A study in June 2024’s The Journal of Wildlife Management found that having a spring bear hunt can be beneficial to moose.
The study examined moose calf mortality on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation in Minnesota for 11 seasons some of which has a spring bear hunt, and some of which didn’t.
Throughout the multi-year study, researchers observed significantly lower bear predation (68% less) when the hunts were on, even though the level of wolf predation remained the same. Conversely, calf predation attributed to bears was 4.9 times higher (30% vs. 6%) in years when a spring bear hunt was not held.
Despite an increasing wolf density during the study period, researchers did not see an increase in wolf predation during spring bear hunt years.
The study surmised that it is possible that the reduction in bear predations of moose calves during an open spring season may be related to the increased availability of food at bait stations, at a time of year when food is normally limited. Other factors might have been at play too, such as to changes in bear behaviour and feeding response or a reduction in bear density.
Nevertheless, the study provides evidence that predator control for one of multiple predator species can result in predation reductions of the desired prey species. The study finally suggested that the addition of a spring bear hunt, during a time when moose calves are most vulnerable to bear predation, has the potential to increase moose calf survival, even in the presence of wolves.
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