What’s next in adaptive moose hunt is unclear

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 8, 2025

In 2020, in an experimental effort to reduce winter tick infestations in Maine moose, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife undertook the so-called “adaptive moose hunt.” The object was to deliberately reduce cow moose populations in wildlife zone 4 to reduce winter tick severity. Hunters were the management tool used to cull female moose numbers. Research in other parts of North America showed that moose that live in low-population densities had fewer ticks. The jury is still out as to how successful the adaptive unit hunt has been in reducing cow moose numbers. The good news is that last year was the second year in a row that tick numbers were lower and also showed one of the highest moose survival rates since 2006.