Impacts of Forest Quality on Declining Minnesota Moose
Moose, one of Minnesota's prized wildlife species, are dying at much higher rates in Minnesota than elsewhere in North America. Recently observed increases in mortality rates amongst some moose in northeastern Minnesota have led to concern that the population there may be entering a decline like that seen in the northwestern part of the state, where moose populations fell from over 4,000 to fewer than 100 in less than 20 years. Additionally the specific causes of increased mortality amongst individual moose remain under investigation. Scientists at the University of Minnesota are using this appropriation to examine the role of habitat quality and landscape change and how it impacts moose diet, body condition, and mortality risk, specifically the role of forest age, structure, and composition in distribution of food and cover. Knowledge gained will be used by federal, state, and local natural resource agencies to identify appropriate management and habitat needs and actions that can be taken to help slow or prevent continued population declines in northeastern Minnesota of this iconic, keystone species.
$300,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources to link regional patterns of moose abundance through time to the distribution of food and cover and determine if this distribution affects the diet and survival of individual moose. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.