Since the early 2000s, Ontario’s moose population has experienced a decline of approximately 20 percent, and in certain northern regions, the decrease is as much as 50 percent. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is investigating the causes behind this troubling trend.
Recently, Nick Luymes, a research scientist with the ministry, conducted a presentation detailing the most recent findings from a multi-year moose research initiative in Wildlife Management Unit 13, situated near Thunder Bay.
Launched in 2024, this project aims to identify the various elements contributing to the decline of the moose population, such as predator-prey relationships, diseases, calf survival rates, the impact of roads, and forestry practices.
According to Luymes, despite a significant reduction in hunting tags over the years, the moose population has not seen a notable recovery in almost two decades.
“Our goal is to understand the importance of these limiting factors so we can focus our experimental efforts accordingly,” he explained.
“We aim for our results to be applicable to other regions of the province and to understand what influences those factors.”
Nick Luymes, a research scientist with the ministry, discusses the moose population study at the recent Northern Ontario Tourism Summit held in Sault Ste. Marie. (Alex Flood/CBC)
Insights from the ministry’s preliminary findings
Over the past two years, ministry biologists and technicians have captured and fitted GPS collars on more than 200 moose in the Thunder Bay area to track their movements and behaviors.
“During the capture process, we gather extensive data, including pregnancy status, health metrics, parasite presence, body condition, and genetic information,” Luymes stated.
Due to active predators such as wolves and black bears, Luymes highlighted that a significant factor in the moose decline is low calf survival, with only a third reaching their first year.
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The research team estimated that the annual survival rate for adult cows is about 95 percent, while for adult bulls, it stands at 70 percent.
“We receive notifications if a moose is suspected to be deceased. This allows us to gather samples and carry out investigations at the site to determine the cause of death,” Luymes mentioned.
So far, 36 collared moose within the study region have passed away.
For adult males, the leading causes of death were vehicle collisions and hunting, while predation accounted for the majority of deaths among calves and yearlings older than eight months.
In the case of adult females, the primary cause was identified as “unknown health issues.”
“We’re aiming to gain clearer insights into the specific causes,” Luymes added.
“We have bodily samples sent to labs for in-depth analysis to identify the reasons behind these fatalities.”
A moose being collared as part of the ministry’s ongoing study near Thunder Bay. (Ontario Fish and Wildlife)
Conservationist views predator management as insufficient
Dave Pearce, a senior forest conservation manager at Wildlands League, a Toronto-based conservation organization, believes that while predators like wolves and bears do affect moose numbers, they shouldn’t be solely blamed.
“It’s tempting to suggest that we should reduce the predator population, but that’s just a temporary fix that doesn’t truly tackle the underlying issues,” he remarked.
Pearce argues that climate change is a major factor affecting moose populations.
He points to rising temperatures as a significant reason why these large animals are not thriving as they once did.
“In particular, during spring, we’ve been experiencing abrupt spikes in summer-like temperatures, which can lead to overheating in moose,” he explained.
“Heat-stressed animals tend to move less and feed less, which not only affects them but also their young.”
According to the province, moose populations in Ontario have declined despite a reduction in hunting tags. (CBC)
Pearce also noted that a warming climate benefits white-tailed deer. An increase in their population could attract more predators to the area, which would ultimately have a negative impact on the moose.
He highlighted the issue of winter ticks, which heavily infest moose, although Luymes clarified in his presentation that the ministry has not observed significant concerns regarding this in the study region.
Sault hunter’s experience reflects moose scarcity
Jeremy Coulis, an Indigenous hunter from Batchewana First Nation and Sault Ste. Marie, has been hunting moose in northern Ontario since childhood.
He also takes part in the government-regulated tag system alongside his non-Indigenous friends.
“It’s about the social experience and enjoying nature,” he stated. “Spending time with family and friends while disconnecting from technology for a few days is refreshing.”
However, in recent years, the hunting experience has become increasingly difficult for Coulis and his companions.
On a recent trip this year just north of Aubrey Falls, he and his group of seven 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 the course of ten days.
“It’s definitely more challenging now,” he remarked. “You can spend days in the wilderness, yet the moose are hard to find.”
“Seeing one has become quite a surprise these days.”
Jeremy Coulis and his friends enjoy their moose hunting trips north of Aubrey Falls every fall. (Submitted by Jeremy Coulis)
With fewer hunting tags issued in recent years, Coulis has also observed a significant decline in the number of camps and hunters in the woods.
When asked about the lack of moose recovery, Coulis expressed concerns regarding forestry companies that apply herbicides to forests.
These companies aim to eliminate broadleaf plants that compete with coniferous species like spruce and pine, which are harvested for timber — however, environmentalists have raised concerns about this practice in recent years.
“Quebec has shown that their moose population has significantly rebounded since they ceased spraying,” Coulis noted. “Yet Ontario shows no interest in halting this practice.”
