In the News: BC to Investigate Declining Moose Numbers

[BCWF]

Province of BC Press Release
The Province of BC announced a five-year study into the decline of moose populations in the BC interior.

According to the press release, the study will "investigate recent moose population declines in B.C.'s Interior...The study will engage 11 wildlife biologists, one wildlife veterinarian and several other staff over its five-year duration. Over 200 moose will be radio collared, their movements tracked and all mortalities will be investigated to determine cause of death..." Click here for the full press release

Globe and Mail Coverage
BCWF Director Jesse Zeman spoke with Mark Hume of the Globe and Mail, and was quoted in the following article that appeared in today's paper - check it out here: BC to Investigate Declining Moose Numbers

[RiverOtter]

5 years to come up with 4 little letters......W-O-L-F.

Only hope that when they prove what many already know, something is seriously done to rectify the issue.

[Caribou_lou]

He expects predators and "Other factors" may be to blame... Oh just man up and say it!

[303savage]

Hmmm.. what other factor?
It's not the legal hunters depleting the moose population. Most areas have been restricted to 2 point bulls only and no cow season.

[40incher]

Just another "Royal Commission" to delay dealing with the real problem ... that would be predators and unregulated killing.

Once they spend our millions of tax dollars, proving what has already been proven, you might as well have thrown the money in a bonfire and at least enjoyed the heat produced. The results will, predictably, be vague and inconclusive. "While a wolf was at the kill site we can't convict him/her of the crime!!" Likely that poor moose died of old age.

Hopefully they have a good veterinarian so every second moose does not die of an overdose in the name of "science".

[Cordillera]

It has been said before on this site, but if the answer is a simple and single factor, then why do some areas have declines and others don't. There are lots of wolves in the south peace but the moose numbers there are stable and remain among the highest densities in the province. Same with the Skeena and southntweedsmuir and.... Did the wolves fail to read the memo in those places.

We also need to be open to new issues arising. In other places in North America they are concerned about new diseases due to overlap with whitetail deer. That is the kind of question you can only answer with proper research over large areas and longer time frames.

[JoeJoe]

No moose ever dies of old age now days... too many predators.. two legged and four legged.. mostly not licensed.

[steveo]

Whatever the findings will the ministry act to better the situation like a wolf cull or limiting FN harvest if that is the case, not in this life time. It would be better to compare moose numbers within the same region like having regulations that would stop the moose calf harvest in a cluster of management units or play with cow harvest levels in a bunch of other management units. I think there is way more variations between regions than we think to say moose do well here but not there.