Why Maine’s Moose Population Is in Jeopardy

Maine is home to the largest population of moose in the contiguous United States. The only U.S. state with more moose is Alaska. Moose are so important to Maine that it’s the only place in the country that employs a state moose biologist. Unfortunately, Maine’s moose population is taking a hit with surging numbers of winter ticks. We spoke to the state moose biologist, Lee Kantar, via email to get to the bottom of this issue.

Maine’s Moose Population Was at Its Lowest in the Early 20th Century

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, there are about 40,000 to 60,000 moose in the state. That number is down from 25 years ago, when the population was at its peak, around 100,000. This number is incredible considering that in 1935, the moose population had diminished to only 2,000 individuals in the state. The reduction in numbers was due to hunting, loss of habitat, and a parasitic brain worm. To save Maine’s moose population, the state banned hunting from 1935 to 1980. In 1980, hunting was reopened with restrictions. With only restricted hunting allowed, the moose population boomed. But in recent years, a new threat has emerged, the winter tick.

Today, moose hunting is allowed, but only at certain times and only for a select group of permit holders. Permits are hard to come by. Out of 70,000 applications, only around 4,000 are typically issued. The permits are distributed through a lottery and an auction. Additionally, a small number of permits are provided for disabled veterans.

A current program run by the state is attempting to find out if opening up the moose hunt in certain areas to allow more permits can thin the herd. By thinning the herd, biologists hope to reduce the spread of winter ticks.

“Based on professional human dimension work recently completed by Responsive Management Inc., the majority of Mainers support moose hunting in Maine,” says biologist Lee Kantar. “Moose hunting remains an important conservation and wildlife management tool and an integral part of our hunting heritage. The science behind our work demonstrates the importance of hunting in relation to winter tick infestations.”

Tens of Thousands of Winter Ticks Can Attack One Moose

Winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus), also known as moose ticks, don’t feed on people, but will infest moose, deer, elk, caribou, and mountain sheep. One moose can end up with over 100,000 ticks on its body. Younger calves and older moose are particularly vulnerable.

Though winter ticks don’t feed on people or transmit diseases to humans, they are detrimental to moose. Winter ticks have a unique method of working together. The ticks interlock their legs while they wait on a shrub or tall grass for a host to walk by. When one tick senses a host and jumps on it, thousands of other ticks may come with it. The ticks then live on the moose for their complete lifecycle, including the stages of larva, nymph, and adult.

The ticks infest the hosts over winter, hence the name, winter ticks. In the spring, the ticks detach, and the females fall to the ground. In summer, the females lay eggs, and the cycle begins again.

Moose Are Vulnerable to Winter Ticks

Winter ticks can infest other types of animals, including deer. However, moose seem to be less adept at removing the ticks during grooming. When moose are heavily infested, they can experience anemia, skin irritation, and hair loss. They may become so irritated by the ticks that they stop eating. Heavy winter tick infestations can be fatal to the moose.

Although winter ticks will die in a freeze, winter temperatures in Maine are continuing to warm. Warmer winters and extended falls mean the winter tick population will continue to expand.

How Are Maine Officials Helping the Maine Moose Population?

It may seem counterintuitive, but biologists believe that the way to help the moose survive the winter ticks is to thin the moose population. A program called the Adaptive Moose Hunt began in Maine in 2019. The program increased moose hunting permits in certain zones. Biologists would like to learn if hunting more moose will help to lower winter tick levels, resulting in a healthier moose population that isn’t overrun with winter ticks.

Kantar explained the program is still running, and we won’t have results until the final data is collected. Kantar told us, “This fall, IFW will administer the 5th year of the program.  In early winter (2026), we will evaluate and assess data collected from the recent and past harvest as well as associated data on population size and structure, winter tick count, and reproductive data. With five full years of data, we will then be able to take a more complete look at the program.”

Are There Other Methods to Reduce Winter Ticks?

When asked what other strategies were being considered to help moose, Kantar told us, “We continue to work with colleagues and collaborators to determine other methods to reduce winter tick infestations. Possible avenues may include alternate forest harvesting layouts to disperse moose, but more work is needed to test this.”

Unfortunately, the only method of treating an animal with winter ticks is to physically remove them, which isn’t feasible for wild moose. According to Kantar, “Moose live across a large expanse of the North Maine Woods (10 million acres). Wild free-roaming animals cannot be administered tick acaricides or pills like domestic animals to reduce winter tick burdens. As well, there are no current ways to use tick acaricides across such an expansive area on private lands to reduce winter tick numbers. Thus, we must look at other practical and reasonable ways to mitigate winter tick losses and winter tick numbers.”

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