Moose make a comeback
A cow moose and her calf cruise along the edge of a pond. State surveys of moose reproduction show the species is recovering from a downturn in the 1990s. Inter Lake file photo
By MICHELLE ANAUO
The Daily Inter Lake
The mid-1990s were more than difficult for moose populations in Northwest Montana, bringing calf survival rates to dangerous lows.
But lately moose are making a stellar return.
From 1993 until about 1998, drought, severe winters and other factors caused the moose calf-to-cow ratio to drop to about 12 to 15 calves for every 100 cows sighted, said Jerry Brown, Libby-area regional wildlife biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
"There was a plummet, we're not entirely sure why, but we're seeing good progress now," Brown said.
The ratios now have risen to 35 to 40 calves for every 100 cows, which translates to a steadily rising moose population.
"It's like having a bank account," Brown said. "You have a principal balance and you hope to build on it, but not too quickly and also hope not to spend too much."
The cow-calf ratio is one measurement of the health of the moose population.
"I take in all the factors to get a feel for what the population might be like," Brown said. "I never let one year dictate to me what is going on out there. One year may be a crummy hunt but that doesn't mean there aren't many moose. I take in three years of factors to see the trends."
When reproduction rates go lower, the number of hunting permits allowed for a given season are lowered, and the same principle applies to rising population trends. "If you're not gaining much interest on your principal balance, you simply spend less," Brown said, "But if you build more interest than expected you are able to spend more."
That means more permits to be drawn for hunters.
Moose permits allowed for any given season are based on trends from three years earlier. In 1995, 284 permits were drawn in Northwest Montana based on population estimates from 1992. By 1999, however, only 135 permits were being drawn for Northwest Montana.
This year, permits numbered 140 to 150 and likely will rise again next season.
Maintaining a stabilized population for any game animal is the ultimate goal for biologists.
"People are being allowed to utilize the resources and they want to continue to enjoy what is out there," Brown said. "They love to just watch the moose."