REGIONAL— Nearly 4,500 moose are living in Minnesota’s primary moose range, based on the latest estimate from the annual aerial survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Results suggest that after a decline from a population estimate of 7,840 in 2009, Minnesota’s moose population has leveled off around an average of 4,000 animals over the past five years. This year’s estimate, of 4,470 moose represents a 10 percent increase over last year’s estimate and a 22 percent increase over 2024. But DNR biologists note that such surveys have unavoidable variability and shouldn’t be seen as precise estimates that reflect actual changes in the population. Since 2014, the annual moose population estimate has ranged from a low of 3,030 to a high of 4,700, suggesting a relatively stable population.
While moose still face a number of threats, including warming temperatures from climate change, parasites, and predator impacts on calf survival, recent surveys have suggested the species isn’t at imminent risk of disappearing from the forests of northeastern Minnesota. Over the past three years, other indicators in the survey, such as the calf-to-cow ratio, indicate that moose may be seeing somewhat better reproductive success. This year’s calf-to-cow ratio was 0.44, which is above the long-term average. During the years of population decline, the survey was reporting calf-to-cow ratios of as low as 0.24. Over the last five years, however, the ratio has averaged 0.438, the strongest five-year average over the past two decades.
Ongoing research by the DNR, 1854 Treaty Authority and Grand Portage Band aims to better understand reproduction and survival. Funding for the research is provided by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.
Collaborative landscape-level habitat work with state, tribal, federal, county and non-governmental organization partners also continues, with a goal of approximately 50,000 acres each in St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties. Both the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the 1854 Treaty Authority are full partners on the moose survey and contributed funding and personnel for the 2026 annual survey. The survey is available on the Minnesota DNR’s moose management webpage at mndnr.gov/moose.