Moose are an iconic symbol of wildlife in New England. An estimated 70,000 moose are spread across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, with the most in Maine. Moose help shape our forests through their feeding patterns. They also support the habitat of other animals.
In recent decades, however, moose have been disappearing at an alarming rate. They are being attacked by winter ticks. The tiny parasites attach themselves to moose in the fall and feed on their blood during the winter. Winter ticks, also known as moose ticks, are no larger than a pencil tip. They have a one-year life cycle and feed exclusively on moose.
I spoke with Lee Kantar about this threat. Kantar is a moose biologist at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. He studies local moose populations and the threats to their survival.
“Fall 2023 had the most ticks yet,” Kantar said. “This resulted in the loss of 87% of calves before their first birthday.” Calves are baby moose.
When asked why ticks are causing so much harm, Kantar said: “Climate change, especially in the last 20- 25 years, has made our winters in Maine shorter. When winters are shorter, the ticks have a better chance of surviving and multiplying.”
