Group to start feeding moose

MAT-SU — Moose are hungry and desperate, making dangerous contact with Valley residents more likely, said Gary Olson, Alaska Moose Federation executive director.

That’s one reason why the state Department of Fish and Game has granted AMF a permit to begin a diversionary feeding program, Olson said. By placing haylage in designated areas, the organization hopes to lure the Valley’s large herds of moose away from local roads and inhabited areas.

The state decision, issued Tuesday, is the latest move in an effort to respond to what Olson calls a “moose emergency” in Southcentral Alaska. Heavy snow throughout the winter has pushed moose out of their usual feeding grounds to where food is easiest to get — usually along highways and roads, which has led to a steep increase in vehicle-moose collisions in the Valley.

Diversionary feeding “will hopefully pull them back away from the roads, because the moose are on the roads now,” Olson said. “You’re actually driving through an enormous herd there in Big Lake, Houston. This will get these moose to be in these feed plots, these designated areas, because they’re on the highways now, it’s that bad.”

Through Wednesday afternoon, the Palmer office of the Department of Fish and Game reports 394 vehicle-moose collisions. An average winter sees about 270. Along with deep snows, there are many more moose than ideal in the Valley, said Nick Cassera, a wildlife technician for the department. An adjusted count conducted “in ideal conditions” this past fall shows about 8,000 moose in the Valley, about 1,500 over the upper end of the goal.

Alaska Moose Federation clears trails to help lead moose away from roadways and recently took over retrieval of animals killed in vehicle-moose accidents. Diversionary feeding is the latest effort for the group in preserving the health and safety of the large animals and people, Olson said. Now that AMF has permission to put out feed for moose, it needs funds to buy the food.

“You’re feeding them one way or another right now,” he said. “Unfortunately, the best feeding areas for moose now are the roads and their rights of way. We’re looking at other solutions like critical wintering habitat.”

A $25,000 donation from All-State Insurance is “a huge kick-start to take this whole winter mitigation thing into motion,” Olson said. But more is needed. Individuals wanting to contribute can buy a bale of haylage for $50, and it’s estimated each moose needs two bales. Diversionary feeding will happen in about five to 10 locations, he said, each one needing a minimum of $10,000 in food.

Olson also reminds residents that feeding moose on their own is illegal and can be dangerous. On Wednesday, he received a call from a Valley resident who reported a cow, two calves and a young bull moose all attacked her dog kennels to try to get to the straw underneath the kennels.

“This is a serious deal, and these moose are desperate,” he said. “We’ve got to get this (feeding) program going.”

To learn more about or contribute to the diversionary feeding program, visit Alaska Moose Federation online at growmoremoose.org.

Contact reporter Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.