Species involved: Moose

Project partners: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, University of Vermont

Total SCIF Investment: $92,000 (Funded by HLF)

Year SCIF began involvement: 2017 (Project timeline: 2017-2019)

Project Objectives

1. Determine pregnancy rate of adult female moose.
2. Monitor annual survival of adult and juvenile moose.
3. Monitor nutritional condition of moose cows and calves during winter stress period.
4. Document movement and dispersal distance of yearlings away from the capture site.
5. Perform tick counts on calves that have died and analyze the influence of winter tick loads on moose mortality.
6. Improve Vermont population models to estimate regional moose numbers and determine sustainable harvest levels.

Anticipated Outcomes

Moose herd numbers continue to decline due to unknown causes that may include infestations of ticks and brain worms. This has resulted in reduced hunter opportunity in Vermont and across the New England states. The VFWD recommended the state issue just 14 permits in 2018 and will issue very few permits in 2019. SCI Foundation hopes to identify causes of moose declines and develop a long-term sustainable harvest strategy.

Recent Project Update

We received a quarterly report from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department about the ongoing moose project examining impacts of winter ticks on moose recruitment. During the January capture period, the researchers captured and collared 30 moose calves. Tick counts on calves were consistent with previous years and high enough to present increased mortality risk to calves. Three of the 30 calves died during the 3‐month reporting period, with two of those mortalities potentially related to high tick loads. This project has engaged in extensive outreach efforts, with the result that nearly 50% of Vermonters are aware of and knowledgeable about the influence of winter ticks on moose in the state.