Late to see moose along Richardson Highway

Observation by Jacqueline Muehlbauer:

We saw a Moose walking along the Richardson yesterday. It is unusual to see them after breakup.

Comment by Wilson Justin:

In my youth, moose was scarce in the home country. This is the area between upper Copper River and the Nabesna River. The natural food was more scarce and hunting pressure heavy. The 1980s on began to see more moose due to climate change and in the 2000s I began to notice a distinct difference in the appearance and attitude of the moose. Eventually I just presumed an ongoing migration of Yukon moose into our area. In the 1970s moose would congregate in November through spring in places like Big Grayling lakes 50 to 60 strong. It seems now the big herd’s aren’t there, but I do see more moose all year long. Plenty of reasons to conduct a complete moose study of all the changes from the 1960s on. Over the past 20 years moose have been getting more people friendly then ever. In the 1970s oftentimes moose would calve close to houses that have dog teams to keep out of reach of wolves. These days I think moose have calves closer to settled area for other reasons such as easier food conditions. Contact brush cutting for instance insures that willows are available for calves due to the regrowing of new willows.