The mysterious screeching coming from the woods was unlike anything the moose researchers had ever heard.
Shuffling through the snow, they edged closer to the sound and spotted a weak and distraught moose.
"It was grinding its teeth,'' said Erika Butler, Department of Natural Resources wildlife veterinarian. "Cattle and horses do that when they are in extreme pain.''
The researchers euthanized the dying moose and determined it was severely infected with brainworm. They hadn't stumbled on the animal by accident. It was one of 111 moose captured this winter and fitted with unique GPS-equipped radio collars, so they can be located, and electronics that alert researchers if a moose is immobile for a long period, indicating death or near-death.
"Our collar went into mortality mode and sent us a text message,'' Butler said. "We were able to get out there and find it [before it died]. It's awesome technology.''
Researchers hope that technology will unravel the mystery of why Minnesota's moose population is plummeting — half the herd has died off in just two years. The population, now estimated at 2,760, is down from 8,840 as recently as 2006. Wildlife officials say that at that rate they could be gone from the state in a matter of years.
So far, only eight of the study moose have died, and four of those deaths were blamed on the capture process, in which the moose were sedated.
"We think it was due to the very poor condition the animals were in,'' Butler said.