By Rik Stevens, The Associated Press
CONCORD, N.H. - Early indications show some promise for a New Hampshire moose herd that has been wobbled by a troublesome parasite.
Kristine Rines, a wildlife biologist and the moose project leader for the state's Fish and Game Department, says it's still too early to say with certainty if the 2014-15 winter will be better than previous winters, but data so far shows fewer calf deaths and fewer winter ticks.
Among the animals tagged by state biologists, seven of 27 calves had died as of last week. That's a 26 percent mortality rate, compared to 64 percent last year.
New Hampshire's moose population has fallen from 7,600 in 1996 to 4,000 in 2014.
The state is proposing to reduce the number of moose hunting permits from 124 in 2014 to 105 this year.