Dayton to DNR: No more moose collaring -- experts disagree

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton yesterday ordered the state Department of Natural Resources to stop the practice of radio-collaring moose as part of studying the animals. The governor's executive order cites reports that the collaring has caused the deaths of some adult moose and the abandonment of some calves.

Minnesota's moose population has been on the decline, and researchers have hoped the collaring would help them understand why. The DNR had planned to collar about 50 newborn moose next month in the third such effort. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Governor’s action was met with immediate criticism by scientists in the state and elsewhere, who accused Dayton of putting the interests of public relations before the needs of the larger moose population.

Two years ago, the Department of Natural Resources embarked on a pair of ambitious projects to determine what was killing Minnesota's moose. The $1.6 million effort involved adult moose and newborn calves.  Adult moose were affixed with GPS radio collars calves were affixed with radio collars immediately after being born.

But problems surfaced quickly. Of the 74 calves collared in the spring of 2013 and 2014, many were believed to have died of starvation after being abandoned by their mothers. Additionally, Dayton noted that some adult moose had died likely from being tranquilized and handled by researchers. DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr said six adult moose died in that manner over the winter.

Two of the nation's pre-eminent wildlife researchers Tuesday said Dayton's decision suggests a misunderstanding of the value of research -- and the population dynamics of moose.

"It's a public perception problem. It's not a biological one. Most of those calves would have died anyways,” said David Mech, (Meech) a senior research scientist with the U.S. Geological. Similar criticism was leveled against Dayton's decision from Rolf Peterson, who has been a leader of a renowned study of moose and wolves on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Peterson said Dayton went too far in ending collaring of adult moose as well.