North American Moose Federation

07/24/2024

As a moose-specific conservation organization, this public comment period is of great importance to us, and to others who care about moose conservation in Maine. Based on member input and scientific data, the North American Moose Federation proposes the following changes:

• The elimination of cow tags to improve reproductive output and population growth

• Reduction in bull tags to improve hunt quality and odds of success

• Ban on aerial spraying of herbicides that reduce forage growth

• Extensive research into projects focused on the elimination of ticks such as introducing genetically modified ticks into the wild to sterilize wild tick eggs after reproduction

• Increase antlerless deer permit availability and the length of the muzzleloader deer season in the Northern, Western, and Downeast Wildlife Management Districts to allow for greater whitetail deer harvest to cut down on transmission of the brainworm which is lethal to moose

Though the moose herd in Maine remains stable, changes due to a warming climate and alterations in species composition in their habitat threaten their long-term survival. By working to enact regulatory changes, Maine's moose population health can be secured long into the future while allowing for hunts to occur each fall.

We are conducting a study to learn more about Mainers’ opinions on moose management and hunting season structure in the state. As a resident of Maine, your input is very important to this study. The results will help MDIFW to better manage moose throughout the state.

MDIFW has contracted with the research firm Responsive Management to conduct the study. Responsive Management specializes in attitudes toward natural resource and outdoor recreation issues and has conducted several projects for MDIFW in the past.

As part of the study, MDIFW and Responsive Management will be hosting an online Town Hall forum to collect public input on moose management issues. Starting on July 22, Maine residents will be able to access the Town Hall forum website to submit comments and feedback.

The forum website is www.mainemoose.org. The website will remain active until August 9, after which comments will be reviewed and analyzed. Residents are encouraged to log onto the website before August 10 to submit responses to specific questions and general feedback on moose management issues in Maine.

We look forward to hearing from you regarding moose management in Maine.

For any questions about the study, please contact Jennifer Vashon, Game Management Section Supervisor, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, at [email protected].

07/12/2024

After being purchased by French chocolatier Henri Menier in 1895, the island of Anticosti off the coast of Québec was turned into a private game preserve. Though many species were introduced including caribou, bison, elk, only the whitetail deer and moose remain today. Since 1975 when the Québec government purchased the island and designated it as a provincial wildlife preserve, public hunting for whitetail deer has become incredibly popular due to the population on the island exceeding 160,000.

Unfortunately, this robust deer population has severely limited moose population growth and some estimates place the Anticosti moose at around 1,000 or fewer individuals. Black bear, once native to the island, have long since been extirpated due to the introduced deer over browsing wild berries, a staple food source that islands bear population relied on.

More robust studies are certainly needed to get a up to date population count, and additional management measures are needed to help control whitetail deer numbers to bring the Anticosti moose population up. As we expand membership into Québec, we plan to focus efforts in both areas on Anticosti.

05/15/2024

Prior to 1790, the eastern moose were once found as far south as northern Pennsylvania. Due to habitat loss and overhunting, the species quickly died out. Not long after, so too did the states native eastern elk, which is now extinct. However, successful reintroduction efforts helped to restore elk to Pennsylvania, where the population now supports a limited hunting season.

One project that the NAMF is exploring is the potential to reintroduce the states other large cervid species by examining potential habitat that presently exists in the state as well as other factors.