LOON LAKE LODGE

At Loon Lake Lodge you are surrounded by the unspoiled wilderness of the Minnesota north woods. The Gunflint Trail area, where we are located, has changed little over the years. It is much the same as it was over a hundred years ago. The calls of loons, the hoot of owls, the eerie howl of a wolf on a moonlit night and the breeze whispering through the trees will take you back to a much simpler and less hurried time.



Sunday, February 10, 2013

Moose Numbers Decline

8:12 AM


If you have been to the Lodge over the past couple of years you would have noticed a sharp decline in the number of moose sitings.  Terry and I see, or more accurately don't see this every time we drive to town.  The numbers are now in and it doesn't look good.  In 2006 there were close to 9000 moose in northeastern Minnesota this January the count was down to 2760.

The big question of course is why.  There are a number of theories out there:
  • Wolves - some say with the increase wolf population they must be killing more moose
  • Warming climate - warming temps causes more stress on the moose making them more vulnerable Minnesota is the southern edge of the moose range
  • Disease and parasites - with the moose weaken by other forces they are less able to fight off sickness
No one at this point can say with certainty what is causing the rapid decline.  In the end it will probably be a combination of all of this factors.  Hopefully with new research being done today we can find a solution before it is too late.

Tom & Terry

Custom Blogger Template created by small business website designer Tom Rumish Website Development.