Moose Are Our Main Focus! 

photo courtesy of whitemoos.ca

photo courtesy of whitemoos.ca

photo courtesy of whitemoos.ca

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White Moose 
in Canada           

We have all heard from time to time about white buffalo, white deer, and even white moose. I think most of us immediately assume they are albino animals.  Sometimes this may be so, but these particular white moose in Canada are not albinos!  They are however the subject of a great deal of controversy. 

                                                        photo courtesy of   whitemoose.ca
The moose in question are "the white moose of Foleyet".  While there are apparently other white moose sightings across Canada, Newfoundland, & Labrador, the white moose around the Foleyet area have drawn attention, probably because there have been more of them in an area whose population is moved to protect them, and their numbers are dwindling.  These moose are referred to as the Armstrong White Moose Strain, as Jane Armstrong was the first to report seeing a white moose cow with twin calves over 40 years ago.  In a recent letter to Joel Theriault, Jane relates seeing many more white moose over a number of years, several of which met an ill fate on railroad tracks.  

The railroad tracks present one problem for the moose, but an even bigger concern comes from the fact that these moose are being hunted and shot, and will probably continue to be hunted and shot, possibly sought out even, as a unique trophies.   I believe the bull moose that was on display in the sporting goods store in Errol, NH, last year is the "white bull that was shot on the Ivanhoe River in 2001."   Jane Armstrong attempted unsuccessfully for years to prevent hunting of the white moose. 
With only five or six of these unique animals left in an area they've had a  foot hold on for almost fifty years, it may be all over for the white moose of Foleyet if they continue to fall to hunters.  The mystery is why something can't be done to protect them while there's still time.  Put them on a protected list, create a wildlife preserve for them, whatever it takes to allow them a chance to continue to exist, perhaps to thrive.  

The controversy over the white moose of Foleyet stems around many debatable and some, yet unsubstantiated,  probabilities or possibilities.  Whether or not they are a subspecies, a mutation, a random color phase, or just white moose,  it just comes down to they are rare and they will disappear, maybe forever if hunting them is allowed to continue.  I will admit, perhaps in time they might eventually disappear even if they are not hunted.  But we will never know if nature isn't allowed to run it's course.  The MNR's (Minister of Natural Resources) answer seemed to be inaction.   (It appeared to me that he felt they were a mutation that would weaken the moose gene pool)   The OFAH (Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters) sees the attempt to protect these rare animals as an anti-hunting threat, while  Joel  & Jenna Theriault, Jane Armstrong,  and many others like them are struggling to find a way to protect the Armstrong - White Moose Strain from being hunted into extinction.  

Visit http://www.whitemoose.ca  to read all about this ongoing battle over the white moose of Foleyet.   White Moose whitemoose.ca  dedicates part of it's site  to preventing " the loss of the Armstrong - White Moose strain, in the Foleyet area."   The site is extensive and has much to offer, but the link above opens directly into the heart of the matter, has recent updates,  a copy of the handwritten letter from Jane Armstrong describing her sightings, and a bumper sticker you may purchase to support their efforts to protect the Armstrong White Moose!

Thank you, Joel & Jenna, and all the others like you who are waging this effort to protect these beautiful animals.   I am not anti-hunting, I am anti-extinction, especially when it comes to something this wonderful !  And, thank you, Joel for allowing me to use  your photographs. Keep up the good work!

Brenda

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