The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has launched a new long-term moose monitoring initiative in the North Country, equipping 30 moose with GPS tracking collars to study population health, habitat use, and the growing impact of winter tick infestations on the state’s iconic animal.
Biologists spent two weeks in January and February capturing and collaring moose in the Pittsburg, Dixville, and Milan areas using helicopter-assisted darting. The collars transmit location data every four hours, providing researchers with unprecedented detail about moose movements and behavior.
“Moose are the symbol of the North Country, and people care deeply about them,” said Fish and Game moose project leader Henry Jones. “This study gives us the data we need to make informed management decisions.”
New Hampshire’s moose population, estimated at approximately 3,000 animals, has declined from a peak of roughly 7,500 in the mid-2000s. The primary driver of the decline is the winter tick, a parasite that thrives in shorter, warmer winters. Heavily infested moose can carry 50,000 or more ticks, leading to severe blood loss, hair loss, and often death — particularly among calves.
“Climate change is fundamentally altering the relationship between moose and ticks,” said Dr. Kristine Rines, the department’s retired moose biologist who continues to advise the project. “Shorter winters mean more ticks survive, and that puts enormous pressure on moose populations.”
The GPS data will help researchers understand how moose use different habitats throughout the year and whether certain areas offer better conditions for avoiding heavy tick loads. The study will also track calf survival rates, which have been a particular concern in recent years.
The initiative is a collaboration between Fish and Game, the University of New Hampshire, and the Wildlife Management Institute, with funding from federal wildlife grants and the state’s conservation license plate program.
Results from the first year of data collection are expected to be published in late 2026. The department plans to host public presentations in North Country communities to share findings.
