Shelton: The recent sharp decline in the number of moose in this region was caused by a large increase in the white-tailed deer population  While the deer do not compete with moose for food, they carry a dangerous parasite that can be transferred to any moose living nearby
Russo: The neighboring region has also experienced a large increase in the white-tailed deer population, but the moose population there has remained stable
The region with the declining moose population consists mainly of high-quality moose habitat, but the quality of moose habitat in the neighboring region is marginal.