Conservationists alarmed over rising moose deaths
The death toll for moose in Kootenay National Park continues to rise, climbing to more than 70 humancaused mortalities on Highway 93 South over the past decade.
On Sunday night, a crash with a moose on Highway 93 South about eight kilometres from the B.C.-Alberta border killed a Calgary senior, and sent the driver to hospital.
And an adult female moose was struck last week on the highway between Banff and Radium, B.C., near a salt lick just south of the Simpson monument.
There have now been five moose killed this year.
Conservationists say the number of moose deaths on that highway — which has averaged about seven a year over the past decade — is alarming, saying the park appears to be a population sink for many species.
“As far as I’m concerned it’s inexcusable,” said Mike McIvor, president of the Bow Valley Naturalists.
“Much is attributable to the speeds people drive on that road and the fact there’s virtually no enforcement, and until enforcement is taken seriously, this sort of thing is going to continue,” McIvor added.
“It’s an issue that’s been going on for many, many years, and given the current climate with Parks, I expect it will go on for many, many years to come, as long as there’s enough moose to be killed.”
Finding the female moose dead in the ditch Sept. 13 followed the deaths of two bull moose three weeks earlier, one near Stanley Glacier on Aug. 29 and the other near Floe Lake parking lot Aug. 31.
Another adult female moose was run over and killed in February near Kootenay Crossing, while a fifth moose was reported struck near Mount Harkin viewpoint in January, but a carcass was never found.
According to Parks Canada’s most up-to-date statistics and reports, there have been 71 moose killed on Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park since 2002.
On top of that, Parks Canada says there have been 13 other reported strikes in that same time period, but because carcasses are never found, it can’t be said for sure the moose are dead.
“All sorts of things can happen, but more than likely a predator has gotten it or it’s hobbled off into the bush and died,” said Trevor Kinley, a transportation and wildlife biologist for Kootenay National Park.
“We do know predators like wolves are waiting for opportunities, they know animals get killed on that highway.”
Parks Canada does not have a good handle on population numbers, or exactly how the deaths of the moose may be affecting the viability of the moose population.
But they say more moose have been hit and killed by vehicles on Highway 93 South following recent wildfires in Kootenay, particularly the 2003 lightning-sparked TokummVerendrye fire that burned 12.6 per cent of the park.
Parks Canada’s statistics show an average of seven moose a year have been killed following the fires, compared to an average of three a year over a 24-year period from 1979-2002.
“We assume this is mainly due to the improved forage for moose in the burn,” Kinley said.
“For several years after a fire, the landscape becomes really good moose habitat and all the growth from shrubs makes a lot of food.”
Kinley said wildlife can be present in any month and at any time of day, but for moose the riskiest months in Kootenay are early summer through early winter, particularly August, September and January.
Kinley said Parks Canada is concerned about the moose deaths from an ecological perspective, but is also worried about the potential for damage to vehicles and injury to people.
“Moose present a particularly high risk compared to other animals because they are big and because their long legs place their body mass at about windshield height.”