Michigan’s wild landscapes provide a home for moose. These herbivores, the largest members of the deer family, are a significant part of the state’s natural heritage. While not widespread, their presence in specific northern regions offers unique opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts.
Current Moose Habitats in Michigan
Moose populations in Michigan are primarily found within the Upper Peninsula, inhabiting two distinct areas.
The more established and larger population resides in the western Upper Peninsula, primarily across parts of Marquette, Baraga, and Iron counties. This region, including areas like the Michigamme Highlands, supports a significant portion of the state’s moose.
A smaller, remnant population exists in the eastern Upper Peninsula, with sightings reported in Alger, Schoolcraft, Luce, and Chippewa counties. This eastern range includes the vicinity of Tahquamenon Falls State Park and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. While these areas offer suitable conditions, moose numbers are considerably lower than in the western U.P.
Moose thrive in boreal forest environments characterized by young trees and dense shrubs. Their preferred habitats include cedar swamps, marshes, and alder-willow thickets near lakes, rivers, or streams. The mixed forested areas with wetland complexes in these Upper Peninsula regions provide ideal conditions, offering food and shelter.
Factors Influencing Moose Presence
The current distribution of moose in Michigan is shaped by both ecological requirements and historical events.
Moose are primarily browsers, meaning they feed on woody vegetation rather than grazing on grasses. Their diet includes the young leaves and twigs of various trees such as aspen, birch, and maple. During warmer months, they also consume aquatic vegetation like water lilies, horsetails, and rushes, which provide essential sodium and other minerals.
Climate conditions play a substantial role in moose survival, as these animals are adapted to colder environments. They can experience heat stress in temperatures above 68 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, seeking shade or water to cool down. Historically, long, frigid winters have also helped control parasitic threats.
The presence of certain diseases and parasites significantly impacts moose populations. Winter ticks, a species that spends its entire life cycle on a single host, can cause severe blood loss, irritation, and significant coat loss. This is especially detrimental to calves, which rely on thick fur for insulation. Brainworm, a parasite carried by white-tailed deer, is typically harmless to deer but almost always fatal to moose.
Moose were once widespread across Michigan but faced a drastic decline by the early 19th century due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss following European settlement. An initial reintroduction attempt in the 1930s, involving 63 moose from Isle Royale, was unsuccessful. A more successful effort, known as the “Moose Lift,” occurred in 1985 and 1987. During this time, 59 moose were translocated from Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada, and released into northwest Marquette County, laying the foundation for the self-sustaining Western Upper Peninsula population.
Moose Conservation and Viewing
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) actively manages and monitors the state’s moose populations. Since 1997, the DNR has conducted biennial aerial surveys to estimate moose abundance in the western Upper Peninsula and assess population trends. These surveys help wildlife biologists track the health and movement of the herd.
Despite conservation efforts, population growth in the western Upper Peninsula has slowed, showing less than 1% annual growth since 2009. To better understand factors contributing to this stagnation, the DNR, in collaboration with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Northern Michigan University, initiated a research project involving GPS collaring of moose. This study aims to gather detailed data on moose movements, survival rates, and causes of mortality.
Challenges to the moose population include the impacts of climate change, which can lead to milder winters that favor the proliferation of winter ticks and increase the risk of disease transmission. Vehicle collisions also pose a threat, with dozens of moose struck and killed on roads in recent years.
For those hoping to observe moose in the wild, the Upper Peninsula offers the best opportunities, particularly in Baraga and Marquette counties. Moose are most active during early morning and evening hours. Observing moose requires patience and a respectful approach. View them from a safe distance, avoid disturbing their natural behavior, and remain aware of surrounding traffic if viewing from a roadside.