| Prior to that afternoon they had gotten along. | | | | Yellowstone, at least, scientists are suggesting the |
| They had an agreement. The dog ignored him; he | | | | moose may have outgrown their food source. |
| ignored the dog. Suddenly the rules changed. | | | | Moose are hard on willows. In many areas the |
| Alerted by the surprised gasp coming from some | | | | willows, which provide a necessary habitat for |
| guests to our Western Montana Lodge, I turned | | | | many species of songbirds, have taken a beating |
| just in time to see him doing his best to pummel | | | | due to moose and elk browsing habits. However, |
| my dog, Pete, into the ground. | | | | studies have also shown other factors at play in |
| It was probably earlier guests from Georgia who | | | | the willow decline. |
| precipitated the change. Intrigued by his size, the | | | | In some places exclosures have been built to |
| Georgia visitors had frustrated and angered him in | | | | protect willow stands from browsing. These |
| their attempt to get some 'close up and personal' | | | | exclosures allow scientists to compare protected |
| photos. Obviously, he didn't like such attention. | | | | willow growth to stands with no protection. The |
| Our winter visitor was just one of the many | | | | study results have not necessarily helped to clear |
| Shiras Moose who call Montana's Centennial Valley | | | | up the issue. In fact, some studies have shown |
| home. Moose numbers appear to be on the rise in | | | | little difference in the condition of the willows |
| the Centennial and around Island Park, Idaho [ | | | | inside the exclosures to those outside. "Even after |
| However, such is not the case in many other | | | | 29 to 33 years of large herbivore protection, |
| areas. Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton | | | | there were no new willow recruits or individuals, |
| National Park, the greater Jackson area, sections | | | | and no expansion on the edges of the willow |
| of Canada, and several areas in Alaska are | | | | stands inside the exclosures." ([ Here again, more |
| experiencing declines - some quite sharp. | | | | factors are at play than the animals which eat the |
| Moose were first documented in Yellowstone | | | | willows. Most obvious would be the recent |
| National Park in the early 1880's. Hard to count, | | | | drought. However, other factors, such as insects, |
| due to their illusive and solitary nature, reliable | | | | are also suspect. |
| moose numbers can be quite difficult to verify | | | | One way or another, there seems to be evidence |
| with certainty. Although specifics are hard to pin | | | | that the moose have reached a food ceiling in |
| down, scientists suspect the numbers, which rose | | | | several areas. One proof scientists point to is the |
| significantly after 1900, began to decline several | | | | declining pregnancy rates. Through recent analysis |
| years later. Low counts in 1985 confirmed this | | | | of progesterone levels in moose droppings, |
| theory. By the late 1980's surveys suggested a | | | | scientists have determined the current pregnancy |
| total Yellowstone National Park population of | | | | rate in the Yellowstone area is averaging about |
| fewer than 1000 moose. | | | | 75% - compared to 90% in 1966. With such a |
| While numbers have remained stable across most | | | | decrease in the reproduction rate, animal morality |
| of Wyoming, counts in Jackson have also shown | | | | will continue to out-pace animal reproduction. |
| a sharp decline. Moose numbers dropped to 1,700 | | | | The premature death of older moose is being |
| two years ago, down from a high of 3,500 in | | | | taken as further proof of the suspected over |
| 1992. Similarly decreasing numbers appear in many | | | | abundance in the greater Yellowstone and Grand |
| other areas across North America. | | | | Teton areas. In seasons of food shortage, the |
| Why are the numbers increasing in a few areas, | | | | old, the weak, and the young are always the first |
| while they decline in many others? In an attempt | | | | to go. Scientists have documented the death of |
| to answer this question, a handful of researchers | | | | several older cows in the last few years, |
| and scientists have latched on to several theories. | | | | strengthening the plausibility of the starvation |
| These include: wild fire (primarily in Yellowstone | | | | theory. |
| National Park), predation, relocation, hunting, lack | | | | Hunting, of course, has an impact on numbers as |
| of feed, or a combination of several issues (and | | | | well. However, as the greatest decline is occurring |
| probably some yet unknown). | | | | with the National Parks which do not allow hunting, |
| The recent fire in Yellowstone National Park | | | | this factor would seem insignificant. The number |
| certainly had an impact on many species, including | | | | of permits issued outside the Parks is determined |
| the moose. Many scientists expected | | | | by the best estimated moose numbers. |
| Yellowstone's fire to increase moose habitat. | | | | Therefore, hunting would not seem to be a viable |
| However, this has not been the case. After a | | | | reason for the current decline. Although most |
| catastrophic fire the heavy canopy of a mature | | | | certainly it has had an impact in the past - and |
| forest is depleted. Deciduous plants, including | | | | therefore has possibly had an effect on where |
| willows and aspens, which are often crowded out | | | | the numbers are today - it seems unlikely this is |
| by a mature forest, usually prosper in the now | | | | still a precipitating issue. |
| abundant sunlight. However, in Yellowstone, this | | | | Another possibility, which would explain the |
| has not been the case. Partly due to elevation, | | | | dropping numbers, is the moose are just moving |
| partly due to a combination of other factors, the | | | | to other areas. Certainly they have moved in the |
| deciduous growth which was expected has not | | | | past. Although it is possible they were residents of |
| occurred. | | | | Yellowstone's northern range before 1882, they |
| Therefore, instead of increasing moose habitat, | | | | were conclusively identified as residents by 1913. |
| the fire in Yellowstone National Park has greatly | | | | Obviously these animals moved to our area from |
| depleted their food supply -- particularly in winter. | | | | somewhere else. Is it possible they are just |
| In a normal situation, moose browse, primarily on | | | | moving from the Parks and the Jackson area to |
| willows during the summer and a combination of | | | | greener pastures - like the Centennial Valley and |
| willows and subalpine fir during the winter. Of | | | | Island Park? This theory has not been explored to |
| course, snow depths effect where and when | | | | any degree in the reports I have read. However, |
| they feed. While the snow is relatively shallow, | | | | the difficulty of tracking moose, and their solitary |
| moose frequent the willow stands on valley floors | | | | nature, add to the challenge of determining if this |
| and along stream and lake shores. As the snow | | | | is a contributing issues. |
| deepens, they move further up the mountain | | | | Here in the Centennial Valley it is the willows, not |
| side, seeking the heavy tree canopies. | | | | the moose, which are declining. Known for many |
| Thick tree canopies prevent heavy snow build up | | | | years as one of the best places to view moose, |
| as well as deterring the crust which forms on the | | | | the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is |
| top of snow exposed to sunlight. These conditions | | | | now facing "Moose" challenges of its own. On the |
| allow them to move under the forest canopy | | | | first refuge moose count conducted in 1944, 35 |
| with greater freedom. In addition, the heavy | | | | moose were observed. An ariel count conducted |
| cover in a mature forest provides the shade and | | | | this last winter put the total closer to 130. Home |
| moisture required in the summer by the | | | | to over 238 species of birds, including the |
| subalphine fir - a major component of their winter | | | | neo-tropical warblers who use dense willow |
| diet. However, with the loss of so many acres of | | | | thickets for nesting, the refuge is now facing the |
| mature forest in Yellowstone, they have lost a | | | | challenge of controlling moose populations to |
| majority of their winter food source. | | | | protect bird habitat. According to Red Rock Lakes |
| The fire's damage is something from which | | | | Wildlife Refuge [ studies, "Centennial Valley Moose |
| recovery will take many, many years. Although | | | | continue to be managed with little understanding |
| the fire provides obvious benefits, and although it | | | | of the consequences or appropriateness of |
| is a natural force of nature which Yellowstone has | | | | management actions. As a potential major |
| experience before, the results of fire are long | | | | predator of Moose, specifically wolves, colonize |
| lasting. A catastrophic fire tends to sterilize the | | | | the Centennial Valley, an understanding of Moose |
| landscape. Often the only tree seeds which | | | | population demographics, movements, and habitat |
| remain behind are those of the lodgepole pine - | | | | use will be vital to managing for the combined |
| sometimes called the weed tree of the evergreen | | | | impact of natural and anothropogenic factors on |
| forest. Although after the fire the moose, in | | | | Moose ecology." Wildlife specialists at the refuge |
| desperation, browsed on some lodgepole, this is | | | | have requested funding for increased studies of |
| not their normal food. Perhaps in 200 - 300 years | | | | the moose and their impacts on the local habitat, |
| we will again see a return of the subalphine fir, | | | | but to date this funding has been unavailable. |
| and thus good moose habitat in Yellowstone | | | | Never an easy issue, the job of protecting all |
| National Park. Nonetheless, the winter food | | | | species without over-protecting one species is a |
| situation, at least in areas most heavily burned, | | | | challenging one. Those who love the songbirds |
| looks bleak for the foreseeable future. | | | | might be glad to see the moose decline. However, |
| However, not all areas which are experiencing | | | | the moose is also an amazing creature which |
| declining numbers have experienced a recent | | | | plays an important role in the ecosystem. Moose |
| catastrophic fire. Yet, one thing common to most | | | | are considered a 'keystone herbivore.' Plant |
| areas is a healthy predator population. Grizzly | | | | species composition, distribution, and succession |
| bears are the primary moose predator, but | | | | are directly influenced by their dietary |
| wolves can also bring down a full-grown moose. | | | | preferences. This may also influence avian species |
| And, perhaps more important, wolves are known | | | | composition and diversity in areas where moose |
| to prey on calves. Although many adults in areas | | | | reside. |
| experiencing decline have been collared in an | | | | On the other hand, those who love the moose |
| attempt to determine what is causing their | | | | might not realize the impact they have on bird |
| decreasing numbers, moose calves have not been | | | | habitat. And, finally, those who love the Grizzly |
| collared. Therefore, it is difficult to determine how | | | | and wolf might not realize these top of the chain |
| many calves are born versus how many calves | | | | predators can also become dangerous to the |
| reach adulthood. | | | | ecosystem if they are allowed to deplete game |
| Solitary creatures, moose are hard to monitor, in | | | | numbers to such a low point the game animals |
| the best of circumstances. A semi-accurate count | | | | also become 'endangered.' Clearly the desired |
| of the young is even harder to obtain. Thus, the | | | | condition is balance. |
| full predation impact on the declining numbers is | | | | Most likely many factors are involved in the |
| hard to determine. One thing is certain. It is having | | | | situation we find occurring today. As we know, |
| an impact. | | | | nature tends to cycle. The increase in moose has, |
| Different areas are handling the situation in | | | | at least in some ways, impacted the willows. This |
| different ways. In Yellowstone National Park and | | | | in turn has depleted the nesting areas for many |
| Grand Teton National Park, the wolf and Grizzly | | | | bird species. However, with the current decline in |
| remain protected by the Endangered Species Act. | | | | moose numbers in many areas, might we not see |
| In other areas, wolf and sometimes even Grizzly | | | | a corresponding increase in bird numbers? As |
| management is handled quite differently. For | | | | stewards of this planet, it certainly places a great |
| example, in one area of Alaska, wolves have | | | | responsibility on those in positions of authority to |
| been shot to help control their impact on the | | | | use great wisdom in protecting the many plants |
| moose and Caribou populations. Although not a | | | | and animals. As we see an increase in willows, will |
| pretty picture, the wolf, having no natural | | | | the Moose return? Or will the continued increase in |
| predator, has the potential of becoming a lethal | | | | top of the chain predators in the greater |
| weapon if not controlled. This is considered by | | | | Yellowstone area stymy or possibly even |
| some, one way to control them. | | | | accelerate their reduction? These questions, and |
| Another theory related to the declining moose | | | | others like them, will continue to challenge |
| numbers is starvation. In Grand Teton and | | | | scientists world wide for many years to come. |