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DEH CHO - The moose population in the Deh Cho is doing well according to data gathered during the annual moose monitoring survey conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

From Nov. 17 to 24 Danny Allaire, a wildlife technician, and local harvesters looked for moose from the air. A total of 104 moose were spotted during the 37 hours of flight time.

Eighty-two moose was previously the highest count in a year since the survey started in November 2003. This year's numbers could have been even higher. Low lying clouds reduced visibility during a number of the flights making it hard to spot animals, Allaire said.

A cow with a set of twins was among the animals that were seen.

The moose population is monitored because it's a species that Deh Cho communities have identified as an ongoing area of interest.

When the monitoring program started in November 2003 and February 2004, two baseline surveys were conducted to determine the density of the moose population. For the studies the Deh Cho was broken into 16 square-km blocks. A density of 4.5 to five moose per 100-square-kilometers was established as a baseline.

This year's density was four to eight moose per 100-square-kilometers.

There were five surveys in November. This year 68 of the original blocks were flown over.

The survey area covered parts of Wrigley, Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte and Fort Liard's traditional lands. Each First Nation with land that the survey covers is invited to pick two observers to go on the flights to help count and verify the numbers.

The observations from the survey are in line with the feedback the department received on the fall hunt, said Allaire. Hunters reported everyone got their moose and the animals were fat, he said.

Ernest Hardisty, a harvester from Jean Marie River, said the moose population is healthy around his community.

Hardisty, 66, said there are more moose around Jean Marie River now, especially in the winter, than there was when he was growing up. You can now shoot moose near the settlement in the wintertime, said Hardisty who also sees them across the river from his house.

The presence of wolves around the community, something that hasn't been seen in a long time, is also a sign that the moose population is substantial, he said.

"They wouldn't be around here if there wasn't moose here," said Hardisty.

Hardisty has participated in the moose survey for a number of years. This year the blocks included some habitats such as muskeg where moose aren't found this time of year, he said. There were, however, quite a few moose including cows and calves seen near Rabbitskin River, he said.

"It's good to see a lot of cows with calves," said Hardisty.

In Nahanni Butte Raymond Vital also thinks the moose population is doing well.

This year, approximately 20 moose were spotted from the air in the blocks around the community. Last year there were only about six, said Vital, who took part in both surveys as a community observer.