VNP
Voyageurs National Park plans to capture up to six adult moose to attach state-of-art GPS collars this month as part of a continuing project to investigate the potential effects of climate change and other factors on the long-term viability of moose in the park.
The project is a collaborative effort among scientists from Voyageurs National Park, the University of Minnesota-Duluth’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Voyageurs National Park is concerned about the long-term viability of its moose population given recent declines in moose populations in other parts of Minnesota and adjacent Ontario.
Among factors possibly causing these declines are chronic stress related to warmer summer and winter temperatures and lethal effects of parasites transmitted by white-tailed deer, such as brainworm and liver flukes.
The park protects a moose population of around 50 animals based on recent surveys.
The 2012 capture effort includes the recapture of four moose collared in Voyageurs National Park in January, 2011.
The collars on the recaptured moose will be removed to download remaining data on the collars. The moose then will be fitted with new collars that will last until the end of the project in 2014.
Two additional moose in the park also will be captured and fit with new collars.
Voyageurs National Park also plans to capture two adult gray wolves to attach GPS collars similar to those used for moose.
The collaring effort, part of a larger wolf monitoring program in the park that includes snow tracking and other survey methods, will aid park managers in assessing the current status of wolves in the park.
The last detailed population estimate of wolves in the Voyageurs National Park area was completed in 2001.
All animals will be captured by an immobilization drug administered via a dart gun shot from a single helicopter. The immobilization, which is temporary, allows handlers to safely attach collars and collect data related to animal health.
Blood and fecal samples also will be collected from each animal as part of a collaborative monitoring effort with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Some snowmobile trails may be closed temporarily inside the park to allow for safe capture operations while the helicopter is in the immediate vicinity of a snowmobile trail.
Closed trails will be adequately marked or staffed by NPS personnel to alert park visitors.
The capture operation is expected to be completed in one-two days between March 4-18, depending on weather conditions.
