It is hard to believe that before the European settlers arrived in Nova Scotia, the moose population is estimated to have been in the order of 15,000 animals. In many ways the aboriginal population depended on them for food, clothing and shelter in much the same way as the inhabitants of the Prairies depended on the buffalo. In fact, moose meat was only second to fish as the principal source of food. Subsequently, the trade in meat and hides caused a slaughter that wiped out the Cape Breton moose population altogether and, by 1825, so severely reduced the mainland count that legislation was passed to prohibit killing them.

 Cape Breton was restocked with the larger western variety from Alberta in the 1940s and this herd is flourishing despite hunting pressures. The mainland moose population, however, has continued to decline, by as much as 20 per cent over the last 30 years. The last hunting season was 1981 and they were declared an endangered species in 2003. A count in 2001 reported a total population of between 800 and 1,200 with 600 being in the Cobequid hills.

 Many reasons are suggested for the population decline, such as over-hunting and poaching; climate change; increased road access and the proliferation of snowmobile, ATV and ski trails; and the increase in the numbers of white-tailed deer which compete for habitat and also carry a parasitic brain worm which has been found in moose carcasses. High levels of cadmium and cobalt deficiencies have also been reported.

 Peter MacDonald of the Department of Natural Resources will talk to the South Shore Naturalists about the mainland moose status, history and recovery plan on September 8 at 7 p.m. in the Bridgewater High School library. Mr. MacDonald has an M.Sc. in biology from Acadia and has worked for the department for 18 years, four of them in the Bridgewater office. Anyone, member or no, will be welcomed to come and hear his talk and to ask him questions.

posted on 09/07/10