I suspect wolves. How has the wolf population done over the same period of Moose decline?
McD’s?
Used to have moose on our farm to nibble on corn and grain, and a lot of pheasants.
Gone,, like yesterday’s flock of geese..
Seth Moore, a wildlife biologist in Grand Portage, theorizes that recent years of warmer, shorter winters and hotter, longer summers have resulted in a twofold problem. The changing climate has stressed out the moose, compromising their immune systems. And warmer temperatures have allowed populations of white-tailed deer, carriers of brain worm — which is fatal to moose — to thrive.
Normally I have a negative gut reaction to anything the NY Times publishes. But I will say that for central Kentucky where I am at; the 2012-2013 winter was very mild. That DID have a relation to the Meningeal worm that I have to do monthly inoculations on my Alpacas for. The White tail deer do carry it and their droppings are eaten by snails that do travel into the pastures and are occasionally eaten by any grass eating animal.
Other parasites that were abnormally increased in population were nemotidirus and Strongyles including the Barber pole worm.
THIS year though the temperatures have been well below freezing for much of the winter and I expect to see a corresponding drop-off in parasitic infections because of that.
It’s simple: in Minnesota, if it moves it gets taxed. The moose are being taxed to death.
Squirrel? Is that you?
Of course, the NY Times posits:
Global warming cooling warming cooling changing.
Climate Change of course!/s
If they needed a cooler climate, why wouldn’t they head north to Canada. There is plenty of cold weather just North on Mini-so-cold. Their own rhetoric shows their stupidity!
Its all that cheese and sister biting I’ll bet.
The lack of affordable health care, and a reluctance to raise the minimum wage.
Uhh, Boris Badanoff and Natasha?
Maybe my sister decided to bite back...
Check their livers. You’ll find a parasite. Too easy.
Hamburger prices?
There has been a similar (though less dramatic) decline in the moose population in New Hampshire, the result of a huge increase in ticks. Thousands feed on a single moose, weakening them and making the animal more susceptible to predators, or death from other illnesses.
Hmmm...never had this problem when you could use DDT. After this brutally cold winter, a good application of insecticide would put quite a dent in the tick problem. Fewer ticks = more moose, at least in New Hampshire.
During my Air Force days, I had friends stationed at Loring AFB in northern Maine. The base was a SAC installation, it was a good location for B-52s and KC-135s because it put them a little closer to the Soviet Union.
There were moose on Loring, and some of them liked to wander out on the runway. I’m told there were more than a few close calls between a 1,500 pound moose and a B-52 lumbering down the runway. The moose would sit there, chewing its cud and watch the approaching Buff before strolling off at the last possible moment.
DNR estimates Minn. moose population at 4,350; says trend shows no significant change
http://www.startribune.com/local/245574681.html
they undercounted them.