Climate Change Threatens Minnesota Moose

dawnendico's Flickr photostream/Creative Commons

Moose are not an animal you want to reckon with if you cross one's path while hiking. Unfortunately, through our collective efforts, the moose population of Minnesota is now threatened due to climate change, so a surprise visit may become less common.

While moose numbers seem to be remaining stable in other parts of the country and Canada, researchers are finding that the Minnesota moose is exhibiting signs of stress and may likely be dying in larger numbers due to increased pathogens and food scarcity linked to climate change.  According to the Huffington Post:

Warmer weather is considered one of the main reasons for the near-disappearance of moose from northwestern Minnesota, where their numbers have plunged from at least 4,000 in the early 1980s to fewer than 100. The advisory committee's report warns that they may never recover to significant numbers.

Researchers are still unclear as to why the populations are steadily dropping in Minnesota and not as much elsewhere and plan to look into the situation further; however, Minnesota's Moose Advisory Committee already has a set of recommended measures to help protect the current and future populations.  The group called upon the state recently to take more steps to preserve and expand moose habitats, including ensuring sufficient food supplies, adequate shade in the summer months, and reducing the threat of parasites.  Might I add to that list "take steps to combat climate change" as well?