MARQUETTE, MI— The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Department of Natural Resources, and Northern Michigan University are collaborating on a study of western Upper Peninsula moose.
Northern Associate Professor of Biology Diana Lafferty says populations in Iron, Baraga, and Marquette counties have been relatively stagnant over the last decade or so. Officials want to identify the causes of mortality, pregnancy rates, and survivability.
Over the next two years, spotter planes will be used to identify where moose are and helicopter crews will dart the animals, who will be fitted with GPS collars by ground crews. Officials want to see how the moose are using the landscape and to better assess mortality in the coming years.
Lafferty says moose are important to the culture, economy, and ecology of the U.P.
“They’re a browser, so moose can often function as an ecosystem engineer, shaping the way their environment is actually structured through their impacts of herbivory, which is a really important role in helping structure our forests.”
Lafferty says as data is collected, the DNR and KBIC can make decisions about the management of the moose population. A graduate student will also use the data for her thesis research
The initial project will take place over two years. The partnership will then continue to monitor the moose and conduct any additional research to better understand habitat use across the system.
