Moose Population

Moose are the largest animals present in the Adirondacks, weighing up to 1,500 pounds. Their size, however, is no match for even the smallest of predators. The parasite Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, commonly residing in White-tailed Deer, does significant neurological damage to the moose. With these deer, it has what's known as a commensal relationship; it neither hurts nor helps the host, but is benefitted itself. The parasite lives in the tissue around the brain, and lays eggs in the bloodstream. These eggs find their way into the lungs and out into the environment after being coughed up, digested and excreted. They then find a new host and repeat the cycle. However, when this host is anything but a deer, the dynamic of the relationship changes. The moose can't survive the parasite's residency in the brain tissue. The moose then begins to go crazy (often walking in circles, or just standing still) until it dies naturally or becomes prey. Warmer winter conditions have brought parasite-yielding deer up north to the heart of the moose population. Furthermore, the expansion of wetlands due to the return of beavers have brought moose south. The intersection is the Adirondack park. This population mix killed of an unprecedented number of moose.

Although relevant to the moose population in the Adirondacks, the parasite-moose relationship wasn't  the main cause of the decline of moose population. Global warming has destroyed a significant portion of the moose habitat. Hunting too, has been a problem for a long time. By the early 20th century, the moose was completely absent in the Adirondacks. Changes to hunting laws, however, have protected the moose population much more than the deer population. This somewhat solves the issue of hunting and parasitic relationships. A greater conservation effort has further given the moose sustainable habitats within the park. By 1990, moose had entered the park from the north and the east, inhabiting territory throughout the entire park, marking a successful reintroduction.



Sources:

Carey, John. "The Deepening Mystery of Moose Decline." National Wildlife Federation. 29 Sept. 2014. Web.

"Brainworm Nematode." FCPS.edu. Oklahoma State University. Web.

Jenkins, Jerry, and Andy Keal. The Adirondack Atlas: A Geographic Portrait of the Adirondack Park. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse UP, 2004. Print.