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WY moose calves

I was elk hunting in wolf country and we saw a lot of calf moose. My WY friend said he has heard the moose are starting to adapt and calf recruitment is up? I think most cows had 2 calves.

In Alaska, research has shown there is little significant wolf predation on moose calves from birth until winter. Most neo-natal predation on wolf calves is from bears, black and grizzly. There are many other sources of protein for wolves during summer, but by winter, wolves again become a significant mortality factor on young moose.

That's interesting Pete. Wolves are smart. Letting em pack some meat on those bones before they need em in the winter lol.

I'm betting they only had 1 calf but nice to hear of the positive recruitment. We saw almost all cows with calves in the area we hunted this fall as well.

I agree with the idea that now is not the time to count the calves. Next spring will tell us how they do. I think the wolves need the deeper snow to really hit the moose hard. I also feel that the moose get hard after the elk have migrated out into the lower open flats.

I know last fall we were watching 3 pairs of cow calves. By the end of January 3 pairs had turned into 1. With the 2 cows not having a calf. Not sure if they were killed by wolves, but in my unofficial little example 66% died over winter.

Fudge, I was hoping it was a good sign.

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