Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

DNR cancels 2021 aerial moose survey

Posted 1/20/21

REGIONAL— The annual aerial moose survey conducted by the Department of Natural Resources has been canceled this year out of concern for the health of wildlife staff.DNR biologists and …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

DNR cancels 2021 aerial moose survey

Posted

REGIONAL— The annual aerial moose survey conducted by the Department of Natural Resources has been canceled this year out of concern for the health of wildlife staff.
DNR biologists and helicopter pilots who take part in the survey each year typically work in close quarters in the helicopter cockpits, and DNR officials determined that posed too big a risk this year due to the prevalence of the coronavirus.
The survey is typically conducted in January and the results form the basis for a report on the state’s moose herd that is generally released in April. Interest in the moose report has been high since sharp declines in the northeastern Minnesota moose population were documented beginning around 2010.
Recent results have shown the moose population holding steady, albeit at a lower baseline.