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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources conducts a biennial aerial moose survey to monitor population size and trends in the western Upper Peninsula. The survey has been conducted every other year since 1997 and takes place in January, when moose are more visible against the snow-covered landscape.
Survey flights follow a systematic route at low altitude across Marquette, Baraga and Iron counties, where the state’s reintroduced moose population is concentrated. Trained observers count the number of moose spotted from the air, recording information by location.
Because not every moose can be seen, even under ideal conditions, the raw counts are adjusted using a statistical model. This model was developed through trials with radio-collared moose to estimate how many animals are likely to be missed during aerial surveys, providing a more accurate population estimate.
The goal of the moose survey is to help wildlife biologists track population trends over time and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation and management efforts. Survey results also help identify early warning signs if the population begins to decline or experiences unexpected changes.
This data plays a key role in:
2025 Moose Survey Results
In the January 2025 aerial survey, biologists estimated approximately 300 moose within the western Upper Peninsula core range, down from an estimated 426 moose in 2023. The largest decline occurred in survey plots classified as low-density strata.
At this time, it is unclear whether the lower estimate reflects an actual population decline within the western Upper Peninsula core range, a shift in moose distribution away from historically surveyed areas, or a combination of both. Moose distribution within the core range has changed over time, and because not all areas used by moose can be uniformly surveyed, decreases observed in the core range could be offset by undetected increases elsewhere.
Field observations and preliminary reviews of moose images collected through a camera survey designed to assess wolf abundance suggest that, over the past decade, moose distribution has shifted southwest, outside what has traditionally been defined as the western Upper Peninsula core area. As a result, biologists will reevaluate the placement of survey plots for future aerial surveys and consider including additional areas in a revised definition of the western Upper Peninsula core moose range.
Ongoing moose research in the western Upper Peninsula will continue to improve understanding of moose population dynamics in the coming years. This research is a collaborative effort between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and Northern Michigan University, and is supported primarily through federal conservation grants, tribal partnerships and university resources.
While moose numbers remain relatively small compared to other big game species in Michigan, the population is self-sustaining and holds ecological, cultural and recreational significance for the state. Continued monitoring through aerial surveys and field research will help ensure that conservation strategies remain science-based and adaptive to changing conditions.
