Winter ticks have killed thousands of moose in New England . Maine’s moose population is estimated to have fallen from 76,000 five years ago to between 60,000 and 70,000 today. New Hampshire’s numbers have reduced nearly 50 percent, to about 5,000 moose. We learn about the fate of Maine’s moose population and what wildlife managers plan to do to protect this charismatic animal. We’ll also discuss the popularity of moose watching tours and best places to spot a moose in Maine.
This is part of Maine Calling’s yearlong focus on topics that reflect what is iconic in Maine.
Guests
Lee Kantar, Maine state moose biologist with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Kantar was recently honored with the Distinguished Moose Biologist Award at the 53rd North American Moose Conference. His field work includes designing, conducting, and overseeing Maines Moose survival study, Moose aerial surveys, moose necropsies and moose captures.
Peter Pekins (by phone), professor of wildlife ecology at the University of New Hampshire; he works with Maine DIFW on regional moose-winter tick research.
Resources
- Maine DIF&W: Moose
- Maine moose hunting
- Maine wildlife management district map
- VisitMaine.com: Moose Watching
- How and Where to See Moose in Maine
- 47,000 Ticks on a Moose, and That’s Just Average. Blame Climate Change.
- Climate Change Enters Its Blood-Sucking Phase
- VIDEO: Watch a moose run through Lewiston streets