A research project at the University of Saskatchewan will try to determine why moose feel moved to cross rural highways. The study starts this month and will track the movements of 50 moose over a four-year period. Twenty-five of the creatures along Highway 11 between Saskatoon and Regina will be collared with a built-in satellite phone that sends data back to researchers. The stretch of road is considered a hot spot for collisions between vehicles and moose. The Environment Ministry asked researchers to study how moose use their habitat and to identify high-risk collision areas. It’s hoped the data collected will help develop a long-term moose management strategy. “For two full years, we get very detailed locations on exactly where that moose is every day, all day and night,” said Ryan Brook, project director with the Saskatoon university’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources.Brook is asking hunters to hold off on shooting moose involved in the project.

Details from Macleans...

A research project at the University of Saskatchewan will try to determine why moose feel moved to cross rural highways.

The study starts this month and will track the movements of 50 moose over a four-year period.

Twenty-five of the creatures along Highway 11 between Saskatoon and Regina will be collared with a built-in satellite phone that sends data back to researchers.

The stretch of road is considered a hot spot for collisions between vehicles and moose.

The Environment Ministry asked researchers to study how moose use their habitat and to identify high-risk collision areas.

It’s hoped the data collected will help develop a long-term moose management strategy.

The collars are designed to fall off after 24 months.

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