I did some quick research on moose populations. I hypothesized that agriculture has the highest impact on moose numbers when comparing Newfoundland to Saskatchewan. Seems there is strong evidence to support my hypothesis.
So I want to know why there are so many more moose in Newfoundland than Saskatchewan for example, where people say moose populations are too high at approximately 8000 in the southern farmland region compared to an estimated 120,000 in Newfoundland. In both areas of comparison wolves have been extirpated ( they don't exist).
Saskatchewan population 2014 statcan: 1.13 million
Sk land mass: 651,036 sq. km
Moose in south estimate 8000
Wolves south of forest fringe (farmland region): 0
Newfoundland population 2014 statcan: 526,997
Landmass: 405,212 sq. km
Moose on island estimate 120,000
Wolves on island: 0 (extirpated in 1936)
So why such a pronounced population difference? Availablity and suitability of habitat.
SK cropland 2006 Census of Agriculture statcan: 37.7 million acres
moose density (using 250,000 sq.km for farmland area): 1/31 sq.km
N.L. 2006 cropland: 89,441
Moose density: 1/834 acres or 3.3 moose/sq.km
If I had the moose density of N.L. on my property I would have 6.4 moose...and it still wouldn't be enough. For those of you that think that your resources are too plentiful you should be starting conservation efforts now because most of the rest of the planet has very little in the way of wildlife resources. Moose or wolves...we certainly don't have enough to be wasted. If you're going to cull a species at least make use of what you take.
It wasn't all that long ago that people said the fish stocks off the west bank were endless...what happened to the fishery? Did the sharks net them all?
So I want to know why there are so many more moose in Newfoundland than Saskatchewan for example, where people say moose populations are too high at approximately 8000 in the southern farmland region compared to an estimated 120,000 in Newfoundland. In both areas of comparison wolves have been extirpated ( they don't exist).
Saskatchewan population 2014 statcan: 1.13 million
Sk land mass: 651,036 sq. km
Moose in south estimate 8000
Wolves south of forest fringe (farmland region): 0
Newfoundland population 2014 statcan: 526,997
Landmass: 405,212 sq. km
Moose on island estimate 120,000
Wolves on island: 0 (extirpated in 1936)
So why such a pronounced population difference? Availablity and suitability of habitat.
SK cropland 2006 Census of Agriculture statcan: 37.7 million acres
moose density (using 250,000 sq.km for farmland area): 1/31 sq.km
N.L. 2006 cropland: 89,441
Moose density: 1/834 acres or 3.3 moose/sq.km
If I had the moose density of N.L. on my property I would have 6.4 moose...and it still wouldn't be enough. For those of you that think that your resources are too plentiful you should be starting conservation efforts now because most of the rest of the planet has very little in the way of wildlife resources. Moose or wolves...we certainly don't have enough to be wasted. If you're going to cull a species at least make use of what you take.
It wasn't all that long ago that people said the fish stocks off the west bank were endless...what happened to the fishery? Did the sharks net them all?




















































