The Department of Lands and Forests continued studies to determine the 

 various types of parasites and diseases and their normal occurrence in Ontario's 

 moose herd. Knowledge of the normal incidence of disease and parasites which are 

 now present in the generally vigorous and healthy moose herd is essential if we 

 are to detect changes in the welfare of the herd during the next few years. Several 

 moose specimens were collected during March on Shakespeare Island in Lake Nipi- 

 gon where aerial surveys had indicated very high populations of moose and subse- 

 quent browse surveys showed that the range was being badly over browsed. These 

 moose were very carefully studied for presence of malnutrition, diseases and 

 parasites. 



Because of the very high populations of moose and the danger of malnutrition 

 and associated vulnerability to disease and parasites, the legislation creating the 

 Nipigon Islands and the Nipigon-Onamon Crown Game Preserves was revoked in 

 1965. 



Tagging of moose from helicopters was again carried out by staff in the 

 Geraldton District. This is one of the most spectacular activities of game workers 

 in the Province and is designed to provide information on the annual movements 

 of individual moose. Although much of the moose range is inaccessible and is 

 lightly hunted, range adjacent to roads and accessible waterways bears the brunt of 

 a large proportion of hunting pressure. It is possible that moose from inaccessible 

 areas fill the vacuum created by the removal of animals during the open season and 

 this possibility is being tested by marking animals usually twenty or more miles from 

 the nearest hunting access. Return of the tags by hunters or sightings of colour- 

 marked animals is essential. Only eighteen moose were tagged this year mainly 

 because helicopters were required for forest suppression duties in late June and 

 early July when tagging is most easily carried out. Metal ear tags and brightly col- 

 oured streamers are attached to the ears of moose when they are driven into deep 

 water by helicopters. When the animals swims, the machine is lowered so that the 

 moose is steered by the two floats under the aircraft. A tagger then leans out on 

 the float, grasps an ear firmly in one hand and applies the tag and streamer with 

 tagging pliers. This type of work yields information which is most valuable in the 

 management of Ontario's moose herd. 



Spring Bear Hunting 



Spring bear hunting remains popular in Ontario. In 1964, 2169 non-resident 

 and 414 resident licences were sold. Bears were in good supply and success for 

 this same species was reasonably good. Over 25% of all spring bear hunters for- 

 warded information on their hunt and the following table compares 1964 data with 

 the previous year's. 



SPRING BEAR HUNTING 1963-1964 



No. Hunter 

 No. Licenses Returns % 



Sold Received Hunter Success 



Non-Residents : 1963 1999 543 43.6 



1964 2169 801 41.4 



Residents: 1963 354 * * 



1964 414 71 38.0 



* Information not available. 



A total of 359 bears were reported taken during the spring bear hunt and the 

 best success was reported from Geraldton, Cochrane, Port Arthur and Kapus- 



34 



