Moose can’t handle the heat - December 09, 2008
Researchers gathered in Duluth, Minnesota, yesterday to discuss the declining local moose populations. Their conclusion: climate change is largely to blame.
There are currently fewer than 8,000 moose in Minnesota, down from 14,000 in the mid-1980s. Some regions of the state are particularly hard hit, such as the northwest, where there are now fewer than 100 moose, down from 4,000 in the mid-1980s.
At the meeting, moose expert Rolf Peterson, of Michigan Technological University said that heat stress — from rising temperatures — was killing the moose.
“Moose are very heat-sensitive,” Peterson said. “They’re a 1,000-pound animal, and they’re almost black. They have no terribly effective way of getting rid of heat except by breathing faster.” (Star Tribune)
Wildlife researcher Mark Lenarz, from the Department of Natural Resources, told researchers that moose decline correlated best with rising temperatures when compared with other factors such as disease, parasites, starvation and hunting.
“We don’t have a cause and effect. We need to identify the specific mechanism,” he added.
Notably, rising temperatures have previously been associated with increases in moose tick infestations, with detrimental effects for moose (Michigan Tech).
Local commenters on the Star Tribune story aren’t buying it.
“This is the land of 10,000 lakes. If a Moose gets hot he walks into the water”, writes Perronjp.
Or as Crankyhank puts it:
I sees mooses all da the time....up to der necks in da lake feeding on...lake stuff. Dey bring der babies along & dey like it in da lake, too. Dey look plenty cool ta me, but what do i know, I ain't no scientist.
More
Warming climate affects Minn. moose population (Duluth news tribune)
Image: US FWS
Comments
The 5 year trend line in the Moose survey shows a decreasing Moose population. Indeed, the number of moose between 2005 and 2008 has increased slightly in Minnesota, but 2007 was more down than 2006 and 2008 were up, skewing the trend line downward slightly.
However, the 11 year trend line shows a definite increasing moose population.
The predictions of a declining moose populations are based on modeling and artificially constraining survey data to the most recent years, for reasons that I am in the process of investigating.
I am in contact with the DNR on a change in survey methodology in 2004. I will update my article on the subject after I get answers.
The Minnesota DNR discusses other reasons why Moose might be dwindling in an article by Greg Briening titled "Moose Mystery", which can be found here: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/sepoct03/moosemystery.html. In it, he lists a variety of reasons moose die. Various pernicious parasites, predation by wolves, and conflicts with trains and automobiles are noted.
I am also attempting to obtain the temperature data used by DNR biologists that lead them to suggest under the color of science that an increasing temperature is correlated with moose population problems (which don't seem to exist except in North Western Minnesota).
Even if the globe is warming, moose would not care unless their habitat were warming locally. Local data is necessary for a local population study.
Moose hunting is already banned in North Western Minnesota.
Posted by: William Wallace | December 12, 2008 03:58 AM
Why are you quoting the commenters? There is nothing valuable there, not even anything funny, just aggravating.
Posted by: Anne | December 19, 2008 10:14 PM