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Moose Hunting Banned in Minnesota After 50% Drop in Numbers
the daily dish
Have you seen less moose on the loose? According to the Daily Mail U.K., moose hunting has been banned in Minnesota due to a dramatic drop in the state's moose population.
Over the past two years, the number of moose in the state has dropped by 52% for unknown reasons. To give the animal a chance to rebound Minnesota has banned moose hunting for an indefinite amount of time.
Minnesota is also investing $1.2 million to research what is behind this rapid decline. Numbers have been dropping for several years, but never this sharply.
"It's now prudent to control every source of mortality we can as we seek to understand causes of population decline," Tom Landwehr, Minnesota's natural resources commissioner told Daily Mail.
There has been some opposition to the new ban. Outfitters in the moose-populated area of the state have started online petitions to get the ban dropped, as it severely affects their business.
Officials believe that hunting is not the primary reason behind the decline. Instead, they think it's probably a mix of hot summers and tick-borne diseases that are causing the sudden change. Minnesota hopes their high-tech research effort, the largest in history, will lead to a solution.
Currently there are roughly 2,760 moose in Minnesota, a startling number compared to the 8,840 that were counted there in 2006.
Drunk Moose & More Most Viral Animal Images:
Over the past two years, the number of moose in the state has dropped by 52% for unknown reasons. To give the animal a chance to rebound Minnesota has banned moose hunting for an indefinite amount of time.
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Minnesota is also investing $1.2 million to research what is behind this rapid decline. Numbers have been dropping for several years, but never this sharply.
"It's now prudent to control every source of mortality we can as we seek to understand causes of population decline," Tom Landwehr, Minnesota's natural resources commissioner told Daily Mail.
There has been some opposition to the new ban. Outfitters in the moose-populated area of the state have started online petitions to get the ban dropped, as it severely affects their business.
Officials believe that hunting is not the primary reason behind the decline. Instead, they think it's probably a mix of hot summers and tick-borne diseases that are causing the sudden change. Minnesota hopes their high-tech research effort, the largest in history, will lead to a solution.
Currently there are roughly 2,760 moose in Minnesota, a startling number compared to the 8,840 that were counted there in 2006.
Drunk Moose & More Most Viral Animal Images:
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3 Comments
Come to Newfoundland to hunt, we almost have too many. They're all over our roads causing accidents and stuff.
February 10 2013 at 5:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI cannot imagine the overpopulation of wolves has been the main cause. I wonder if I can get part of the $1.2 M for the study? Another brilliant expenditure of taxpayer money in MN.
February 08 2013 at 10:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI'm glad to see the suspension of hunting for a time in order to give this some serious research.
February 08 2013 at 3:59 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyWhat's happening in Minn. could also happen elsewhere. And by the way, I am also a hunter, so I believe in taking care of our wildlife and putting every effort we can into protecting it, responsible hunting and research to ensure future generations have the same opportunities.