BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has recommended issuing 180 moose hunting permits for the northeastern corner of the state to reduce the impact of winter ticks on moose there. No permits are recommended elsewhere in Vermont.
Wildlife officials say the goal of the moose harvest is to improve moose health in that chunk of the state by reducing the population and therefore reducing the abundance of winter ticks.
The impact of the ticks means low birth rates with many calves not surviving their first winter.
“Given the poor health of the moose population in that area and a clearly identified cause, we need to take action to address this issue. Without intervention to reduce the moose population, high tick loads will continue to impact the health of moose in that region for many years,” Vermont Fish and Wildlife Moose Project Leader Nick Fortin said in a statement.
The proposal for the hunt was approved on Wednesday and is now up for public comment. You can email comments to ANR.FWPublicComment@vermont.gov until March 31.