Independent New Hampshire Journalism · Northfield, NHCorrection, Sept. 19, 2026, 3:15 p.m. EDT: An earlier version of this article quoted Kristine Rines of New Hampshire Fish and Game saying, “This is climate change hitting us right in the face,” quoted an unnamed advocate with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and said the moose population fell from about 7,500 to fewer than 3,500. Granite State Report found no published source for either quote. Rines told NHPR in 2018 that if the state warms as projected, “moose probably won’t exist here,” and Fish and Game puts the population at approximately 3,000 to 4,000, down from a late-1990s peak of about 7,000 to 8,000. We replaced the Rines quote with her published words, removed the unnamed quote, and corrected the population and calf-survival figures with sources.
Conservationists Fight to Save Moose from Tick Epidemic
Concord, N.H. — New Hampshire’s moose, once a thriving symbol of the North Country, are in steep decline as a winter tick epidemic worsens. Conservationists say without urgent policy action, the state could lose one of its most iconic species.
Biologists link the surge in ticks to warming winters. Snow and deep cold once killed off large numbers of the parasites. Today, milder conditions allow them to survive and swarm moose by the tens of thousands, draining blood and often killing calves before they turn one. Eric Orff, a field biologist with the National Wildlife Federation, told the New Hampshire Bulletin that 70 percent of calves do not survive to 1 year old.
Kris Rines, a longtime moose biologist for New Hampshire Fish and Game, told NHPR in 2018: “If we truly develop into such a warm state, as everyone is saying we are, moose probably won’t exist here. How long it will take them to disappear, I don’t know.”
Fish and Game estimates put the moose population’s peak at around 7,000 to 8,000 in the late 1990s, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. The department now puts the herd at approximately 3,000 to 4,000 animals. The consequences extend beyond ecology. Orff told the Bulletin that moose viewing in New Hampshire was, for a period of years, a $10-million-a-year industry. Losing the animals would deal a blow to the state’s outdoor identity and its economy.
Conservation groups are pressing lawmakers to take action on two fronts:
- Climate policy — stronger emission reductions, renewable energy investment, and regional partnerships to slow the warming that shortens winters.
- Wildlife management — better funding for research, adaptive hunting policies to reduce moose density, and long-term monitoring programs.
Advocates warn that without stronger state and federal policies, the winter tick problem will only worsen. They argue the moose crisis is a bellwether of the ecological unraveling already underway in northern New England.
The choice, they say, is clear: act boldly now, or watch New Hampshire’s most recognizable animal vanish from its landscape.
What Lawmakers Could Do Right Now
Conservationists say saving New Hampshire’s moose requires more than monitoring—it demands bold policy. Here are key actions state and federal leaders could take:
1. Pass stronger climate legislation.
Commit to aggressive greenhouse gas reductions, expand renewable energy mandates, and join regional climate compacts to address the warming winters fueling tick survival.
2. Fund moose and tick research.
Allocate new money for Fish and Game to track infestations, test management strategies, and expand the state’s moose study program.
3. Adapt hunting policies.
Adjust hunting permits to keep moose density low enough to reduce host availability for ticks, while ensuring long-term population stability.
4. Protect northern forests.
Support land conservation programs that preserve moose habitat, giving the animals the best possible chance to withstand environmental stressors.
5. Invest in rural resilience.
Provide economic support for North Country communities that depend on moose tourism, ensuring local economies survive as the state adapts.
6. Build public awareness.
Launch education campaigns linking moose decline to climate change, making clear that the issue extends beyond wildlife and touches New Hampshire’s culture and economy.
Corrections: Granite State Report corrects verified errors promptly and appends a dated note identifying what changed and when. The corrections policy and the corrections register are public, and correction notes are never removed.
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