DNR - Moose Project Chronology

Moose Project Chronology

1983

Ontario offered opportunity to translocate moose
Director and Wildlife Division Chief authorized technical preparations

1984

Wildlife Division advance team traveled to Ontario to select capture site
Schmitt and Aho wrote Michigan Natural Resources magazine article on expected translocation

1985

19 cows and 10 bulls translocated from Ontario to Michigan
Burgoyne wrote Michigan Natural Resources magazine article on translocation
21 calves observed with 17 radio-collared cows during May-July calf checks (2 cows not pregnant)
3 translocated bulls died in August
surveillance flights conducted on a variable schedule, up to 3 per week
bulls checked during fall rut for tightness of radio-collars (OK)
necropsy performed on a translocated cow that died in December
Bull 20 (a.k.a. "Gulliver") roamed from Marquette to Chippewa Co.
"Caution - Moose Area" signs posted along forest roads


Click on an image to see a larger version.

1986

16 of 21 calves from summer 1985 observed from air or ground in April 1986
10 calves observed with 14 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
no pregnancies were noted in 4 cows that died during winter 1985-86
lower calving success suggested that more bulls needed
necropsies were performed on 1 bull and 4 cows
surveillance flights conducted weekly
Acker wrote Michigan Natural Resources magazine article
"Caution - Moose Area" signs posted along forest roads
MDOT installed "moose crossing" signs at ends of 18-mile portion of M-28, Baraga Co.

1987

9 of 10 calves from summer 1986 spotted from the air or ground in April 1987
15 bulls and 15 cows translocated from Ontario to Marquette Co.
30 calves observed with 27 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
gunshot uncollared bull found dead during November
conservation officers ascertained identity of shooter, but insufficient physical evidence and out-of-state residence precluded prosecution
Hendrickson and Aho attended North American Moose Conference and Workshop in Duluth
Aho participated in development of 2 moose habitat suitability index models (published in 1988)
Schmitt and Dalton published a paper on drugs used to immobilize moose and "reverse" them
surveillance flights conducted weekly
necropsies performed on 1 bull and 4 cows
"Caution - Moose Area" signs posted along forest roads

1988

24 of 30 calves from summer 1987 spotted from air in January 1988
27 calves observed with 23 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
necropsies performed on 2 bulls, 4 cows, and 3 calves
surveillance flights conducted weekly
Michigan Outdoor Writers Association donated commemorative plaque and moose information kiosk constructed at Van Riper State Park
Schmitt and Aho wrote chapter for a book on translocation of wild animals
Wildlife Division provided technical and logistical support for a Northern Michigan University graduate student's research on vegetative and physical characteristics of winter bedding sites

1989

22 of 27 calves from summer 1988 spotted from air in January 1989
17 calves observed with 16 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
necropsies performed on 2 bulls and 7 cows
surveillance flights conducted weekly; flights contracted to NMU for a portion of the year
biologists on snowshoes darted and radio-collared 4 calves and 1 yearling and replaced radio-collar on 1 translocated cow
Hendrickson et al. presented paper at North American Moose Conference and Workshop, Newfoundland
Aho presented paper on movements, reproduction, and survival of translocated moose to Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife Society

1990

12 of 17 calves from summer 1989 seen from air during January-March 1990
12 calves observed with 16 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
biologists on snowshoes dart and radio-collar a female calf and an adult bull and replace a radio-collar on a translocated cow
trial runs with a piston-powered helicopter to dart moose proved unfeasible
gunshot uncollared bull found dead in Ontonagon Co.
necropsies performed on 6 bulls, 3 cows, and 1 calf
surveillance flights conducted weekly
2-year-old cow moose struck and killed by minivan on M-28, Baraga Co.; hide tanned for educational demonstration; meat salvaged and donated to charity
Moose Locator Guide brochure produced collaboratively with Marquette Co. tourism organization
Aho and Hendrickson published a paper on reproduction and survival of translocated moose in ALCES journal
Quinn and Aho published a paper on whole weights of moose in ALCES journal
Aho presented a paper, "Impact of Moose on Landscape Ecology and Biodiversity", at Hiawatha N.F.

1991

suspect in 1990 bull shooting sentenced to 6-month jail term
Lt. Ekdahl wrote article on 1990 Ontonagon Co. bull shooting for Michigan Natural Resources
calf checks suspended
surveillance flights conducted biweekly
1st attempt made to conduct aerial census, following Ontario's protocol
Moose Locator Guide revised
unsuccessful effort to remove a nuisance bull from a farm results in death of moose
necropsies performed on 3 bulls and 3 cows
Minzey and Robinson published a paper on characteristics of winter bed sites of moose in ALCES journal

1992

calf checks suspended
surveillance flights conducted biweekly
biologists on snowshoes darted and radio-collared 2 female calves and 1 male calf and replaced a radio-collar on a translocated cow
Moose Locator Guide revised
MDOT abandoned "moose crossing" signs on M-28 because of repeated thefts since 1986
necropsies performed on 3 cows

1993

calf checks re-instituted late in summer
biologists on snowshoes darted and radio-collared a male calf
bull moose struck and killed by semi, M-28, Baraga Co.; meat salvaged and donated to county food pantry
biologist dispatched bull hopelessly mired in mine tailings basin
Moose Locator Guide revised
Michigan Tech professor contracted to develop aerial census technique
technical and logistical advice provided to a University of Michigan exploratory study of moose habitat use
necropsies performed on 2 bulls

1994

aerial census sightability trials conducted
6 calves observed with 6 radio-collared cows during calf checks
surveillance flights conducted biweekly
biologists on snowshoes darted and radio-collared a male calf, a female calf, and a translocated bull that had slipped its original collar in February 1986
MTU statistician attended North American Moose Conference and Workshop in Idaho and heard about Helicopter Wildlife Management, Inc., which specializes in the net-gun capture of wild animals
cow struck and killed by pickup truck, M-28, Baraga Co.; meat donated to charity
trial attempt to dart moose calves in October proved unworkable because of lack of tracking snow
Moose Locator Guide revised
necropsies performed on 1 bull and 3 cows

1995

Helicopter Wildlife Management Co., Inc. captured (net-gunning) and radio-collared 26 moose in 5 days
biologists on snowshoes darted and radio-collared 2 female calves in 2 days
aerial census sightability trials conducted
surveillance flights conducted biweekly
Aho presented a 10-year retrospective paper at the North American Moose Conference and Workshop
7 calves observed with 10 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
Moose Locator Guide revised
Wildlife Division provided partial financial, technical, and logistical support to University of Alberta (Canada) study of gastropod intermediate hosts of brainworm
necropsies performed on 2 bulls and 2 cows

1996

6 of 7 calves from summer 1995 spotted from the air in March 1996
5 calves observed with 10 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
surveillance flights conducted biweekly
technical bulletin written and distributed (Aho et al.)
aerial census sightability trials conducted
financial, technical, and logistical support provided to University of Alberta study
Bull 29's carcass recovered in Chippewa Co.
nuisance bull unsuccessfully hazed with crackershells and truck horn from farm in northwestern Baraga Co., then darted, radio-collared, and translocated 40 miles away in October
necropsies performed on 1 bull and 2 cows

1997

5 of 5 calves from summer 1996 spotted from the air in March 1997
aerial census plots flown during February 3-March 12, during record snowfall
1 DNR airplane and 1 observer crew used
observers in State Police helicopter on April 21-22 spotted 6 moose
3 calves observed with 8 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
10 radio-collars refurbished and 7 new collars purchased in anticipation of another helicopter capture of moose; capture deferred until 1999
Moose Locator Guide revised
financial and technical support provided to University of Alberta study
display about Bull 29 constructed at River Mouth Campground, Tahquamenon Falls State Park
necropsies performed on 2 bulls and 1 calf
cow moose in Baraga Co. killed by gunshot in firearm deer season
mount of bull moose with antlers in velvet installed in lobby of Baraga District Office

1998

aerial census plots flown during December 1, 1997-February 4, 1998
aerial census logistics improved by use of 3 DNR aircraft and 3 observer crews
precision of estimate improved by increasing number of plots examined
technical support provided to University of Alberta study; Boppel completed thesis on gastropods
necropsies performed on 1 cow, 3 bulls, and 1 calf
proposal to study the dynamics of the moose population and to evaluate alternative population estimation techniques is developed
7 calves seen with 7 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
moose research proposal is approved; project to be done cooperatively with Michigan State University
bull struck by semi on US-41 west of Ishpeming on Oct. 1; meat donated to charity
grouse hunter found a bull moose trapped in tangled, old telephone wire on October 1; Wildlife and Law Enforcement personnel darted moose, cut away wire, fitted a radio-collar and eartags, and released it
Drummer and Aho published a paper on a moose sightability model in ALCES journal

1999

Hawkins and Powers Aviation helicopter and DNR personnel captured (net-gunning) and radio-collared 26 moose in 7 days
movements and survival of radio-collared moose monitored with weekly flights.
necropsies performed on 1 bull and 3 cows
radio-collar slipped off 1calf
21 calves seen with 19 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
Dodge et al. presented a paper on current research at Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
Beyer et al. presented a paper on the status of the translocated moose population at North American Moose Conference and Workshop
Aho presented paper on his study of aquatic plant resources on Isle Royale National Park at the North American Moose Conference and Workshop
Nankervis et al. presented a paper on the potential exposure of moose in the Upper Peninsula to brainworm at the North American Moose Conference and Workshop
Skeletal remains of nuisance moose translocated from a Baraga County farm in 1996 found by deer hunters in Ontonagon County

2000

Hawkins and Powers Aviation helicopter and DNR personnel captured (net-gunning) and radio-collared 29 moose in 8 days; 4 GPS radio-collars are fitted on moose and later recovered
DNR donated hide and antlers from a 1998 road-killed yearling moose for mounting and display at the Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University, Marquette; DNR also donated a large set of antlers from a bull translocated to Michigan in 1987 for the display
19 calves seen with 27 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
necropsies performed on 3 cows, 3 bulls and 1 calf moose
radio-collar slipped off a yearling cow
Dodge et al. presented paper on Upper Peninsula moose reproduction at the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
Aerial census work begins in December and seeks to compare alternative population estimation techniques

2001

aerial census work continues through January
Hawkins and Powers Aviation helicopter and DNR personnel captured (net-gunning) and radio-collared 28 moose in 5 days; 6 GPS radio-collars are fitted on moose
27 calves seen with 39 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
necropsies performed on 3 cows and 3 bulls
radio-collar slipped off a young bull
two radio-collared moose disperse to northern Wisconsin
Dodge et al. presented paper on moose population dynamics at the TheWildlife Society 2001 Annual Conference
Michigan Moose brochure published and distributed

2002

22 calves seen with 33 radio-collared cows during summer calf checks
Aerial census work continues
One bull broke his collar and 3 other young bulls slipped off their collars
necropsies performed on 3 bulls and 10 cows
radio-collared bull that dispersed to Wisconsin dies
Dodge et al. presented paper on moose reproduction, survival and movements at the Michigan Chapter of The Wildlife Society 2002 meeting