Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MPR News Staff
St. Paul

Stable numbers, but Minnesota's moose are not out of the woods

A moose calf follows its mother
The state's annual aerial survey estimated 3,030 moose in northeastern Minnesota in January, statistically unchanged from last year's estimate of 3,710. Officials were buoyed by the stability but conceded there were no signs of a rebound.
Pete Takash | Minnesota DNR file via AP

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Minnesota's moose population remains stable but still low, with no signs yet of a turnaround. Those are the key findings from the latest annual survey of move in northeastern Minnesota.

Researchers estimated 3,030 moose in northeastern Minnesota in early- to mid-January, statistically unchanged from last year's estimate of 3,710, the state Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.

The DNR acknowledged it can't count every single creature across 6,000 square miles but said it was confident the population is between 4,140 and 2,320 moose.

While officials were thankful for the stability, they conceded there were no signs of a rebound in the moose population.

"The stability of moose numbers in recent years provides a reason for some optimism. We're no facing a significant decline," Glenn DelGiudice, the DNR's moose and deer project leader, said in a statement. "But this year's results would be more palatable had they reflected the beginning of a turnaround in the population trend."

The DNR each year compares its estimates to 2006, when the agency estimated 8,840 moose in the region, the state's highest moose population estimate. Right now, northeastern Minnesota's moose population is estimated to be 65 percent lower than that peak.

"Our field research has shown that annual pregnancy rates of adult females in this population have been robust," DelGiudice said. "But it is a challenge to maintain a high number of adult females that can become pregnant, produce calves and rear them to 1 year of age."

Survey results also indicate that calf survival to January has been relatively stable, but consistently low, the DNR added, noting that its investigation show wolves account for about two-thirds of the calf deaths compared to one-third of the adult mortality.