Since the early 2000s, Ontario’s moose population has declined by roughly 20 percent overall, with certain northern regions experiencing reductions of up to 50 percent. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is currently investigating the reasons behind this trend.
Recently, ministry research scientist Nick Luymes delivered a presentation detailing the findings of his team’s extensive moose research initiative in Wildlife Management Unit 13, located near Thunder Bay.
Launched in 2024, the project aims to explore various factors influencing the decline in moose populations, such as predator-prey interactions, disease and pests, calf survival rates, the effects of roads, and forestry practices.
According to Luymes, despite significant reductions in the number of hunting tags issued over the years, moose populations have not shown substantial growth in nearly two decades.
“We aim to identify the significance of these limiting factors so we can focus on them in our experimental approaches,” he stated.
“We hope our findings will be applicable to other regions in the province and shed light on the driving factors behind these issues.”
Ministry research scientist Nick Luymes discusses the moose population study during the recent Northern Ontario Tourism Summit in Sault Ste. Marie. (Alex Flood/CBC)
Preliminary insights from the ministry’s research
In the past two years, biologists and technicians from the ministry have successfully captured and fitted GPS collars on over 200 moose in the Thunder Bay region, allowing them to track their movements, behaviors, and lifestyles through video monitoring.
“During capture, we collect extensive data, including pregnancy status, health, parasite loads, body condition, and genetic information,” Luymes explained.
Due to the presence of predators such as wolves and black bears, Luymes highlighted that a significant factor in the moose decline is low calf survival, with only about one-third surviving their first year.
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The team approximated the annual survival rates at 95 percent for adult cows and 70 percent for adult bulls.
“We receive alerts when a moose is possibly dead. In such cases, we can gather samples and conduct investigations at the site to determine the cause of death.”
So far, 36 of the collared moose in the research area have died.
The primary causes of death for adult males were vehicle collisions and hunting, while predation was the leading cause for calves and yearlings over eight months old.
For adult females, the leading cause of death was classified as “unknown health issues.”
“We aim to gain more detailed insights into the specific causes,” Luymes noted.
“We have submitted bodily samples to laboratories for more thorough analyses to uncover the reasons behind these fatalities.”
A moose is collared as part of the ministry’s ongoing study near Thunder Bay. (Ontario Fish and Wildlife)
Concerns over predator management termed a temporary fix by conservationist
Dave Pearce, a senior forest conservation manager at Wildlands League, a conservation organization based in Toronto and a partner of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, believes that while wolves and bears affect moose populations, they should not be solely blamed.
“It’s simplistic to suggest that reducing the predator population is the solution,” he remarked. “That approach acts as a temporary fix and fails to address the underlying issues.”
Pearce identifies climate change as a significant factor hindering moose populations.
He cites increasing and unseasonably warm temperatures as crucial reasons for the struggles faced by these majestic animals.
“Particularly in spring, we’ve been experiencing abrupt surges in summer-like heat, which can lead to rapid overheating in moose,” he clarified.
“Animals under heat stress will reduce their movements and feeding, which affects not only them but their young as well.”
Despite fewer hunting tags than in previous years, moose populations in Ontario continue to decline, according to the province. (CBC)
Pearce also noted that a warming climate may favor white-tailed deer. An increase in their population could lead to more predators in the area, which would ultimately affect moose.
He raised concerns about winter ticks that feed heavily on moose; however, Luymes mentioned in his presentation that the ministry has not observed significant issues with ticks in the study area.
Sault hunter’s experience echoes the moose decline
Jeremy Coulis, an Indigenous hunter from Batchewana First Nation and Sault Ste. Marie, has been hunting moose in northern Ontario since childhood.
He also engages in the government-regulated tagging system along with his non-Indigenous friends.
“It’s about the social experience and connecting with nature,” he shared. “Spending time with family and friends away from technology for a few days is refreshing.”
However, the sport has become significantly more challenging for Coulis and his companions in recent years.
On a recent hunting trip this year, just north of Aubrey Falls, he and seven friends spotted four moose — three cows and one bull — during their week-long hunt.
In contrast, last year, the same group only encountered one moose over a 10-day hunting period.
“It’s definitely becoming more difficult,” he remarked. “You can spend countless days out there, but the moose simply aren’t present.”
“Seeing one now feels like a rarity and a surprise.”
Every fall, Jeremy Coulis and his friends enjoy hunting for moose north of Aubrey Falls. (Submitted by Jeremy Coulis)
Coulis has also observed a significant reduction in the number of camps and hunters in the area due to the decline in tags in recent years.
When asked about the reasons behind the lack of recovery in moose numbers, Coulis expressed concerns about forestry companies that apply herbicides to forests.
Their objective is to eliminate broadleaf plants that compete with coniferous species such as spruce and pine, which are harvested for timber — a practice that has drawn criticism from environmentalists in recent times.
“Quebec has demonstrated that their moose population has rebounded significantly since they halted spraying,” Coulis pointed out. “However, Ontario shows no interest in ceasing this practice.”