Adopt-A-Moose Program

 

Adopt-A-Moose evolved from the Moose Mystery Challenge as an education program. Both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) are committed to environmental education. What better way to bring "as it happens" life events of a moose and wildlife research into a classroom than through a class adopting a radio-collared moose. The Moose Mystery Challenge is a Partnership effort between the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS), the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area (MNDNR), local businesses, individuals and various organizations to provide support for moose research and education outreach on this issue.

A three-year research project was designed that involved capturing 20 cow moose in each of the three study areas. Radio collars cost about $400 each and helicopter and netgun capture costs about $700 per moose. Neither the USFWS nor the MNDNR had funds to cover all three study areas.

The national conservation group, Wildlife Forever, issued the first challenge grant for this effort in 1996. Wildlife Forever matched contributions sent to them with the goal of sponsoring an adopted moose at the $400 level - the price of a collar. That first grant generated a unique partnership between local businesses, conservation groups, individuals, schools, the USFWS, the MNDNR, and a radio collared moose through the Adopt-A-Moose Program.

Since that first grant others have been secured. Between 1996 to 1998, the Partnership grew to represent an incredible amount of cooperation and concern for northwest Minnesota's moose by a diverse group of citizens, including:

•  70 private businesses and individuals
  
•  6 conservation organizations and sportsmen groups
  
•  2 community organizations and foundations
  
•  19 volunteers (18,500 hours tracking, necropsy, data entry)
  
•  Many private landowners (Viking, Newfolden,Thief River Falls) who gave permission to capture and  track moose on their property.

•  As a result 19 schools, including 93 classes (K-12) and 2700 students, scout groups, and sponsors are involved in Adopt-A-Moose. Students and sponsors have received information on their moose and the moose research about every two months or so.
•  Adopt-A-Moose went online for all to enjoy in October 1998
  Two cow moose are available for online adoption.
        B8164: from Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge; radio-collared since January 1996.
        D0982: from Red Lake Wildlife Management Area; radio-collared in March 1997.

Since development of the website, interest in supporting this Partnership continues, and many inquiries have been made by others wishing to support this effort. Click here for more information.

Moose Home Page	Moose History	Study Area Map	Study Area	Research Design
Research Summary	Adopt-A-Moose Program	Research Cooperators	Sponsors	Media Index

   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

URL: http://midwest.fws.gov/agassiz/moose.html
Last updated on: May 14, 1999
Minnesota Moose Mystery managers:
Margaret Anderson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Gretchen Mehmel, Minnesota DNR - Wildlife
Questions and comments on this web site: Mike Caucutt