The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-04-10
INTO THE
MOOSE MORTALITY
DIR. THOMPSON AND UNIVERSITY
AUTHORITIES STUDYING CAUSE
MOOSE DECNATION-SPE
SECURED FRIDAY FURNISHES
MATERIAL FOR STUDY.

Some years ago the moose were quite
numerous about this vicinity and theI
followed a period OF years with httlt
evidence OF these animals. For tht
last six or seven years, the moose have
been gradually increasing and agar
are frequently seen.
For about five years sick moose have
been reported by various people. II
1926 DR.. j. E. Thompson, city chemist
and veterinarian, examined one al
Eagles Nest Lake which had beer
killed by the wardens for investigation
In 1927, he examined another moose
which also had been destroyed because
of the serious condition in which il
was found. Both of these inveStlga-
tons led TO nothing in particular ex-
cept that he was left with the impress
sion that the ailment was OF an infec-
riouS nature.
About the same time, Warden
Hanson sent the carcass OF a moose
found dead, TO the veterinary depart
ment OF the University OF Minnesota
and the university findings were moth
ing definite but an opinion was eX-
pressed stating the moose had died
OF digestive troubles, probably due to
lack of proper feed.
Since that time, moose have been
reported sick and dieing at frequent
intervals, especially in the spring. On
February Doth OF this year, moose
which was suffering from a similar
condition was found on an island at
Burnside. DR.. Donham OF the Vet
Urinary Department of the State Uni
versity and Mr.. King of the Zoology
Department, came up and with the
local wardenS and DR.. Thompson went
TO this island and studied the moose
for an hour in the live state. It was
then shot and post mortem exami-
nation held. Various cultures and
sections of tissue were taken to the
University laboratory for more study.
Again the report from the University
showed negative findings and stressed
the possibility of improper food con-
ditionS.
Last Friday, ten months old moose
was found between Ely and Winton.
The animal was roped and led by the
wardenS to a barn where it was kept
under observation. This one, like
others found, showed a certain type
of tick in great numbers, an area Of
skin three inches square having in the
neighborhood of $50 ticks. The larger
or female ticks being about the size
of VII, IVY
numerous, about the size of bedbug.
Sunday morning this moose died.
This animal was the first one found
and held until it died and therefore
offered much better opportunity to get
the true picture of the condition. Mr.
King of the University, accompanied
by r. o. Christianson of the depart
ment of Zoology, came up Sunday
evening and took the moose carcass
with them to the University labora-
tories. Blood examinations from the
animal made and examined at the
city laboratory, appeared to show a
protozoan-like parasite which may
probably turn out to be the cause Of
the disease and the tick may turn out
to be the spreading host. At least,
along these channels, the investiga-
ton will now continue.
Several more sick moose are known
and the wardens are frequently finding
dead ones, so that these animals are
certainly meeting with a serious all
ment which will no doubt hinder their
becoming as plentiful as they were
years ago.
Mr.. King, who has for several years
carried on investigation of the ailment
killing of the partridge and is well
known about this vicinity, has on sew
eral occasions stated that Ely would be
an ideal location for a government
laboratory to investigate conditions
among wild life. Mr. King states this
laboratory is very likely to come in a
few years time when the proper auth
critics become aware of its necessity.
He also states that the cooperation re-
ceived from the local wardens and
from other people about Ely is the best
in the state. He has asked to carry
the message to sportsmen who are
travelling in the woods to make careful
notation of abnormal conditions found
in wild life and particularly note the
location and date of any findings and
make some record of such notations.
Through such methods some of the
most valuable information is obtained