Moose historically occupied northern New York state at the time of colonization(circa AD1500)"..........."The last moose legally shot in New York's Adirondack Mountains was in 1861 when hunters took three moose near Raquette Lake"........"Some unsuccsessful attempts were made to reintroduce moose on several private land holdings during the late 1800s and early 1900's".........."Unfortunately, about 50 percent of all moose that were bought and transported here died due to stress and body temperature change"............."If their body temperature changes more than five degrees, it is almost always fatal".............. "In the early 1900s the Browns Tract Guides Association brought in several bull and cow moose that were kept in pens during the winter before they were released the following spring".............."These moose became so tame that after their release they had no fear of man and were killed within a few miles of the release site"..........."Fortunately, Moose populations in Vermont and New Hampshire started to grow as they moved in from Canada and Maine, with the result being a Moose terrtitory expansion into NY State during the late 1970s and early ‘80s"...........As of the end of 2018, it is estimated that some 400 Moose call the Adirondacks home".........."The only population of moose outside the Adirondack Park is near Lake Desolation, south of Great Sacandaga Lake"............As in the rest of New England, the biggest deterrent to population growth is Winter tic infestation"..........."Thankfully, the 6 tagged Moose under study by NY'S Dept. of Conservation are not showing tic infestations, hopefully a good sign for the balance of the population"........."On the other hand, biologists are seeing a decline in the ratio of calves per Cow moose, from the historic 0.5 calves per cow to a reduced 0.37 calves per cow, a warning sign of potential stresses that could ultimately dent the population"

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/aerial-moose-survey-2019&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoUMTEwMDI1MDAyMDkwOTk1MjU1MjYyGjNiYjU3MDBkYmE0ZWU1MmQ6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEmYjI7yRgYPMPToTyR-JDInGQoDQ

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019

DEC spots 175 moose in aerial survey

By MIKE LYNCH

New York State wildlife staff spotted 175 moose in 83 groups this winter during aerial surveys for the animal.

A moose spotted by NY state wildlife staff from a helicopter. Photo courtesy of DEC.

Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife staff conducted the helicopter flights in January over seven days, logging about 42 hours of flight time.

Researchers will use the data from the 2019 survey to refine DEC’s estimate of the Adirondack moose population, which currently stands at about 400 animals. In addition to estimating moose population size, scientists are also looking to improve the understanding of moose survival and reproductive rates and to assess moose diet and health through this study.

NY's Adrondack State park, the largest protected
Park, National or State, in the USA(in green shade)

DEC hopes the information will help reduce human-moose conflicts and aid in managing moose populations in throughout the state, according to a press release.

DEC didn’t find any signs of a winter tick infestation on the moose, a good sign for the population. In other Northeastern states, moose populations have seen declines, in part because of winter ticks.

Winter ticks can be found by the thousands on moose and can eventually kill them. It also hurts the animals’ ability to reproduce because the ticks cause the moose to be in poor health.

The only other reproducing Moose population in 
NY STATE(outside of the Adirondack Park) is found
in Lake Desolation, adjacent to Saratoga Springs
and Albany, a scant two hours north of New York City

There are six moose in the state with GPS collars, which allow biologists to track their movements and determine the number of calves that are born to adult females. Adult female moose usually have one or two calves in late May or early June every other year.

In past aerial surveys, biologists have seen a ratio of about 0.5 calves per cow. This year, the calf-to-cow ratio was approximately 0.37 calves per cow, and no twin calves were observed during the survey.

The mid-winter survey is in the fifth year of a multi-year partnership with researchers from the Stat University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), Cornell University’s Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Animal Health Diagnostic Center, the Biodiversity Research Institute, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

DEC and its research partners are also seeking information from the public regarding moose sightings to provide data for this study. If a moose is seen, the public can fill out this online form.