CU study challenges Colorado's moose origin story

Driving the news: A study published in the Journal of Biogeography uncovered archaeological evidence from northwest Colorado that included moose remains dating back thousands of years.

• Researchers also analyzed newspaper and photo archives, archaeological reports, scientific journals, and museum collections to map where and when moose lived in Colorado before the mid-1900s.

By the numbers: More than 3,000 moose now live in the state.

• Rocky Mountain National Park, north of Boulder County, is home to at least 240, according to an aerial survey conducted last year.

What we're watching: The findings could sway public opinion on wildlife management in Colorado, where agencies are weighing how to manage growing moose populations and their ecological effects.

• With few natural predators and hefty appetites, moose could reshape wetlands in places like Rocky Mountain National Park.

What they're saying: "Rocky Mountain National Park is dealing with ecological impacts from moose, but treating moose as a non-native species changes which management responses seem justified," said John Wendt, study co-author and assistant professor at New Mexico State University.

What's next: All that's left is for the moose to slap some "NATIVE" bumper stickers on their Subarus and start giving out advice on how to drive in the snow.