PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 6, 2026
Moose are the center of our world in the North Woods. They are elegant, awkward, majestic creatures and they are the No. 1 reason tourists go out of their way to explore the Moosehead Lake region. And, they are at risk. Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is the organization that is charged with caring for and protecting our moose herd and they are the very people who are prioritizing killing versus caring for them. Why? Predictably, it’s money. Now, MDIF&W has proposed to add an additional week of moose hunting, and move up the current week, in the three zones surrounding Moosehead Lake during peak fall tourism. The fall foliage season, the second most popular reason tourists come to Moosehead Lake, only lasts for three weeks. This move would be devastating to small businesses in the area, resulting in lost revenue and lost jobs in a region of the state that can’t afford it. ~Jennifer Whitlow, Greenville