A typical Temagami t-shirt has either a bear or moose on it. Alarmingly, moose populations are declining throughout North America, and Ontario is no exception. When the number of moose in Ontario declined to about 80,000 in the 1980’s hunting was restricted, and moose abundance rose to about 115,000 by the early 2000’s. As of 2015, there were about 92,300 moose in the province, a 20% drop. Near Cochrane and Thunder Bay, moose numbers declined 60% and 50%, respectively, over the last decade.
While there are likely multiple causes for the decline in moose populations, a central issue seems to be climate change. Moose are highly cold-adapted, and a warming climate brings heat stress and increased parasites that can kill moose. An example is found in New Hampshire where 41% of moose deaths in 2002-2005 were attributable to parasites, particularly ticks, which thrive under warmer conditions. Moose do best in a mosaic of variable habitats. First Nation elders have said that the longer a forest goes without burning, the fewer moose there will be there, so fire suppression could be a factor contributing to lower moose numbers.
The main action MNRF is taking to boost moose numbers at this time is to limit hunting. Thanks to a huge public outcry, MNRF discarded a potential plan to increase hunting of wolves and coyotes in Ontario. Decades of research have shown that reducing top predators causes massive ecological disruption and does not reliably increase prey populations over time. The 2016 ECO report (see bat story) criticizes MNRF for its short-sighted, uninformed approach to moose management.
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