Interesting adventure Dawny. What's with these diseases in big game animals in Canada and the U.S.? Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is in many states in the U.S. now. This "brain worm" problem in game is something I've never heard about. I stopped hunting around 2011 after hunting about 35 years for Pennsylvania White Tail deer and didn't have to worry too much then about CWD in our area. It's a different world today. The old stories from many decades ago of family outings, camping, and hunting adventures are pleasing to read because of the better conditions they had, and families were more committed to staying together and making things right.
CWD doesn't seem to be much on the radar here. Brain worm is has been a problem for decades in these parts, mainly because of how dramatic the behaviour in moose is when they get infected. It presents similar to CWD. The real problem in Nova Scotia (in my opinion) is that our forestry practices support the widespread destruction of moose habitat. Even if white-tails (and their brain worms) had never been introduced here, I can't imagine we'd have a healthy population of mainland moose. The old-growth forest was cut down decades ago and hasn't had any opportunity to recover. Brain worm was just the final nail in the coffin for the poor old moose.
Thank you for your reply. I love to hear the interesting short stories you tell while you're on your treks through Nova Scotia, and would sometime like to hear about life in the Canadian Maritimes. The Maritimes must have a lot of interesting stories to share because of conditions there involving the weather, the seacoast, and the history of happenings of those living there? I've been to Maine many times, and up and down the whole coast three times, and crossed into New Brunswick to different places. I Love the seacoasts, the beauty, the lore, and the lobster.
Moose actually thrive in environments with intensive forest management practices such as clearcutting. Young forests that clear cutting creates are ideal browsing habitat for moose in summer and winter. Moose do not require 'Old Growth' to survive winter but need softwood cover older than 20 years. In neighbouring provinces and states such as New Brunswick and Maine, the moose population destiny is some of the highest in the world because of intensive logging and the abundant early successional habitat it creates. The decline of Mainland Moose in NS is because of the high deer population that have been encroaching on moose habitat. This increase in the deer population is due to warming winters with less snowpack. NS already has quite mild winters compared to the rest of northern North America. This has allowed for very high winter survival rates for deer. Deer spread the brain worm parasite to Moose. This happens when a secondary host such as a snail or a slug is accidently ingested by a moose while browsing, after that snail or slug was in contact with Deer scat. Alternative forest harvesting methods are now being implemented on NS crown lands that create mulit-aged stand structures, like shelterwood and selection harvesting methods. Clearcutting is still implemented on high production softwood plantations. This forest management strategy will lead to a greater diversity of habitat types. All the best. Hopefully moose can make a comeback in NS soon.
Loved this one and Raffy looks different when he is in the wilderness!!
HA! Who knew from his radio voice he was such a skilled outdoorsman?
its so pretty up there. You have some cool friends, thanks for moose info
I'm really lucky to know so many interesting people and that they are willing to take me on adventures.
Interesting adventure Dawny.
What's with these diseases in big game animals in Canada and the U.S.? Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is in many states in the U.S. now.
This "brain worm" problem in game is something I've never heard about.
I stopped hunting around 2011 after hunting about 35 years for Pennsylvania White Tail deer and didn't have to worry too much then about CWD in our area.
It's a different world today.
The old stories from many decades ago of family outings, camping, and hunting adventures are pleasing to read because of the better conditions they had, and families were more committed to staying together and making things right.
...also, there were bigger families years ago, which helped in many ways for support and unity.
CWD doesn't seem to be much on the radar here. Brain worm is has been a problem for decades in these parts, mainly because of how dramatic the behaviour in moose is when they get infected. It presents similar to CWD. The real problem in Nova Scotia (in my opinion) is that our forestry practices support the widespread destruction of moose habitat. Even if white-tails (and their brain worms) had never been introduced here, I can't imagine we'd have a healthy population of mainland moose. The old-growth forest was cut down decades ago and hasn't had any opportunity to recover. Brain worm was just the final nail in the coffin for the poor old moose.
Thank you for your reply.
I love to hear the interesting short stories you tell while you're on your treks through Nova Scotia, and would sometime like to hear about life in the Canadian Maritimes.
The Maritimes must have a lot of interesting stories to share because of conditions there involving the weather, the seacoast, and the history of happenings of those living there?
I've been to Maine many times, and up and down the whole coast three times, and crossed into New Brunswick to different places.
I Love the seacoasts, the beauty, the lore, and the lobster.
Good one Dawn. Your camera angles are cool.
Thanks! It’s the Insta360x3 camera.
Love it. Ayup Rolly. How did you get the pics from above?
I use the Insta360x3 camera for the overheads. Not bad, right?
@@dawnywanders Thought you rented a drone. Nice one 🤠
Moose actually thrive in environments with intensive forest management practices such as clearcutting. Young forests that clear cutting creates are ideal browsing habitat for moose in summer and winter. Moose do not require 'Old Growth' to survive winter but need softwood cover older than 20 years. In neighbouring provinces and states such as New Brunswick and Maine, the moose population destiny is some of the highest in the world because of intensive logging and the abundant early successional habitat it creates. The decline of Mainland Moose in NS is because of the high deer population that have been encroaching on moose habitat. This increase in the deer population is due to warming winters with less snowpack. NS already has quite mild winters compared to the rest of northern North America. This has allowed for very high winter survival rates for deer. Deer spread the brain worm parasite to Moose. This happens when a secondary host such as a snail or a slug is accidently ingested by a moose while browsing, after that snail or slug was in contact with Deer scat. Alternative forest harvesting methods are now being implemented on NS crown lands that create mulit-aged stand structures, like shelterwood and selection harvesting methods. Clearcutting is still implemented on high production softwood plantations. This forest management strategy will lead to a greater diversity of habitat types. All the best. Hopefully moose can make a comeback in NS soon.
@@stephenkeyes298 Thank you for your thoughtful and informative insights. Are mainland moose the same species as those living in Maine and NB?
@@dawnywanders Yes they are both of the same species. Alces alces.