the Moose habitat---- roads, hamlets, agriculture and industry encouraging deer encroachment over the past 120 years, upping brain disease incidence in Moose,exasperated by warm winters and resulting exploding winter tic populations

http://www.fox21online.com/news/local-news/Moose-Study-Results-Released-from-Voyageurs-National-Park/32796458#.VUj8xg47b4A.mailto

Moose Study Results Released from Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park Completes 2015 Moose Population Survey

POSTED: 12:58 PM CDT May 04, 2015 

Share on pinterest_shareShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing Services

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. -

Wildlife biologists at Voyageurs National Park recently completed an aerial survey of the park's moose population in Feb/Mar 2015.

The 2015 population estimate for the Kabetogama Peninsula was 46 moose, similar to estimates from 2009-2014 of 40-51.

The Kabetogama Peninsula is a 118-square mile roadless area that contains almost all of the park's moose population.

Similar to 2014, we observed few calves in 2015 and no sets of twins.

The estimated calf:cow ratio was 0.38 and calves were 14% of the population.

The bull:cow ratio observed during the 2015 survey (1.0) was higher than in previous years, but is likely a reflection of our sampling protocol rather than an actual change in the adult sex ratio over the last year.

The continued apparent stability of the low-density population in Voyageurs is corroborated through ongoing monitoring of GPS-collared moose.

None of the 10 collared adult moose have died since the last aerial survey was completed in 2014.

Three additional collared moose survived at least 2-10 months until we lost contact with their collars.

Overall, mean annual mortality of adult moose in Voyageurs National Park has been 7% since monitoring began in 2010.

By comparison, annual mortality of adult moose in the declining northeastern Minnesota moose population in recent years has been as high as 20%.

Voyageurs National Park is at the current southern extent of moose range in North America.

Warmer annual and summer temperatures may be stressing moose populations in the region.

The moose population declined by more than 60% between 2006-2015 in northeastern Minnesota and several areas in adjacent Ontario have also documented recent declines.

There are likely multiple factors involved in the observed declines including climate-related stresses on health and reproductive status, diseases and parasites, predation, and changes in habitat.

Moose in Voyageurs experience all of these factors, including documented deaths from the fatal brainworm parasite and other health-related effects.

However, wolf predation on adult moose appears to be uncommon.

White-tailed deer and beavers are abundant in the park and wolves prefer to feed on these species rather than moose.