As someone who considers the moose to be their favorite animal the recent news of moose populations crashing in Minnesota and declining in Montana is very disturbing. Now before we jump to conclusions and put all the blame on predators namely the wolf, lets look at some other factors such as warming temperatures, disease, and loss of habitat as possible factors in this sharp decline of moose numbers.
With the news coming out Minnesota other Western and Eastern states such as as Utah and Maine (both of whom have no substantial wolf populations by the way) are starting their own investigations into why moose populations are shrinking.
God willing we can figure out why moose numbers are falling in certain areas of the country because I can’t imagine world where moose aren’t a part of it.
Finally to quote Biologist Nick DeCesare on the recent moose decline in Montana
“Those hint at something going on at a greater scale but there’s not super precise data and there’s nothing telling us anything about why it’s happening,” he said. “We’re not quite into alarm mode like they are in Minnesota. But they are also ahead of us in terms of researching the situation.”
In a story that I have to wonder is even true, it looks like a Canadian man was killed by a moose when his snowmobile passed under the long legged beast when it crossed the man’s path. Now if this story is indeed true my deepest regards go to the man’s friends and family after this tragic accident.
However this odd way of dying has got me thinking that either God has an incredibly sick sense of humor or this guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
For as long as I can remember CBS Sunday Morning has been quietly one of my favorite shows on television for decades. The show has been hosted by the incredible journalist Charles Osgood and the show focuses mostly on the positive things in life. The show is known for it’s classic sun logo and it’s easy going feeling which is just how we want our end of the weekend to be full of peace and quiet.
So imagine my surprise when they recently took a few brief moments to follow a family of moose in South Western Montana’s Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. This beautiful area sits very near the Wyoming and Idaho borders and is a gorgeous place to see not only moose but bear, elk and even wolves. This quick little video really shows the vastness of the America’s West and the peace and tranquility that one can find there (Here I go getting all sentimental and cheesy).
If I could spend everyone of my Sunday mornings watching moose in Montana on CBS Sunday morning I would be one happy camper.
Watching moose from any distance is an awesome experience and personally for me the closer the better. This of course has resulted in a few close calls but overall I’m still here and Bullwinkle has yet to stomp me into oblivion. Unfortunately moose are not really into having we humans get close to them and 9 times out of 10 they are likely to keep their distance from you.
However, in the amazing country of Norway where moose(or elk as they are referred too are plentiful) Eirik Solheim has taken moose watching to a whole new level. Where he along with the help of a GoPro camera strapped to the underside of an X468 quadcopter got some pretty amazing video of a cow moose out for an afternoon stroll in the woods. I envy this guy because one they live in Norway and two this is a brilliant way to view not only moose but other wildlife in a whole new light. Check it out and be prepared to have your mind blown.
