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Image of Day: Climate Change Affects Minnesota Moose

  • Published: June 12th, 2012
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Climate change poses a threat to multiple wildlife species. While the polar bear gets a lot of the press as one of the species at risk of extinction due to climate change, the Northwestern moose, better known as the beloved cartoon character Bullwinkle, is another animal at risk in a warmer planet.

According to an article published in Scientific American, in the past six years, the moose populations of Minnesota have dropped by 50 percent, a rate truly puzzling to biologists. Researchers fear there is a relationship between the high rate of moose deaths and the warming temperatures of Minnesota. Heat stress and increased populations of ticks and other pests, possibly due to climate change, are decreasing the moose’s ability to survive.

Check out The Heat is On: U.S. Temperature Trends interactive to see how much Minnesota is warming.

Credit: Rachel Knickmeyer/flickr

Comments

By James B. Boyd (Seattle, WA 98104)
on July 25th, 2012

Hi,

    I am formerly of Aurora, MN.  I had purchased a 40 acre Homestead in spring of 96’.  It had been declared a wetland and it was.  I sold the property in 2011.  I did not sell because of Climate change but I see now I may have unknowingly made the right decision [or does it matter?].  I did notice that the land I owned had been becoming increasingly drier each year.  Some people with the DNR that I had spoken with told me MN would eventually become dessert.  I thought MN offered the best there was to offer if living off the Grid and being semi-self-sufficient with alot of sunshine, nearly yr. round refrigeration, and enough firewood for several life spans.  I believe differently now.  With the beginning of food shortages due to drought ect… I wonder if there will be any safe havens.  MN is drying out not unlike any other drought stricken area of the US.  The only difference is that there is substantial surface water and the substantial Aquafir that will take time to dry up.
    Awhile back I learned that the Perimeters of the continents were to become wetter and the interiors were to dry up as a result of climate change.  As this becomes an undisbutable scene, MN is at the heart of the Drought.
    I moved back to Northern NY where I was born and raised.  Only 2 blocks from the Oswegotcie river and 1/2 mi. from the St. Lawrence.  I hope it proves to have been a good move because I dought I will be moving again.  If I do it will most certainly be to a bunker style shelter with provisions because I can see what is coming and it does not look good.

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