In 1904, Newfoundland released 4 moose for hunting; by the 1950s, numbers reached 150,000–200,000, leaving swathes of treeless meadows in Gros Morne
Moose introduced to Newfoundland in 1904 multiplied rapidly, with heavy browsing now hindering forest regeneration and creating treeless meadows in Gros Morne.
In 1904, moose were introduced to Newfoundland with the goal of creating a new big-game hunting opportunity and supporting the island's developing economy. Four moose were brought from New Brunswick and released near Howley in western Newfoundland. The animals thrived in the island's abundant forests and with few natural predators, their population rapidly grew.
By the late 1950s, Newfoundland's moose population was estimated to reach 150,000–200,000. This rapid increase led to significant ecological changes, particularly in Gros Morne National Park, where the moose population peaked at around 7,800 animals by 1998. The heavy browsing by moose prevented young trees from growing, transforming over 65 square kilometers of forest into treeless meadows.
The loss of forest structure also affected plant and wildlife diversity, with forest-floor plant diversity declining by 25% and preferred moose food plants falling by 72%. While moose remain a cultural, economic, and recreational important part of Newfoundland, managing their numbers to balance with available habitat has become a key conservation challenge.
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