In news that should make Jackson Hole residents happy, the number of moose counted there this past month was 124. This is 38 more moose than there were last year when they were counted.  However, biologist are stating that this is not necessarily a population increase but more of a case of moose avoiding  deep snow.  The deep snows of this years winter has forced more moose to come down into the Jackson Hole area.

The good news to come from such a wet winter is that  moose populations may increase because of the better habitat.

Here is the News Article.

In recent Utah moose news, a moose was captured in the Park Meadows area of Park City. The cow moose and her two calves were tranquilized and successfully released near the Diamond Fork area of Spanish Fork. The cow moose who was treated for an injured foot was becoming aggressive and removed for not only her safety but that of her calves and the public as well.

There are a lof of moose in the Park City area and during the early springs months moose are common visitors as they come down from the mountains looking for food.

News Article.

In very disturbing news out of Wyoming, a parasitic worm that infects the arteries and heads of its host has been found in nearly 50% of Western Wyoming’s moose population. This alarming news may be one of the key reasons in why moose populations in Western Wyoming have significantly declined in past years. The worm over time clogs the arteries of it’s host restricting blood flow to the head and brain. This can result in blindness, irregular antler growth, deformed muzzles and death. The worm is carried by horseflies who spread the parasite by biting animals with infected blood and passing it onto others. The parasite is not a danger to humans.

As a moose fan who calls this area of the world his home I can’t help but worry if this dangerous worm could severely damage moose populations throughout the West. I know that in the past year wolves have been blamed unfairly for the decline of moose populations thorough out Western Wyoming,  even as biologists claimed that yes predation a role in moose mortality but wasn’t the #1 reason for the decline. Now it seems that a creature almost too small to see by the human eye may be the real moose killer of Wyoming.

Noise pollution is something that many of us living in large cities know to well.  So it should come as no surprise that moose may also be affected by the noise that we humans are sometimes so good at creating.  Biologists in Alaska are now studying to see if moose suffer stress from noise caused by humans in particular vehicles such as cars and snow-machines. Yes, my skeptic friends sound and noise do have an effect on the ecology of wildlife, and there are numerous studies of wildlife changing their behavior in order to cope with it.

These particular moose biologists are studying  moose poop for of certain kinds of hormones that would signify stress. I will tell you what,  poop is one disgusting and yet amazing thing. I mean from a scientific standpoint look how much we have found out from not only animals but humans as well by studying their feces.  It’s not the job I would particularly want but sometimes in the name of science it must be done.

In conclusion when your in the woods and feel the need to be noisy. Don’t, it not only annoys the local wildlife but those other humans who have come to the woods for a little piece and quiet.

Here is the news article.