Gros Morne And Terra Nova National Parks, NL, October 9, 2012 -- After a promising first year of the moose population reduction program in Gros Morne and Terra Nova national parks in 2011, Parks Canada will begin a second year of the program on Tuesday, October 9, 2012. This program is part of a broader initiative to improve the health of the forests within these national parks.
“When we are dealing with the presence of a hyperabundant species, the forest ecosystems become increasingly fragile, which is what we are seeing in Gros Morne and Terra Nova national parks,” said Jeff Anderson, Parks Canada’s Field Unit Superintendent, Western Newfoundland and Labrador. “This is the reason why Parks Canada is taking bold action to address non-native moose populations in order to preserve the forest and its native diversity.” The moose population reductions are a part of a larger forest health initiative to improve the ecological integrity of the parks’ forests.
During the first year of the program 10 moose were removed from Terra Nova National Park and 160 were removed from Gros Morne National Park. In the second year of moose population reduction program, 711 licenses were awarded to volunteer hunters for the Gros Morne National Park moose management area (2E). For 2012-13, the harvesting area was expanded in Gros Morne to include the majority of the national park’s lowland areas.
In Terra Nova National Park, 36 licenses were awarded to volunteer hunters for moose management area (28A). This number includes one license for a hunter representing a local not-for-profit organization. Other changes in Terra Nova in 2012-13 include the implementation of a 20-metre no-hunting buffer zone along the Trans Canada Highway and Terra Nova Road (Route 301), and a 50-metre no-hunting buffer zone along the Eastport Road (Route 310).
“Parks Canada will make every effort to minimize the impact of the moose harvest on visitors’ experiences at Gros Morne and Terra Nova national parks. Obviously public safety is our first priority,” said Bill Brake, Parks Canada’s Field Unit Superintendent, Newfoundland East. “Hunters and visitors are encouraged to wear bright colours, especially blaze orange, to ensure they are clearly visible when visiting the national parks during the moose population reduction.”
Visitors planning to come to the parks this fall and winter are encouraged to review the maps and safety information on the forest health website, call Gros Morne National Park at (709) 458-2417 or Terra Nova National Park at (709) 533-2801 prior to their visit, and pay particular attention to signage indicating areas where hunting is taking place once they arrive.
Moose were introduced to Newfoundland in 1878 and 1904. Today, hyperabundant moose have interrupted natural patterns of forest regeneration. The distribution and abundance of common boreal species such as balsam fir, red maple and Canada yew have been reduced, and in some areas, forests are converting to open habitats dominated by grasses, heath and bracken fern.
For further information, visit Parks Canada’s forest health website: www.pc.gc.ca/foresthealth.
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Information:
Jennifer Duff
Public Relations and Communications
Parks Canada
Newfoundland East Field Unit
(Terra Nova National Park)
Tel: (709) 772-0285
Twitter: @ParksCanadaNL
Jane Brewer
Communications Officer
Parks Canada
Western Newfoundland and Labrador Field Unit
(Gros Morne National Park)
Tel: (709) 458-3528
