MA'IINGAN (WOLF)

The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was officially listed as a federally endangered species in 1974 due to severe overharvest resulting from fur trapping, bounties, and livestock protection efforts. In 1978, wolves in Minnesota were reclassified as threatened, allowing state and federal authorities to manage for wolves praying on livestock. In the past three decades, Minnesota's keystone predator population has rebounded from an estimated low of 350 wolves to more than 3,000 wolves. Satisfying federal recovery criteria the gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes region were officially removed from the Federal list of threatened and endangered species on March 12, 2007. At that point the management responsibility for Ma’iingan (wolf) returned to the states and tribes. Since 2007 there have been a series of delisting and relisting events for the gray wolf but as of today they remain a federally threatened species in Minnesota.

Previous wolf surveys conducted in Minnesota have revealed the adaptive ability of wolves to occupy diverse habitats. In April of 2007, 1854 Treaty Authority kicked off a three-year research project to assess wolf habitat use within the Duluth urban-rural interface. Wolves affixed with GPS collars provided data for pack sizes and territories.

In July 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs awarded the 1854 Treaty Authority with funding to support a population monitoring project in the ceded territory. Since 2016, we have collared 13 adult wolves in the urban-rural interface near Duluth. Again with the technology of GPS collaring, these wolves have provided information on pack sizes and territories, which improves the accuracy of the annual wolf population estimate in the ceded territory and statewide. We plan to continue this project, and our goal is to see wolves remain a part of the landscape and be returned once again to tribal and state management.

Mooz is a culturally significant part of our member bands connection to the landscape here in the 1854 Ceded Territory. In fact, because 400-700 pounds of meat can be harvested off of one animal, moose more or less serves as an icon for subsistence harvest and treaty reserved resources. 1854 Treaty Authority puts a substantial amount of emphasis on management of the resources upon which exercise of treaty rights are based, and therefore managing moose is a high priority. A significant decline in Minnesota’s moose population from 2006-2012 prompted concerns about their long-term future in the ceded territory.

See the DNR's latest on Proximate Causes of Adult Moose Mortality

Since 2002, 1854 Treaty Authority has been collaborating with Grand Portage Band, Bois Forte Band, Minnesota DNR, University of Minnesota, National Park Service, Minnesota Zoo, and other groups to conduct research and monitor the moose population to obtain: 

• Baseline information on reproduction and survival rates
• Causes and rates of non-hunting mortality
• Habitat use
• Movement of individuals

At first, moose research included attaching radio collars to individual animals that required researchers to go out and listen to signals to locate animals and determine if they were moving (alive) or not (probably dead). Advances in technology have led to collaring moose with GPS collars that can send locations and movement data right to our computers, saving time and money and allowing us to detect mortalities faster. Since 2002, multiple collaring events for various projects have resulted in about 100 moose wearing collars and providing the basis for study at any given time.

While project partners continue to focus on causes and rates of mortality, 1854 has turned their moose management efforts to assessing the preferences, availability, and quality of moose forage habitat (…moose food).

MONITORING MOOSE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT SUCCESS

High-quality moose forage can be created by a variety of natural disturbances such as wildfire and windstorms. Timber harvest, shearing, and prescribed fire can provide some of the same benefits to moose. 1854 Treaty Authority has partnered with other tribal, county, state, federal, and non-profit agencies to form the Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative, which has completed mechanical disturbance treatments across moose range in an effort to improve moose habitat. We are evaluating these sites for moose utilization at different time scales to determine how often and how long after a disturbance the area produces and sustains moose foraging habitat. 

        How the Study is Conducted

We have been monitoring 44 sites that were mechanically disturbed in an effort to improve moose browse. We visit each site 1, 3, and 5 years after treatment to see which plant species are regenerating, the height of the new growth, and if moose have been using the site. These data will help to determine if certain treatments are more effective at creating moose habitat, and how long the treatments are beneficial to moose. Read the 2019 report.

PARASITE RESEARCH

Not only will a shift in seasonal climate effect the types and abundance of vegetation on the landscape, it will also open the opportunity for different species to roam around. Historically there were few whitetail deer or moose in the Arrowhead Region – oral history tells us there were more caribou on the landscape. Logging and settlement made conditions more favorable for moose, and now a variety of factors are favoring whitetail deer over moose. As the abundance of deer on the landscape grows, the resultant overlap of deer and moose range can cause problems for our moose. There is a higher prevalence of the parasites carried by whitetail deer crossing right into moose range, taking a toll on their health.

The brainworm (P. tenuis) parasite that is carried by whitetail deer, although rarely affecting deer, is problematic when it infests moose. Adult worms develop in deer and then shed larvae through deer fecal pellets. Gastropods (tiny land snails) encounter the larvae on the pellets, become infected, and serve as an intermediate host. When moose accidentally ingest infected snails, the larvae develop into adult worms that often cause neurological issues. Liver flukes (Fascioloides magna) are also carried by whitetail deer and are similarly passed through gastropods to moose. While liver flukes are generally not thought to be fatal for moose, heavy infestations can significantly reduce liver function through fibrosis and result in chronic poor body condition. This is particularly important as expected trends in climate change are generally favorable for deer, and parasites carried by deer.

        How the Study is Conducted

As our wildlife management project partners work to get a better understanding of deer and moose habitat overlap, 1854 is investigating the presence of both of brainworm and liver fluke parasites in whitetail deer to better understand this factor that impacts moose mortality. Both of these parasites can be confirmed by examining deer fecal pellets. Deer pellets are collected when deer would actively be shedding brainworm larvae and liver fluke eggs – February through mid-April. The results from parasite presence or absence per location is valuable in identifying types of habitat management that may favor moose over deer and result in a decreased likelihood of parasite transmission between the species. Read the most recent report here.

P. tenuis identified during a moose necropsy.

The Resource Management Division sets off-reservation hunting and trapping seasons/limits for enrolled band members, issues licenses and registers harvested animals in accordance with the 1854 Ceded Territory Conservation Code and the 1988 Agreement with the State of Minnesota. Beyond implementing and monitoring hunting and trapping activities, we participate in a variety of annual surveys and research projects to ensure that the resources upon which the treaty-reserved rights to hunt are based are being properly managed. Many of these activities are joint, inter-agency efforts. Cooperators include federal, state, county, tribal natural resource departments, conservation organizations, and private individuals.

AERIAL MOOSE SURVEY 

Each year 1854 partners with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Fond du Lac Band to survey the moose population in the Arrowhead Region. The survey began in the early 1970’s to monitor the trends in moose population, whose range almost overlaps the 1854 Ceded Territory entirely. Flown with DNR helicopters, the survey is targeted to start the first working day in January if snow conditions are suitable (ie, snow provides a nice white backdrop to see moose).

In 2011, the survey crew began flying an additional nine habitat plots every year, in areas where management is focused on creating and maintaining moose habitat. They include areas burned in wildfires (Cavity, Ham, Pagami), areas being managed with prescribed fire, and areas with timber management focused on creating and maintaining suitable habitat. Hopefully surveying these habitat plots annually will shed some light on the most beneficial means of creating moose habitat and how quickly they respond to those efforts.

Minnesota Aerial Moose Survey StoryMap

MOOSE RESEARCH

Since 2002, 1854 Treaty Authority has been collaborating with the Grand Portage Band, Bois Forte Band, Minnesota DNR, University of Minnesota, National Park Service, Minnesota Zoo, and other groups to conduct research and monitor the moose population to obtain baseline information on reproduction and survival rates, causes and rates of non-hunting mortality, habitat use and movement of individuals.

At first, moose research included fixing individuals with radio collars that allowed researchers to locate animals and determine if they were moving. Advances in technology have led to collaring moose with GPS collars that send locations and movement data through e-mail, allowing us to detect mortalities faster. Since 2002, multiple collaring events for various projects have resulted in about 100 moose wearing collars and providing the basis for study at any given time.

While project partners continue to focus on causes and rates of mortality, 1854 has turned their moose management efforts to assessing the preferences, availability, and quality of moose forage habitat…

Read More…

WOLF RESEARCH

The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was officially listed as a federally endangered species in 1974 due to severe overharvest resulting from fur trapping, bounties, and livestock protection efforts. In 1978, wolves in Minnesota were reclassified as threatened, allowing state and federal authorities to manage for wolves praying on livestock. In the past three decades, Minnesota's keystone predator population has rebounded from an estimated low of 350 wolves to more than 3,000 wolves. Satisfying federal recovery criteria the gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes region were officially removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species on March 12, 2007. At that point the management responsibility for Ma’iingan (wolf) returned to the states and tribes. Since 2007 there have been a series of delisting and relisting events for the gray wolf but as of today they remain a federally threatened species in Minnesota.

Read More…

GROUSE SURVEYS

1854 Resource Management staff participate in a Minnesota DNR coordinated survey each spring to monitor ruffed grouse population trends. Drumming, performed by male ruffed grouse as a means to defend territory, is observed and counted to gather data on population density. Beginning in 2018, our staff have also participated in a new DNR-coordinated survey for spruce grouse, which involves counting fecal pellet piles along circular transects.

SMALL MAMMAL SURVEY

In autumn every year 1854 Treaty Authority coordinates a small mammal survey, to monitor trends in annual abundance of small animals like mice, voles, and shrews that are important in the diets of predators. There appears to be fairly good correlation between years of abundant small mammals in the woods and good numbers of juvenile fisher and pine marten in the fall trapping harvest.

FURBEARER SURVEYS

1854 participates in two Minnesota DNR surveys designed to track population trends in animals whose fur coats are valued. We implement a Scent Post Survey in early fall to identify and count the tracks of visiting furbearers to a baited area. The Winter Track Survey is conducted after a fresh snowfall to identify and count tracks along a roadway or trails, usually finding fisher, pine marten, red fox, wolf, and coyote.

LOON SURVEYS

During a ten-day period in early July, program partners like 1854 and volunteers take to over 600 lakes throughout Minnesota to observe Maang (loon). Adult and juvenile loons are counted to analyze reproductive success and the data is reported to the DNR for a population analysis.

WATERFOWL SURVEYS

Resource Management Division staff have been participating in fall surveys of two lakes designated as waterfowl refuges in the 1854 Ceded Territory. These surveys help to determine if the refuges are benefitting waterfowl during the fall hunting season.

FISHER DEN BOX STUDY 

1854 Treaty Authority has been collaborating on a project led by researchers from the University of Minnesota Duluth – Natural Resources Research Institute, to determine if artificial den boxes might be beneficial for fishers. Fisher populations in Minnesota have declined over the last 20 years, and experts believe that den cavities large enough for these animals may be limited across the landscape. Because fishers are relatively large animals, a female fisher needs a large cavity (in a large tree) in which to give birth and raise her young (kits). Artificial den boxes were installed in the Superior National Forest in the fall of 2019. 1854 Treaty Authority biologists are helping to monitor these boxes to determine if they are being visited by fishers and/or other animals, and if they will be used by female fishers during the denning period (March-May).