by Crystal Dorey, Communications Officer, KMKNO

Over the past two decades, there has been a noticeable change to the forested areas of the Cape Breton Highlands. Recent satellite imagery shows that much of Cape Breton Highlands National Park (CBHNP) has been converted from forests to grass-dominated habitat. In the past, grass would have covered very small areas of the park and was isolated to wetland meadows and fens. However, grasslands have since increased in size, now covering 11% of the national park and are still growing.

After years of over-hunting and habitat change caused by humans, in the 1920’s moose were actually wiped out in Cape Breton. In 1947-48, 18 moose were brought from Alberta and released in CBHNP with hopes of re-establishing a healthy population. Their population grew slowly and gradually spread throughout Northern Cape Breton. In the 1970’s spruce budworm consumed large areas of mature boreal forest in the Highlands, removing 90% of the forest cover in some areas. This in turn created a flush of new growth of young trees and shrubs – perfect food for moose.

With lots of food and few predators, the moose population in Northern Cape Breton grew rapidly, reaching its peak of nearly 8000 in the early 2000’s. Since that time the moose population has declined, but so has the state of the boreal forest. Large areas that were once forest were unable to regenerate as moose browsed any seedlings that grew over 30 cm high. These over-browsed and stunted trees have started to die and ha ...