Human Impacts

Illegal Hunting

Human hunting has the potential to be a threat to moose populations in the Adirondack Park, if current laws are not enforced (Lee 1). As mentioned under “Past and Present Efforts to Protect Moose Populations”, hunting moose in New York State is illegal. However, despite these laws, lack of local support has resulted in the deaths of several moose. These include one in North River Hill, two in Moose River Plains and one in Keehn Valley (Lee 1). These circumstances are especially problematic because the hunters in Keehn Valley were the only party caught (Lee 2). In these cases the hunters typically shoot the moose and leave the carcass behind in the woods (Lee 1). In these cases hunters are not even utilizing the body of the animal as a resource. If the moose population continues to rise it will be interesting to see how the regulation of hunting moose is dealt with. One can only hope conservation is practiced to ensure this majestic creatures continued existence in New York.

 

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Moose-Car Collision and Habitat Fragmentation

Moose are not typically a threat to human safety, with the primary exception being car accidents. The thought of a 1,000 pound moose mangling your car is enough to concern just about anyone, and it is a reality for about 250 vehicles a year in New Hampshire. In contrast there were only six in the Adirondack park, but this number is expected to increase with increased traffic flow on the Northway (Interstate 87)  and with potential moose population increase.  Moose are an especially dangerous animal to hit as the bulk of their weight will align with the windshield and therefore create a serious threat to drivers and passengers. The antlers on bucks can also be a major cause for concern in mating season.  Reducing speed is the best way to avoid a deadly collision, many suggest maintaining speed to increase force on the moose but this is inaccurate (“Brake for Moose it could Save your Life” 1).

Habitat fragmentation is the greatest force increasing moose-car accidents. As the forests of northern latitudes are developed for homes, tourism, and roadways the edge habitat increases. This increases the percentage of time moose spend on the outskirts of forests near roadways. The connection between this increased time on the edge of roadways and collisions follows logically. This increased edge habitat also poses several unrelated dangers to moose including isolating populations, increasing potential for invasive species and decreasing the amount of vegetation (Didham 3). The edges of highways attract moose due to salt licks cause by winter road maintenance. This is problematic as it increases moose loitering in roads leading to an increased chance of accidents.


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Sources Cited

 

"A Moose on the Loose." Flickr. Yahoo, 15 Apr. 2009. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/24374516@N08/3448138761/in/photolist-6fGBwi-8yX4WW-cvazXs-59AGmb-ktzeQj-opZ2aN-hUmvWM-ot4Lrb-pvpD37-dwWiZB-dikRUA-3ySnyU-quGtCr-k2EybT-g7CY65-51ixpa-7LkUGV-hocm7X-h9fehU-7mLAmR-gCcGfM-jdYoVe-sdquVA-gWbmjj-fUaLFK-in6WmN-fpqoeG-h8AHsg-juuLQP-p5rvWz-a7staN-oqRyLj-q8c4CP-h1hfvP-dX2M9d-np15V3-mAkY9B-d5LdL7-ecZG1L-d436HL-fxhi2d-phxdWR-kSTZSo-m96SUG-fhRi5C-oBGTH6-dggoQF-dtbg9B-favN7N-aYHAR4-jct2dy>.

"Brake for Moose: It Could Save Your Life." New Hampshire Fish and Game, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.

Didham, Raphael. "Ecological Consequences of Habitat Fragmentation.Wiley, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015.

Lee, Gary N. "Moose Population." Moose Population. Adirondack Outdoor Magazine, n.d. Web. 12 May 2015.

Parent, Daniel. "Danger; Moose Crossing." Flickr. Yahoo, 5 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/11107124@N02/10425200295/in/photolist-gTeSQF-5hcnN4-nuSXm-jmzqMt-g1Lmm-95KMZV-cxwzwC-3pyVS2-8zdPdp-4Nvpex-ahyE3M-5hgJ5u-dvzRPa-5N5Hey-dLgyP9-8e29rQ-cfmynh-cbvDaA-dkC7M1-m6yPx-pD3bJ-9j67UD-a2Fjbe-9j67Z8-kFG2DZ-8aoFEh-63Xw9C-9wYWwB-6ofJX-cfmyd1-48xDds-gWvmfG-cfmyyj-9j9fL1-o86njB-3YVK3v-4Yp4XV-75b5nP-ciVtFE-7ZiqJd-6GCT2o-hxW4v-3cSgD-iijhu-rBvU6Z-bQYB1P-2zbcoW-KMoq6-KMcCj-6XzcCw-gjZeZ>.

 

US Fish and Wildlife Service. "Moose Hunting." Wikipedia Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2015.

 

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