Oregon L.O.W.F.I

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, there is a moose population in Oregon’s Blue Mountains in the eastern part of the state. The moose population is small; about 60 altogether. Moose have been spotted for a few decades but “only recently have animals been considered established residents.” says the ODFW site. Unfortunately, Oregon’s moose might have a parasite that can be fatal. Scientists aren’t sure the parasite is the cause; they speculate the deaths of the Oregon moose were caused by a parasite found in Wyoming moose that killed some of the animals there:

“We lost two of our radioed animals this summer, and we could never determine the cause of death,” said Pat Matthews, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist. “So this sort of jumped out as a possibility.” (Register Guard)

While the deaths are worrisome, and there are indicators that the parasite might be the cause of death, the herd in Oregon does seem to be thriving.

Sources:
The Oregonian:Oregon biologists fear small moose herd may be infected with deadly parasite

Moose on the Loose!

Register-Guard:Oregon biologists look into moose deaths