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.

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Warming climate affects Minn. moose population (Duluth news tribune)

Image: US FWS