A new aerial survey of moose in northeastern Minnesota shows the population has dropped dramatically, prompting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to cancel this year’s moose hunting season, officials announced Wednesday.

The survey showed a population decline of 35 percent in the past year. Since 2010, the moose population has declined 52 percent, the DNR said. The aerial survey conducted in January found about 2,760 moose, down from 4,230 in 2012.

The DNR said it will not open a moose hunting season unless the population recovers.

via DNR: No moose hunting season after population drop | Minnesota Public Radio News.