Adirondack Mountains Stage for Research Into Moose Numbers

Researchers are looking into the declining numbers of Adirondack moose after die-offs and climate change factors have created concern for the habitat. The Adirondack Mountains are a unique geological formation and contain some of the most pristine forests in the United States, making it a prime habitat for wildlife, but now it will be the stage for research into moose numbers. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is partnering with universities and colleges to research the problem, but there is more of concern than just moose. Climate change could pose threats to the habitat and to much of the wildlife within it making the long-term continued survival of the area a question of doubt.

The sudden decline of moose numbers in Minnesota and New hampshire have been drastic enough to prompt the DEC to look into the matter. According to reports, the numbers of moose have declined by 52 percent in Minnesota, a worrying statistic for those seeking to preserve natural wildlife in the Adirondack Mountains. New York is a southerly area of the Adirondack moose’s habitat and as such has stepped up to participate in this new research. The DEC has partnered with a variety of organizations, including the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and others, to research and determine the numbers of moose who still remain. Cornell University will also be offering scientific expertise to the endeavor.

It is a wide-ranging project which will require high tech methods to track the animals through the Adirondack Mountains. Telemetry collars on two young bull moose will be part of the research, but require a lot of manpower to find and record data from the bulls. Helicopters will patrol above the mountains to find the moose, whose dark color will show up against the white of the snow. It is an arduous and expensive process, but researchers believe it will be worth it in the long run. In addition, scientists at Cornell will use DNA samples to learn about the animals and contribute to the information used to monitor them in future.

There are theories about why the Adirondack moose are declining, but one major idea is that it could be related to climate change. Like every region on earth, the Adirondack Mountains are affected by the rising temperatures due to climate change. As many of the animals in that region depend on the lower temperatures of high altitude, an increase in temperatures could have catastrophic effects for their life cycle and existence. Researchers have warned that climate change could allow invasive species to wreck the delicate balance of the environment for many existing species. There are also species of pathogens which cannot thrive in colder climates which may start to invade the Adirondack Mountains as they warm up. Both of these instances could spell catastrophe for animals beyond just the Adirondack moose.

Part of the key to understanding why species like the moose are declining is to research the habits and habitat of such animals. This will allow people like those of the Department of Environmental Conservation to take steps to protect those vulnerable species. The effects of climate change on many habitats are little understood right now, but research like that ongoing in the Adirondack mountains is an important step towards better understanding. Thus, while the Adirondack Mountains may be the stage for research into the declining moose numbers, but it could also lead to better understanding of the effects of climate change and how to combat its depredations.

By Lydia Bradbury

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Photo by Doug Brown – Flickr License

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