In This Issue
This year’s population estimate of 3,290 moose marks a decade of Minnesota’s moose population remaining relatively stable, according to the results of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ 2023 aerial population survey.
Although the estimate dropped from 2022’s estimate of 4,700, the change continues to reflect the population stability observed in previous years. After a decline from a population estimate of approximately 8,000 in 2009, Minnesota’s moose population appears to have stabilized at about 3,700 animals in recent years.
Stabilized doesn’t mean the population is constant, said John Giudice, DNR wildlife biometrician. Instead, annual changes since 2013 appear to be relatively small on average and random, with some years showing a population increase and others a decrease.
Although survey results suggest a decrease in the moose population from 2022 to 2023, those estimates are better used to understand long-term trends. Factors such as visibility of moose from the air, challenging weather conditions and moose avoidance of aircraft create moderately high sampling uncertainty. That uncertainty makes it difficult for researchers to make confident statements about the magnitude of annual population changes unless those changes are relatively large.
But data collected recently by researchers with the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa suggest the magnitude of this year’s decline could be more than an artifact of sampling. They have reported high mortality rates on collared moose and similar decreases in aerial surveys around Grand Portage and Isle Royale. Continued comparisons in coming years will help answer that question.
The 2023 DNR survey results showed that calves comprised an estimated 16% of the population and the estimated calf-cow ratio was 38 calves per 100 cows. Those estimates are slightly lower than last year’s figures but are comparable to values observed during the last 10 years, especially considering moderate-to-high levels of sampling uncertainty. Both factors are key indicators of reproductive success.
While estimates suggest continued stability in the population and reproductive success, DNR researchers point out that Minnesota moose remain at risk given long-term trends
Both the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the 1854 Treaty Authority contributed funding and personnel for the 2023 annual survey. The survey is available on the DNR’s moose management page (mndnr.gov/moose).
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Lake Bemidji State Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023 by hosting a variety of free and fun activities at the park on April 22 and June 10. Both anniversary celebration dates are among the four Free Park Days in 2023, when vehicle permit fees are waived at all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.
On Earth Day (April 22), visitors can celebrate the park’s birthday by learning about the history of the park told through historical newspapers at the Visitor Center, enjoying cake and ice cream, and listening to live music. They can also celebrate Earth Day by joining other visitors to clean up the park.
On June 10, the birthday celebration continues with a summer picnic, live music and an Archery in the Parks program. June is also the perfect time of year to explore one of the park’s feature attractions, the Bog Walk. Visitors can hike the quarter-mile boardwalk to explore the beauty of a tamarack bog carpeted with blooming showy lady slippers, pitcher plants, insect-eating sundews and other flowering bog plants.
In 1923, the Minnesota Legislature established Lake Bemidji as a state park. It is the ninth-oldest of Minnesota’s 66 state parks. The park has served an average of over 198,000 visitors each year over the last five years (2018-2022) and it’s a fantastic playground any time of the year. The park offers swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife, birding, hiking, camping, biking, picnicking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and year-round naturalist-led programs.
For more information on the history of Lake Bemidji State Park, visit the Lake Bemidji State Park anniversary page (mndnr.gov/state_parks/lake_bemidji/lake-bemidji-state-park-history).
For information on Lake Bemidji State Park in general, including an events calendar with more details about anniversary celebration programming, visit the park website (mndnr.gov/lakebemidji).
For more information on Free Park Days, visit the DNR’s Free Park Days page (mndnr.gov/freeparkdays) or contact the DNR Information Center by emailing [email protected] or by calling 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, or 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
The schedule of anniversary celebration activities includes:
April 22
Earth Day Clean-Up, 10 a.m. to noon
Help with a special Earth Day clean-up in the park. Bring work clothes and meet at the Visitor Center.
Voices from the Past: The Fight for Lake Bemidji State Park, 1-2 p.m.
Attend a presentation to learn about park history through historical newspapers at the Visitor Center.
Gifts of the Land: 100th Anniversary Birthday Celebration, 2-4 p.m.
Celebrate the park’s 100th birthday with cake and ice cream and listen to live music at the Visitor Center.
June 10
Voices from the Past: The Fight for Lake Bemidji State Park, 10-11 a.m.
Attend a presentation to learn about park history through historical newspapers at the Visitor Center.
Summer picnic sponsored by the Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bring lawn chairs, non-alcoholic drinks and enjoy a hamburger and hotdog cookout at the picnic shelter, along with live music.
Archery in the Parks program, 1 p.m.
Get hands-on instruction in shooting a bow and arrow from certified instructors. Meet at the west picnic area. This program is for ages 8 and older.
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Pruning or cutting oaks puts them at risk of oak wilt
Despite a cool and snowy spring, oak trees will soon be at risk of oak wilt infection. Oak wilt is an invasive fungal disease that kills all of Minnesota’s oak species. Not pruning or cutting oaks from April through July is the easiest way to prevent the spread, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
April is the average start of the period when there is risk of oak wilt infection on fresh cuts or wounds. Spring temperatures can be unpredictable, so the exact date varies. You can use the University of Minnesota Extension’s oak wilt in Minnesota page (extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/oak-wilt-minnesota) to find daily updated oak wilt risk for your part of the state.
Oak wilt is spread to new areas by beetles carrying oak wilt spores. These beetles are attracted to fresh wounds on an oak. Oaks can become infected with oak wilt if they are trimmed or damaged in spring and early summer. Once beetles introduce the fungus, it may spread to neighboring oaks underground through connected roots. In recent years, the disease has expanded into northern forests in Crow Wing, Cass, and Pine counties.
“Controlling oak wilt can be very expensive and often requires removing many dying and healthy oak trees to save others on a property,” said Rachael Dube, DNR forest health specialist. “The good news is that by following pruning guidelines, people can reduce spread of oak wilt in their yards, woods, and communities.”
Dube encourages residents to prune and cut oaks in November through February, when there is no risk of oak wilt transmission. If residents must prune or cut oaks before July, they can greatly reduce infection risk by immediately applying a pruning paint to the fresh cut or stump.
In addition to following pruning guidelines, Dube cautions campers, cabin owners, visitors, and hunters not to move infected firewood. Moving oak firewood can spread oak wilt over long distances. Use locally sourced firewood or firewood certified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/firewood-producers) to prevent transporting oak wilt and other invasive species.
For more details on oak wilt prevention and how best to deal with infected trees and wood, visit the DNR’s oak wilt management page (mndnr.gov/treecare/forest_health/oakwilt/management.html).
 The shaded area is the oak wilt high-risk zone, the known range of oak wilt in Minnesota as of October 2022. Credit: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will begin temporarily closing some roads and trails in state forests, state parks, recreation areas, and wildlife management areas as the spring thaw impacts road conditions. Seasonal melting makes these roads and trails too soft to support vehicle traffic without damage. Depending on weather and local site conditions, the temporary closures could remain in effect until sometime in May.
“Closures protect roads and trails from damage when cars, trucks, ATVs, or any vehicles travel on the wet, unstable road conditions present during spring thaw,” said Matt Huseby, roads coordinator for the DNR’s Forestry Division. “Please check the DNR road closure page for updates, follow the closures, and use good judgement wherever you drive or ride.”
After a lengthy winter, the warmer spring weather inspires many people to hit the trail in one of Minnesota’s state forests. To prevent unwanted surprises, please check for road and trail closures before heading out. In addition, be aware that roads that can handle vehicle traffic will remain open but might have vehicle weight restrictions.
For information on road and trail closures, visit the DNR’s road and trail closure page (mndnr.gov/closures). Information is updated weekly on Thursdays by 2 p.m. Signs will also be posted at entry points and parking lots. Closure signs may be in place before the website is updated.
For information on roads and trails on county land, contact the county directly.
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