When a moose goes down in the North Woods, it’s hauled out to a U lab. Researchers are finding hope for saving moose, but with tough tradeoffs.
Story by Josephine Marcotty, photos and video by Brian Peterson Star Tribune
February 7, 2016 — 12:00AM
TOWER, MINN.
The death of moose No. 161 was written in the snow.
Emaciated and sick, he had bedded down deep in the North Woods. In his final struggle to rise, he plowed a dark furrow across the white ground before collapsing beneath a towering white pine.
Ordinarily, his carcass would have melted slowly into the earth. But within 24 hours, it was hoisted away by helicopter — one of 47 dead moose that scientists have airlifted, dragged or tobogganed out of the woods in an extraordinary project to find out why the massive animals are disappearing from Minnesota.
Now, answers to that mystery are at last beginning to emerge — as are some of the dilemmas they will present to the state. Continue reading