Michigan Moose Population Strugging

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sedated moose being tagged (photo from the Michigan DNR)

from a news bulletin of the Michigan DNR

Despite the fact that Michigan's lower peninsula has no resident moose, the large mammals are usually of high interest to all Michigan residents.

In an aerial survey, biologists estimated approximately 300 moose within the western Upper Peninsula core range, down from an estimated 426 moose in 2023. It is unclear whether the lower estimate reflects an actual population decline, a shift in moose distribution away from historically surveyed areas, or a combination of both.

Michigan reintroduced moose to the Upper Peninsula in the 1980s with a goal of a herd of 1,000-plus moose. This population goal has not been attained, and currently the herd is declining.

Moose reproduction is stable. Eight of ten tagged cow moose produced eleven calves. However, brainworm, predators, ticks and vehicles remain problematic. Cars have killed 60 moose in the UP in past four years.

Ongoing moose research in the western Upper Peninsula is a collaborative effort between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and Northern Michigan University, and is supported primarily through federal conservation grants, tribal partnerships and university resources.

See Balsam Oil May be Balm for Moose


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Balsam Oil May be Balm for Moose

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moose that has rubbed most of the hair from its face (photo by Sarah Hoy)

based on an article from Michigan Technicological University

Although moose have not been found in Michigan's Lower Peninsula since the 1880s (and even occasional odd sightings of wanderers are extremely rare), this study seems interesting enough to share.

Grace Moeggenborg, an applied ecology and environmental science student in Michigan Technological University, noted that many moose in the Upper Peninsula were suffering from the cold, due to huge numbers of attached ticks. The moose try to rub them off and mostly succeed only in dangerously thinning their fur.

The problem is the Winter Tick, Ixodes scapularis. As many as 20,000 ticks may be present on one moose. The animals may become anemic or malnourished due to blood loss.

It has been known since 2022 that Balsam Fir oil will kill Black-legged (Deer) Ticks which are the same species, but refer to the early-season hatch. The Winter Ticks appear in nymph form in late fall. Already Moggenborg's research has determined the timeline for the ticks, and she is documenting never-before understood information about this part of the aracnhid's life cycle.

She hopes to determine if the Balsam oil can also kill the over-wintering ticks that plague the moose. A delivery system to put the oil in contact with the nymphs must also be devised.

Moggenberg hopes to keep pursuing her passion for addressing forest pests and pathogens. She's also considering continuing her education beyond an undergraduate degree.

See the entire article at the Michigan Tech website.


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