Moose in Oregon?
It wasn’t until 1960 when biologists received the first confirmed sightings of moose in northeast Oregon. While never a native species to the state, moose have been known to migrate from the neighboring states of Washington or Idaho. This story revisits a time when an idea that moose would be a good addition to big game hunting in Oregon became an effort to pursue.
In 1922, Captain A.E. Burghduff of the State Fish and Game Commission, suggested Canadian moose could thrive in the Oregon forest. While considered to be an experiment, the possibility gained favorable support, since our natural surrounding areas were seen as an ideal habitat for moose. Additionally, with moose known to be prolific, it was said a small herd would likely increase to a sizable number within 10 years.
Five young moose born in May,1922 consisting of three females (cows) and two males (bulls) were brought to Oregon from the Kenai peninsula of Alaska. To prevent inbreeding, a hunter was hired to acquire only one calf from each set of twins, eliminating the possibility of retrieving two calves from the same cow. After capture, the young moose were initially hand-nursed for a period of time, then taken by steamer to San Francisco, then to Portland. (Initially there were 3 pairs, however a male died during the sea voyage.)
In October of that same year, the moose were liberated near the Lane and Douglas county lines (a few miles above Reedsport). Acreage surrounding Lake Tahkenitch and touching the lower end of Lake Tsiltcoos was designated a refuge maintained for the protection of the moose. The lake area was thought to be the most adaptable for the moose and their feeding habits (vegetation, and their favorite – lily pond roots). Over one-hundred signs warning of the arrest and conviction of anyone shooting moose in the state were distributed and posted.
SIGHTINGS
On May 20, 1924 in Ada, when the Five Mile School day was over, pupils exited the schoolroom to see 3 moose in the yard. The moose were said to be calm, gentle, and allowed the students to put their hands on them.
In November of the following year, the deputy Game Warden reported each of the cows had given birth, and all were reportedly thriving.
In 1927, a Eugene man who had been in the Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Lake region stated he found horns shed by a moose.
FIRST BORN YEARLINGS
Following a January 1925 sighting of several moose, it was noted that they appeared “to be thriving” and predictions were they would be breeding during the present season. As anticipated, each of the original cows did indeed give birth during the season. By November 1926, the first native born, yearling moose were almost as large as their mothers.
Though some farmers had initially experienced crop damage by the moose, none considered it severe enough to file claims. However by July, 1928, crop damage had persisted and even escalated in frequency, much to the anger and frustration of garden and crop owners. A petition to remove the moose was sent to the office of the game commission. It claimed the moose were ‘a serious detriment to the agricultural development of the community’, and sought to have the moose removed from the area.
The last sighting of a single bull moose was reported in the marshland of Tahkenitch Lake in about 1930.
AN UNTIMELY END TO AN EXPERIMENT
Though the experiment initially appeared promising, the moose eventually met their demise in the ensuing years. Art M. Fish, chief law enforcement officer for the state game department, stated that at one point, the herd had increased to 11. There were unfortunate incidents of moose wandering near train trestles causing themselves harm. Their wandering also brought them closer to residential homes. The moose continued to destroy and consume farm crops and became a nuisance to farmers and homesteaders. Families had become fearful the now massive moose were dangerous. Though illegal, it was apparent that at least one, possibly more of the herd were hunted, shot and killed. In another instance, a bull was shot by birdshot (perhaps as a means to scare him off), became blinded in both eyes and ultimately put down by a game warden. In the end, the proximity and ‘friendly’ interaction early in the lives of the moose with humans proved their coexistence could not be overcome. Despite the effort and good intentions to establish moose for big game hunting in the area, the experiment ended with a less than successful outcome.
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- Story by Deb Lobey
- oralhistory@spmuseum.org
Sources
- “5 Moose Liberated in Oregon Forest.” The Sunday Oregonian. 20 Jan 2024: 78.
- “2024 See Three Moose.” The World. 21 May 1924: 1
- “Babes in Wood Now Almost As Large as Mother Moose.” The Oregonian. 27 Nov 1926
- “Big Moose Sheds Horns.” Morning Register. 18 Mar 1927: 12
- “Five Alaska Moose Do Well On Coast.” The Eugene Guard. 2 Dec 1922: 5
- “Moose Are Very Tame.” Morning Register; 2 May 1924: 8
- “Moose Doing Well”. Morning Register. 16 1925: 2
- “Poacher Drops Oregon Moose Population By One.” Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.News Release: 1 Feb 2024.