Moose on the loose? Ministry's annual aerial survey tries to find out

If you see a plane flying low over the forest the next few months, it may be looking for moose.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says it is now conducting "moose aerial inventory surveys" in wildlife management units across Ontario to help monitor moose populations.

Between Dec. 1 and mid-February, staff are using aircraft to look for moose and their tracks in fresh, deep snow.

Survey information about the number, age and sex of moose is used to inform moose and habitat management, the MNRF said in a news release.

Most of the survey flights will take place over Northern Ontario.

The flights are near Wawa, Chapleau, Kenora, Fort Frances, Dryden, Geraldton, Nipigon, Manitouwadge, Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee and Hearst.

The MNRF says it will also survey areas around Parry Sound, Bracebridge, Bancroft, Pembroke and North Bay.

"As is the case every year, survey completion depends on appropriate weather conditions and adequate snow to ensure staff can reliably detect moose and their tracks from aircraft," the MNRF said.

According to ontario.ca, surveys are flown:

• between Dec. 1 and mid-February, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• within 12 to 72 hours of a fresh snowfall (at least 30 cm) to better see moose or their tracks
• when the weather is colder than -5C, when moose are more likely to be active
• at about 140 metres above ground level, at close to 145 km/hour
• when the wind is less than 20 km/hour and the sky provides adequate visibility

The measurements are also used to help set the numbers of moose tags available in the annual moose tag allocation process.

More information about moose management and monitoring is available at www.ontario.ca/page/moose-population-management.