Alaska Reopens Moose Hunt

The previous closure of the North Slope moose hunt, which began in 2014, was enacted due to a sudden and severe decline in the moose population. Wildlife surveys at the time revealed a staggering 50% reduction in moose numbers in the western North Slope (Unit 26A) since 2011. In the eastern North Slope (Unit 26B), the situation was even more dire, with the moose population plummeting from an estimated 400 animals in 2013 to just 109 in 2014. Biologists from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game cited poor nutrition as a primary cause for the decline. A very late spring in 2013 followed by poor summer conditions led to widespread malnourishment among the moose population. This was evidenced by the fact that very few 10-month-old calves were observed, indicating a high mortality rate for the previous year's young. Predation by wolves on these weakened moose may have also been a contributing factor to the population crash. Moose on the North Slope are at the northernmost extent of their range, making them particularly vulnerable to harsh environmental conditions and fluctuations in food availability. The expansion of woody plants and shrubs onto the tundra, a result of climate change, has been altering the habitat in the region. While this can provide more food for moose, it also illustrates the rapid environmental shifts that wildlife populations in the Arctic are navigating. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game carefully monitors moose populations through aerial surveys and harvest data to make management decisions. The decision to reopen the hunt suggests that conservation efforts and natural recovery have allowed the population to rebound to a level that can sustain a limited harvest.