Volunteers to count moose in Jackson Hole

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - Saturday is Moose Day in Jackson Hole, when volunteers get together to count moose.

Snowy weather is moving in and that could affect the annual on-the-ground moose count. Last year, teams counted 60 moose.

That was an all-time low for the six-year event, although falling snow didn’t help any.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports (https://bit.ly/1evUeOZ) the area’s moose population has been in sharp decline from about 3,500 animals in the early 1980s to only about 500 today.

Possible reasons include wolf reintroduction, a growing grizzly bear population, habitat changes and disease. Biologists say the last couple surveys suggest that the decline may be leveling off.

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Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, https://www.jhnewsandguide.com