National Parks’ Challenges

Case Study 2: Too Many Moose on the Loose?
Moose in Gros Morne National Park of Canada

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Contents:
1. Issue overview
2. Park overview
3. Detailed issue information
4. Stakeholder descriptions
5. Supplementary information

1. Issue overview
Large increases in the population of moose, a non-native species, may be threatening the ecological integrity of Gros Morne National Park of Canada (Gros Morne). The moose are reducing the diversity and amount of available cover in the forest understory, which includes the trees and shrubs that grow under the canopy formed by the taller trees. This is critical habitat for forest floor animals and birds. In areas designated for domestic woodcutting, heavy moose browsing may be affecting the regeneration of the forest, and hence future wood supplies.

The forests of Gros Morne National Park are part of the boreal forest. © Parks Canada

• Located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland.
• Established in 1973.
• Representative of Western Newfoundland Highlands Natural Region (Region 34) and St. Lawrence Lowlands Natural Region (Region 29).
• Area 1 805 km².
• 28% of the park is forested. The forest is composed primarily of balsam fir and white birch, and to a lesser extent white and black spruce. The predicted successional trend for these forests is balsam fir-dominated stands.

The Gros Morne National Park Fact Sheet (located in Printable Versions) will provide you with more information on this park. You can also consult the National Park System Plan; look up Regions 29 and 34.


3. Detailed issue information

Moose, introduced to Newfoundland in 1904, are now numerous in Gros Morne National Park. © Parks Canada/ Pleau, J.

• Moose are not native to the island of Newfoundland. They were introduced in 1904 and became common in the park area in the 1940s.
• It is estimated that between 125 000 and 150 000 moose inhabit the island of Newfoundland.
• Outside the park, there is a provincially regulated hunt. Annually, 28 000 hunters take approximately 24 000 moose.
• The park and enclave communities have been closed to moose hunting since 1974.
• With the exception of hunting outside the park, there are no significant predators of moose.
• Black bears prey on moose calves, but do not have a major impact on the population.

This cutting area is one of 12 within Gros Morne National Park where eligible residents can cut wood. © Parks Canada

• Harvesting of local timber for houses, buildings, boats and heating has a long tradition in Newfoundland.
• The federal-provincial agreement for the establishment of Gros Morne National Park allows for eligible residents to continue to harvest timber for domestic purposes.
• The domestic timber harvest is restricted to 12 cutting blocks within the park, with a total area of 194 km². These areas account for 10.5% of the park, but contain 25% of the its forested lands.
• Residents who are eligible for timber permits are defined as those who resided within the boundaries of Gros Morne or one of 13 enclave communities and were 19 years of age or older on August 13, 1973 (the date the park was established), as well as their children. With the passing of these two generations, domestic woodcutting will cease inside the park.
• The potential: there are a total of 1 600 eligible residents. With each having the right to cut 10 cords per year, the annual allowable harvest could be as high as 16 000 cords.
• The reality: an average of 260 eligible residents actually cut wood in the park. Combined, these people have been averaging 1 470 cords annually over the last 17 years.

3.3 Observations

• The small patch cuts resulting from domestic woodcutting are being heavily used by moose.
• Moose feed most heavily in areas where forests are regenerating. Generally, this includes the forest understory and along edges of disturbed forest sites.
• Larger natural forest disturbances, like insect kills, are only heavily exploited near the forest edge. The centres of these disturbed areas do not appear to be heavily used by moose.
• The moose population in Gros Morne National Park has increased dramatically since the park was established in 1973.
• In Gros Morne National Park, there are approximately 7 800 moose with an average density of 4.3/km². In some locations, the density is as high as 19.5/km².
• Moose populations within Gros Morne National Park are primarily regulated by food supply.
• The rapid increase in the moose population is typical of introduced species. Generally, they overexploit their new habitat and exceed the carrying capacity. This is often followed by a crash in the population before it stabilizes at more sustainable levels.

Moose have browsed and damaged this mountain ash. © Parks Canada

• In Gros Morne National Park, the percentage of total available twigs browsed by moose has increased from an average of 5% in 1977 to 38% in 1996.
• In 1977, the most important sources of browse for moose in Gros Morne National Park of Canada were Canada yew, mountain maple, balsam fir, white birch, and chuckley pear.
• Between 1977 and 1996, the availability of Canada yew, mountain maple, white birch and chuckley pear within Gros Morne National Park decreased from 14.6% to 2.2%.
• Availability of vegetation outside the park appears to be unchanged in the same time period.
• Inside the cutting blocks, the present rate of moose browsing may result in a changed forest canopy. Selective browsing by moose will likely eliminate white birch, and spruce will replace balsam fir as the dominant tree species.
• Outside the cutting blocks, it is predicted that the forest canopy may remain unchanged, consisting primarily of balsam fir and white birch, and to a lesser extent, white and black spruce.
• In all forested areas within the park, moose browsing has been having a major effect on the forest understory. The removal or drastic thinning of the understory affects other animals that rely on it for cover.
• Moose/vehicle accidents are a concern. In a typical year, there are between 30 and 40 accidents on park roads.

Number of moose/vehicle accidents, 1991-2003

Estimated moose population in Gros Morne National Park, 1971-1998

Figure 1.
Percentage total of available twigs browsed by moose at 10 sites in Gros Morne National Park of Canada



References

Bateman, M.C. Progress Report: Ungulate investigations in Gros Morne National Park. Parks Canada Report. CWS-AR-202.31 (1977).
Caines, P. and Deichmann, K.H. Resource Description and Analysis: Gros Morne National Park, Parks Canada 1990.
Connor, K. Changes in Structure of a Boreal Forest Community Following Intense Herbivory by Moose. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, University of New Brunswick (1999).
Lawlor, M. Analysis of Forest Dynamics in Gros Morne National Park and Preliminary Observations on the Condition of the Domestic Harvest. Unpublished (1992).
Mawhinney, K. and Mahoney, S. Terms of reference for the study: Moose Ecology/Forest Dynamics in the Gros Morne National Park Region. Unpublished report (1994).
McCarthy, C. Gros Morne Domestic Timber Harvest Information Newsletter (2000).
Sullivan, E. Gros Morne Aerial Moose Survey Analysis. Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division. St. John’s, NF. Unpublished report (1995).

4. Stakeholder descriptions

Parks Canada wildlife biologist
You have a Master's degree in Biology, and have worked at Gros Morne National Park for the past 10 years. During this time, you have seen an increase in the moose population as well as in the numbers of moose/vehicle accidents in the park. You are concerned about the impact of the growth of the moose population on wildlife habitat. You would like to consider ways of controlling the moose population.

Parks Canada plant biologist
You have a Master's degree in Biology, and have worked at Gros Morne National Park for two years. You have reviewed data related to the effects of moose browsing on the forest composition, and have observed and quantified the damage during your fieldwork. You are interested in finding ways to keep the impact of moose browsing to a minimum, both inside and outside the cutting blocks where local people harvest timber.

Local resident
You have lived in nearby Wiltondale all your life. Your family cut timber in the area before the park was established. As part of the agreement to create the park, your family has been permitted to continue cutting wood in specific areas. You depend on the wood for heating and for building materials.  You would like to continue being able to cut wood in all areas allotted to your family.

Moose hunter
Your family has lived in the region for generations. Your father used to hunt moose in the area that became Gros Morne National Park in 1973. Today, you are an avid moose hunter. From what you understand, the moose population within the park has grown since your father’s time, in part because hunting has been prohibited. You support the reinstatement of a limited moose hunt by local people.

Member of the local Tourism Association
Even though moose are not native to Newfoundland, they have been part of the region’s ecosystem for over 60 years. Most tourists admire these majestic creatures. It is common to see cars stopped along roads in Gros Morne National Park as people try to get a better look at moose. You do not support a cull of this animal because you fear it may give the park a bad name (especially in the growing European market) and potentially reduce tourism revenues.

5. Supplementary Information

Moose:
www.hww.ca
Go to Invasive Species; mentions moose in Newfoundland.

www.hww.ca
Go to Species, Moose

www.nr.gov.nl.ca/agric/fact_pubs/pdf/crops/moose.pdf
About moose/Christmas-tree grower conflicts in Newfoundland

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