The moose population in Wildlife Management Unit 12B is on the rise, according to the results of an aerial survey conducted in February. But the surveys in the rest of the district, and the province, produced less encouraging results.
“There is something going on that we need to sort out,” said biologist Brian Jackson, who conducted the 12B survey. “And it’s best to sort it out now, while we still have [good numbers of] moose out there. Some units are seeing 50% declines over five or six years.”
Three surveys were conducted in the MNR’s Fort Frances district this year, in WMUs 12B, 9A (conducted by biologist Melissa Mosley) and 9B (by biologist Darryl McLeod). Thunder Bay District biologists surveyed 11B, just east of Quetico Park, as well. The surveys were conducted by helicopter; the MNR aims to survey each WMU every three to five years.
In 12B, observers counted 334 moose in 30 plots, which translates into a moose population of 2,450 in the 5,500 sq.km. management unit. That’s up from the 2006 survey (estimated population then: 2,150), and is the most observed in the WMU since surveys started in 1982.
Of concern is that far fewer moose were observed to the west of Atikokan.
“We did the plots to the east of Atikokan first, and when we went to the west, even the pilot noticed the difference,” said Jackson.
There could be several factors behind this, he said. Deer are more common as you move west of here, and the overall decline of moose numbers in the Northwest has been linked to growing numbers of deer. (Deer spread a parasite that they are immune to, but that kill moose.)
It could also be a case of better moose habitat to the east, though. Most of the moose there are concentrated in a number of areas that burned about 15 years ago. That makes for excellent moose habitat (from both good browse and the difficulty hunters face in accessing the area), at least in the short run.
“It could become a problem. As the forest canopy develops, excellent moose habitat quickly turns into poor habitat,” said Jackson. It takes about 20 years after a burn for that to happen – which might mean moose to the east of Atikokan will face difficulty over the next few years.
Another issue here, and across the region, is the cow-bull ratio. In 12B, it has almost reached the 3:1 mark – three cows for every bull.
“Ideally, we’d like to see it at about 1.5 cows per bull. When it gets too far off that ratio, you start to see cows not being bred,” said Jackson. Hunting rule changes in 1999 made it easier to get a bull tag, and may need to be adjusted, he added. (The bull-cow ratio seems to be remaining stable in non-hunting areas.)
Outside of 12B, the survey results were not as good. WMU 12B was the only unit in the area to show a moose population increase – 9A was down 28% (estimate: 1,150 moose) from 2005, 9B was down 10% (estimate: 685) from 2005, and 11B numbers were also down, from 2004.
“The good news, at least in 9A, 9B and 12B, was that calf numbers seem to be slowly fighting their way back,” said Jackson. Declining calf numbers have been an issue since about 2003 in most areas of the province.
Shorter winters here are known to be a stressor for moose, both on how they impact the animal itself and for the way they encourage deer populations, and are a factor that has to be considered.
“We’re seeing some real similarities in what is happening with moose populations here, in Minnesota, Michigan and Manitoba,” said Jackson. (Ontario hosted a climate change conference focusing on moose impacts last year.) “Deer seems to be the issue [behind the moose decline], but that’s the thing we tend to look at. There are areas without deer that are seeing the same kinds of moose issues.”
“There are some burning questions we need to work on.”
One of the ways Ontario manages the moose population is through hunting regulations, and that program is in the midst of a major overhaul across the province.
Started last year, the Ontario Moose Review is being conducted in two phases. In phase one, the province developed an overall cervid (moose, deer, caribou, elk) management strategy. This year, in phase two, it plans to apply that strategy in the way it distributes tags among hunters.
Phase two has now moved fully into the consultation stage, and the Atikokan Sportsmen’s Conservation Club will host an info session on the review here Wednesday (7 pm, AEDC); Jackson will be on hand to explain the proposals).
The province wants feedback in four main areas:
• How best to share moose, and favour group hunters in the draw.
• How to adjust the draw system to make sure hunters don’t go too many years without getting a tag.
• Is an alternative ‘points-based’ system a better way to run the draw?
• How should tag transfers be handled?
The meeting is open to the public; all of the info is also available online, at www.mnr.gov.on.ca
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