Why New Hampshire’s drought was good for its moose.
Preliminary numbers from a project that puts tracking collars on moose show that only one of the calves – the most vulnerable group – died from winter ticks this year.
It was 71 last year.
Permits also are down to 80 in Vermont, from 165 last year.
Vermont, which joined the study this year and didn’t have drought issues as serious as New Hampshire, has seen five of its 30 collared calves die, so far.
The wildlife federation says it understands the Fish and Game Department’s goals to maintain a healthy moose population, as well as the challenges of trying to reopen a hunting season once it is stopped.
Some feel it’s time to stop moose hunting, period.
“Why would you threaten it further?” Moose population densities are taken into account in all hunting areas.
She said parasites are the bigger problem, and will continue to be so in the future.
… We could stop (hunting) tomorrow, and what’s going to happen to these animals will continue to happen.” Share