Such was the case in late-April when Kantar headed out of DIF&Ws Greenville office to investigate the death of a moose that has been on his agencys radar screen for nearly a decade. Mature softwood is used as cover when snow depth exceeds 3 feet. A majority of the moose population in Minnesota is in the Northeastern regions. We learn about the fate of Maines moose population and what wildlife managers plan to do to protect this charismatic animal. They represent one of the largest, southernmost naturally occurring moose populations on the continent. A 6 day season was set during the last week of September 1980 and was restricted to an area north of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Maine is one of the few states in the U.S. with a sizable moose population. Hunters in the state are cautioned not to accidentally shoot moose during the white-tailed deer hunting season. Maine Climate Divisions from Maines Climate Future, Best Moose Watching Gear For Maine | Maine Moose Watching 101, The State of Big Game in Maine by Meredith Braun, Angela Cross, and Jake Lukach, 6 Best GPS Hunting Apps In 2022 Field Tested and Reviewed, 39 Best Gifts For Bird Hunters [2023] (Pheasant, Upland, Bird Dog), 12 Best Trail Cameras For The Money In 2023 | Best Value Trail Cameras, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwNDlM62UU4&ab_channel=JasonTome, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aEYCGc_4_8&t=33s&ab_channel=JasonTome, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGcK61ISB8Y&ab_channel=JasonTome, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYrL5VkDz-k&t=508s&ab_channel=JasonTome, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62QKAgk60-c&ab_channel=JasonTome. The season continued to be closed and reopened periodically from 1920-1936. Coloring Books, Find cities with a similar climate These areas are northern and western Maine. My post: Best Moose Watching Gear For Maine | Maine Moose Watching 101 can help you choose the best gear for Maine moose watching. Learn more about the Adaptive Management Study. Moose will also eat aquatic plants, sedges, pond weeds, and grasses. How hot cities could be in 2050 However, moose cannot survive on balsam fir alone, because it has lower nutritional value. Before Europeans arrived, moose were plentiful in Maine. Moose were eventually extirpated from Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire; only Maine harbored a small remnant population. Between both, there are about 2,000 to 3,500 moose killed each year. Population, consumptive, and non-consumptive objectives were developed to meet these goals. The population has been decreasing since the high of 10,000 animals in the mid-1990s. During the summer months, you can typically see moose in the wetlands, where they feast on sodium-rich aquatic vegetation. Moose population in the United States In the United States, Approximately 300000 moose in 19 states Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The 2000 population goals and objectives are specific to each Wildlife Management District (WMD) but are grouped in three Management Areas: The current moose management goals and objectives for 2017-2027 are: Goal #1: Maintain a healthy moose population while providing hunting and viewing opportunities. During adequate weather conditions, moose are often moving around all day for days at a time. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 2022 aerial moose survey recorded a population of 4,700. Unfortunately, across the southern extent of their range in North America moose face myriad challenges, most of which relate in one way or another to climate change. For the latest information on licensing and the moose population visit the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/species/moose/, from which this article was obtained on March 4, 2011. Lee Kantar, Maine state moose biologist with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. However, even some individuals can reach 6 feet tall and weigh 1,200 pounds. Theyll use the leeward side of the mountains to stay out of the worst of the conditions. A cow has a brown face and dark body and a bull has a black face. Inside this pregnant cow, he found bone marrow almost devoid of fat and internal organs that are a sickly white. Natural salt licks are rare in Maine, so moose are often seen along roads (as the one near Katahdin Iron Works at left) using the salt runoff as an artificial salt lick. In 1935, the season was reduced to 3 days. Black bears, which are common in Maine, are potential predators of moose calves. If you have questions feel free to reach out. Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Mailing Address: However, moose can not survive on balsam fir alone, because it has lower nutritional value. Although this is almost 50% fewer animals since the population peak in 2006, its a significant increase since the decline in 2013, and the moose population is reported to have remained stable in recent years. Larvae gather in interlocking clumps on vegetation, and when one tick snags a passing victim, hundreds or thousands tag along for the ride. Many adult cows can survive such a massive tick load. The study, which kicks off in January, is one of 12 funded this year by the Morris Animal Foundation, which awarded $930,000 in wildlife health research grants. These were more comprehensive than the goals developed in 1985 that essentially directed us to maintain the population at 1985 levels. A Moose in its Leafy Habitat on the Carlo Col Trail in the Mahoosuc Range of Western Maine near the Appalachian Trail. Moosehead Lake Region All Rights Reserved. This law allowed the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to issue up to 700 permits to Maine resident hunters in 1980. Calves may have small buds by late September, yearlings may have spikes or small forks, and palms typically first develop in two and three-year-old bulls. In Maine, the moose population is on the decline and winter ticks are to blame. However, most states regulate hunting licenses to help protect the health of moose populations. Shallow waterways with underwater grasses, water lilies and other plants are attractive eating places. Moose are large majestic land mammals, with bulls growing stunning antlers of up to 6 feet long. However, they also inhabit wetlands in the East, especially along the Missouri River. Although moose are known to have poor eyesight, their keen sense of smell and hearing give them stealth advantages in the wilderness. 2023 NEWS CENTER Maine. 31 states that do not have Moose populations: The following population estimates were taken from state government websites and other authoritative sources. 2023 Maine Public | Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529, Climate Driven: A deep dive into Maine's response, one county at a time, Maine Public on Your Voice Activated Device, WATCH: Video On-Demand TV Programs (including Maine PBS PASSPORT), WATCH: Maine Public Television Live Stream, Maine High School Basketball Championship Weekend, Watch Maine Public Television and Additional Channels with an Antenna, Listen to Maine Public Classical on Voice-Activated Devices, Teaching Resources for The Holocaust and Stories That Matter, Community Calendar - Virtual & Live Events in Maine, StoryCorps Military Voices Recording Sessions, Masterworks IV: Epic Sounds: Strauss and Rachmaninoff, Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ - Bach Birthday Bash, Facts About Maine Public's Federal Funding. According to Go Hunt, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) recently estimated around 40 to 50 moose living in the state. These are rescued animals that cannot be released back into the wilderness for a variety of reasons. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Those populations up there are really high density, said Alexej Siren, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vermont, said of the prime moose habitat that extends from northern New Hampshire across north-central Maine to parts of Piscataquis counties. Haskell says that the zone four hunt will occur in October and early November. Maximum antler development is obtained at age 5 and declines when bulls are in their teens. Each adult female winter tick can remove one milliliter of blood from its host, which adds up to gallons of blood when youre talking tens of thousands of ticks. They will also splash their antlers with urine, a scent that entices cows to breed. Because leaves are absent from hardwoods in the winter, balsam fir is an important winter food for moose. Heres one from John Steinbeck from his Travels with Charlie in Maine during 1960: In the silver chill of the Maine afternoon, as I bucketed and lumbered over the pitted surface of a wood road, I saw four lady mooses moving with stately heaviness across my bow. In early spring, cows and calves are coming down out of the mountains and making their way to the greenery that is starting to emerge in the lower elevations because it provides nutritious feed. The moose is an important part of the state's ecosystem and plays a vital role in the state's economy. A bulls antlers spread rarely exceeds 65 inches and a spread of 55 inches is considered good. To give yourself the best chances of seeing a moose in Maine, youll want to be in the areas that have the most moose per square mile. The antlers help show their dominance and protect their eyes when competing for a mate. Now it is coming back down. However, instances of long-distance migration when searching for food has led to some moose showing up outside their natural range. He has little doubt about the cause of death. Every magnet, sticker, and t-shirt in every shop advertises their presence, and Acadia is not exempt from this trend. Winter ticks, which are sometimes called moose ticks, have been pestering Maine moose for about a century and likely longer. Big Game. Capable of reaching speeds up to 35 miles per hour, moose can traverse nearly all terrain, from snow to steep slopes, leaving behindtheir trademark heart-shaped tracks. Moose can be seen throughout the state, but their population is greatest in the Western Lakes and Mountains, The Kennebec Valley, The Maine Highlands, and Aroostook County. This week, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) reported that 60 of the 70 moose calves collared in remote areas of Piscataquis and Somerset counties last winter have died as of early May, making it "a record high mortality rate" since these tracking surveys first began, according to . Your email address will not be published. "Those seeking cold, hard statistics on Maine communities won't be disappointed." Currently, the population is estimated to be just over 100 animals. The Countys moose population is abundant again this year, so a management hunt will be held in part of the state, An Update Regarding the Aroostook Centre Mall, Dangerous Driver Leads Police on Two High Speed Chases, UPDATE: All Three Bison Have All Been Returned To Their Pen, https://www.maine.gov/IFW/hunting-trapping/hunting-laws/wildlife-management-districts/wmd-map.html. Core moose habitat in New Hampshire is the White Mountains and north, and winter ticks are still the largest factor influencing that population, said Henry Jones, the lead moose biologist with New Hampshires Fish & Game Department. Moose are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. By the end of the 18th century, colonial historian James Sullivan said of Maine the moose, a monstrous large animal, has beenthere in former days, but It is rare to see one at the present time.*, Moose print on the trail north from Spencer Rips on the Moose River (2006). Its on a very different scale than other areas of New England as far as other moose habitat thats out there.. A Young Moose Near Katahdin Iron Works in T6 R9 NWP (2002). This concentrated food source limits the amount of time cows spend feeding, which limits calves vulnerability to predators. There are around 20 to 40 individuals in the state and occasional moose sightings of individuals wandering over from Michigan or Minnesota. There, managers have a much larger population of moose to contend with upwards of 70,000 animals, spread across tens of thousands of acres. The eastern or Taiga moose is the subspecies found in Maine. Hoof to withers, the bull stood nearly This content . of browse a day? Maine is home to the largest moose population in the lower 48 states. Female moose (3.5+ years old) average 836 pounds and the average prime age (5.5+) adult bull weighs 1,106 pounds. Although Colorado used to only see a few stray moose wander into the state, in 1978, wildlife managers arranged for the first transplant of 12 moose in Colorados North Park region. A highly contagious disease, it is mostly transmitted by direct contact. Today, Maine is estimated to have 60 to 80,000 moose roaming around in the woods. 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