SPOKANE – There are so many moose on the loose in far eastern Washington and northern Idaho that some are appearing in such unlikely habitats as Palouse wheat pastures, wildlife biologists report.
Around Mount Spokane and Mica Peak, research by the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife indicates there are now one or more moose per square kilometer, or nearly three per square mile – in a few areas eclipsing the number of deer.
“Many people who have lived in Spokane a long time don’t realize we have moose around here,” said David Volsen, a game biologist with the agency.
Volsen and other experts say moose populations in the region have been on the rise for decades as shrubs and young trees on which the moose feed fill forest land stripped of trees by clearcut logging.
Over time, as the trees grow bigger and shrubs are crowded out, the moose population will likely decline, Volsen said.
Idaho’s moose count is estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 animals with the biggest population near the Canadian border, up from fewer than 1,000 half a century ago, said Dale Toweill, a program coordinator in the Idaho Fish and Game Department.
“Populations have just exploded,” Toweill said.
Wandering alone rather than in herds, moose sometimes seek romance with horses in the early fall, the start of the breeding season, Toweill said.
“Horses are terrified of moose,” he added.
Moose have expanded their range to the Snake River plain, some have crossed the river at Hells Canyon and Oregon state biologists believe about 30, including eight bulls, have established themselves in northeastern Oregon. Others are now ensconced in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington.
Hunters are delighted by the expanded opportunities.
Two years ago a once-in-a-lifetime limit for Idaho residents to obtain a moose permit was lifted, and the state now issues 1,200 moose hunting permits annually.
A typical bull moose shot in the state has a 36-inch antler spread, fairly large for the type of moose found in Washington and Idaho, Toweill said
“We’re getting an excellent reputation for having a lot of moose,” Toweill said.
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