A new survey of moose in Minnesota shows a continuing problem with moose population, as calves are dying at a higher than expected rates.
The survey, from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, indicates there are about 3,450 moose in northeastern Minnesota. That’s down 60 percent from 2006.
And while the survey numbers show no change in numbers in recent years, that may be misleading because the number of dying calves is high.
“This indicates the population will likely continue to decline in the foreseeable future,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR wildlife research manager.
Officials hope information from an ongoing radio collar research will help find ways to stop or slow the long-term population decline, he said. Researchers will put radio collars on 36 more adult moose in the next few weeks, and in the spring will collar 50 newborn calves.Moose hunting was suspended in 2013 and won’t start again until officials determine the population can support a hunt.
