Are Rocky Mountain National Park's Moose Becoming a Problem? 🫎

The weekend might not be here just yet, but Valentine’s Day and your favorite dispatch from the great outdoors is. Can you feel the love??? 💘

So grab your main piece and your coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and let's get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past 24-or-so hours. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Moose problemo - Rocky Mountain National Park might have too many 🫎

• Gator gripe - Louisiana has too many large reptiles 🐊

• Verdict issued - Judge rules on infamous Lancaster County bear shooting 🧑‍⚖️

• Skirting the law - An Oregon bill aims to circumvent old mountain lion regs 🤫

• Tangled up in blue - An elk is finally rescued from entanglement on Oregon beach 🪢

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THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS
ARE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK’S MOOSE BECOMING A PROBLEM?

Currently, Colorado has a population of over 3,000 moose, with the second-largest herd of 670 residing in North Park. The largest herd, with 840 moose, is located in Grand Mesa. As recently as 2010, Colorado continued to supplement its moose population with transplants from Wyoming and Utah, contributing to the growing presence of moose in Rocky Mountain National Park, where they are now a common sight.

Without complaining about the success of past moose reintroduction efforts, officials at Rocky Mountain National Park are, however, beginning to grow weary of the effects of bulging moose populations. As large ungulates, they not only require a lot of space, but a lot of food as well. Forging on willow as their primary source of nutrition, wildlife managers are trying to strike a balance between the animal and the park’s wetlands.

Given that willow makes up around 90 percent of the moose’s summer diet, if populations continue to grow at around 5 percent per year, there might not be enough food to go around…

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🐊 Louisiana’s got a gator problem and the only prescription is more hunting seasons. In a problem that has been rearing its head out of the swamps and bayous of Louisiana for the past couple of years, lawmakers are sick and the only cure, they say, is more gator hunting. 

"We're being overrun by alligators," Democratic Plaquemine Rep. Chad Brown said during a 2023 hearing. "Two Sundays ago my neighbor called and told me to be careful because there's an alligator under your wife's car."

Now home to an estimated 3 million gators - or three times the amount of gators found in Florida - lawmakers have had enough and are calling on the state's commission to handle their business.

After facing tremendous pressure, particularly by statements such as the one above, Louisiana’s Wildlife Commission has approved a notice of intent this week to extend a certain number of alligator hunting seasons this fall. 

"They're everywhere," said Republican Columbia Rep. Neil Riser. "I think we're going to have to get to the point to (expand hunting)."

And while the intent does seem to have support on both sides of the aisle, the notice will be open to public comment until May 1st.

🧑‍⚖️ PA Judge rules that the first bear shot in Lancaster County was, in fact, shot illegally. Earlier this year we covered the story of Lancaster hunter John Stoltzfus and his now infamous bear. In what would have been the first bear ever shot by a hunter in the county, state game wardens later discovered that the bear was shot on private property that Stoltzfus did not have permission to hunt. And while Stoltzfus feigned ignorance, claiming he had hunted the property - owned by Constellation Energy -  for decades, he was still handed down a trespassing citation and a charge for the unlawful taking of wildlife.

The accused was afforded the opportunity to defend himself in court yesterday, but was unable to sway Magisterial District Judge William Mankin’s decision. After reviewing the evidence along with testimony from Game Warden Daniel Gibble and Constellation Energy employees, Mankin found Stoltzfus guilty for trespassing while hunting and unlawful taking.  Stoltzfus had no comment on the decision and did not rule out an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas.

🐕 New Oregon Bill aims to circumvent the state’s ban on mountain lion hunting with dogs. In an effort to protect livestock and mule deer populations, Senate Bill 769 would allow counties the ability to exclude themselves from the 30-year prohibition of hunting Oregon cougars with dogs. Although the bill would be a way to bypass the existing law regarding hounds, state wildlife officials would remain in charge of cougar management decisions statewide.

“This method is not about eliminating cougars. It is about using a proven, selective approach to keep predator numbers in harmony with the environment,” said Charles Whitwam, a proponent of the bill, during a recent legislative hearing.

In addition to getting back an age-old method of hunting big cats, proponents are also emphasizing the importance of local control for apex predator populations. With approximately 55% of all mule deer deaths in Oregon being attributed to mountain lions, many believe they need more options when it comes to chasing cats to keep numbers in check.

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🫎Mama took the babies out to the waterpark.  You look out your window and see a mama moose with her twins just having the time of their life stomping on that sh*tty patch of grass you’ve been trying rehabilitate all spring.

“It is what it is,” you say as you crank the water up for the kiddos.

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Wisconsin DNR Seeks Volunteers with Hunting Skills to Instruct Students of All Ages: You could become a mentor, lead a learn-to-hunt outing or hold a workshop to teach new hunters how to cook meat from harvested deer. Opportunities abound. Here are the fulfilling and satisfying ways you can share your skills with others.  Read the full story.

Mississippi wildlife commission extends hunting seasons. Here's which seasons and how long: Squirrel, rabbit, opossum, raccoon and bobcat seasons were originally set to close on Feb. 28. However, this year that date falls on a Friday. When that happens, the commission has the authority to extend certain seasons by two days to 30 minutes after sunset on the next Sunday. Read the full story.

Gun owners could get a tax break timed to Georgia deer hunting season:  Gun enthusiasts could soon get an 11-day sales tax holiday in October to coincide with the beginning of hunting season, which Republican senators say would cut down on Georgia’s overpopulation of deer. Read the full story.

Elk tangled in nautical rope rescued on Oregon coast: n Feb. 12, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife sedated and rescued a bull elk that was tangled in boating lines for multiple days at Arch Cape, south of Cannon Beach. Read the full story.

Pennsylvania police officer charged, placed on leave following hunting incident that left man critically injured: An Exeter Township Police officer is facing charges in a hunting incident that left a man critically injured. Read the full story.

Wife-husband python hunting team bag nearly 15-foot-long beast: A wife-husband snake hunting team celebrated their love by bagging a massive snake on the week of Valentine’s Day.  Read the full story.

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I don’t know a damn thing about horses. But I want to learn.

📸 :@yin_and_tonic

Oh, and one more thing…

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