Attention Minnesota Deer Hunters,

Moose numbers are declining throughout North America, even in Alaska (where there are no whitetail deer). Though grey wolves are proven to responsible for the demise of more moose annually than anything else, our Minnesota DNR has decided brain worms are the primary culprit. Because Minnesota’s white-tailed deer are also afflicted by brain worms but do not die as a result, they are now considered “carriers” and are being blamed for the decline of our moose. Moose, themselves, are carriers.

Other reasons for this decline have been suggested by researchers all across the U.S. and Canada, including liver flukes, winter ticks, bacterial infections, poor health (perhaps wrought by unsuitable habitat) and climate change. MDNR (Minnesota DNR) researchers recently concluded moose numbers will not improve by reducing deer numbers. Another recent study revealed reducing deer numbers does not improve moose numbers where whitetail populations are less than 15 per square-mile. Whitetail numbers do not exceed 15 per square-mile in northeastern Minnesota. Nonetheless, our MDNR plans to reduce deer numbers, already very low in northeastern Minnesota due to recent severe winters, within a newly designated moose range.

What, then, will become the primary food of the unmanaged, overabundant grey wolves of that region, still ironically considered “threatened” but at a historic high just across the border in Ontario? What else? Moose meat, of course.

Logically, therefore, forsaking whitetails for this cause is only going to accelerate the demise of Minnesota’s remaining moose.

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources is currently asking citizen’s to voice their opinion about this plan. Deer hunters, please do it soon. Email: info.dnr@mn.state.us or write to: Moose Plan, MDNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Rd., MN 55155-4040

Check for the latest Minnesota DNR press releases at:
News releases

Thank you,
Dr. Ken Nordberg

Key words: moose, whitetails, Minnesota, MN, OnlyInMN, brain worms, grey wolves, timberwolves.