BANGOR METRO • April 15, 2021
The balance of nature is a beautiful thing, except when it isn’t. Moose are in trouble. Although Maine’s moose population is stable, the herd is sick, and getting sicker. Maine has the highest population of moose in the lower 48 states, perhaps too high. Nature has a way of correcting over populations, and it’s often not pretty. Predation, disease, and starvation are some of nature’s tools. For moose, the winter tick is today’s main culprit. As the climate has warmed, Maine winters have shortened. A moose can suddenly find itself the host of 50,000 to 90,000 ticks.