Hunters in the northern region of Alberta are collaborating with scientists to investigate the impact of industrial noise from oilsands on moose hunting, a vital food source and cultural tradition for many rural and Indigenous communities. The clearing of forest landscapes for industrial operations has led to more open moose habitats, making the animals easier to spot but also more vulnerable to predators.
Kevin Adby, a seasoned hunter and moose caller from the Conklin area, expressed how industrial development has changed his hunting methods. He noted that moose are now visible from long distances, a significant shift from the past when tracking and different strategies were necessary.
In a recent mandate letter from Premier Danielle Smith to Energy Minister Brian Jean, the province has set targets for increased oil production, raising concerns among some community members about the impact of industrial noise on traditional hunting practices.
This concern prompted the launch of the Moose Calling Pilot Project, a joint effort involving the Conklin Resource Development Advisory Committee, the University of Alberta, and the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. The project aims to assess whether noise from oilsands activities interferes with hunters’ ability to call and detect moose.
Peter Fortna, a social scientist involved in the project, explained that moose, with their large size and long legs, can navigate fragmented landscapes more easily, but increased predators pose challenges. Community interviews indicated that industrial noise and landscape changes are believed to influence hunting success and methods.
The Ministry of Environment’s press secretary stated that they are monitoring the effects of sound on wildlife, including moose, in collaboration with Indigenous partners. The experiment involves setting up two sites—one with industrial noise and one quiet—to study sound propagation in different environments.
Researchers placed autonomous recording units at specific intervals to measure moose call detection under varying noise conditions. The study will reveal the impact of noise on the reach of moose calls and hunters’ ability to hear responses from the animals.
Alberto De Rosa, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta, emphasized the importance of collaborating with local communities for the project’s success. The initiative is financed through Alberta’s Oil Sands Monitoring Program, with results expected in approximately a month after data analysis.
Community feedback highlighted the growing difficulty of hunting near Conklin due to increased predators and habitat fragmentation. Additionally, the emergence of new roads has attracted more external hunters, leading to reduced wildlife populations and disruption of traditional hunting grounds.
Adby expressed concerns about the industry’s environmental impact, suggesting that more trees are being cleared than initially promised. The shift from exclusive trapping to open hunting access has raised worries about excessive animal loss in the region.
