New Hampshire moose are in a significant decline due to our warmer winters.

My name is Eric Orff. I live in Epsom New Hampshire. I have been a wildlife biologist in NH for 40 years working for the state Fish and Game Department until my retirement in 2007 and since shortly after my retirement as a wildlife biologist consultant to the National Wildlife Federation. I come here today in support of the EPA's efforts to reduce carbon emissions from coal fired power plants.

New Hampshire's moose are in a significant decline likely caused by a warming climate. The moose population has plunged some forty percent in just over a decade from an estimated population of 7,500 moose to about 4,000 to 4,500 today.

Moose are an iconic figure in the Granite state and contribute significantly to our economy. Moose viewing in this state has an estimated value of over 12 million dollars annually. Folks come from around the country to see our moose and the economic benefits are most focused in the far north exactly where they are needed in the rural community. Moose hunting also is a significant economic engine for the North Country. But as the moose numbers has dwindled moose hunting permits have been cut back over 80 percent in just the past seven years from 675 permits issued in 2007 to just 124 permits issued this year. This is a tremendous economic loss for hunting guides and local businesses.

There are three significant factors contributing to reduced moose numbers and all are related to a warming New Hampshire.

First as our winters have warmed and shortened over the last decades. In particular the shorter winters has caused a huge spike in winter tick numbers which live on moose over the winter. Over 100,000 winter ticks have been found on a single moose. Most dramatic over the last decade has been a significant loss of moose calves due to the extraordinary high winter tick numbers. Just this past winter 22 moose calves were fitted with radio collars in mid January and by the end of April 14 or 64 percent of the calves died due to tick loads. Past studies have shown about a 20 percent mortality of adults by ticks some winters.

Second, the too hot summers are causing our cow (female) moose to feed less. Summer temperatures above 57 degrees begin to stress moose. Then they begin panting at 68 degrees and stop feeding and lay down at 79 degrees. This has led to underweight moose numbers increasing the last five years at the biological check station each fall. Yearling moose, first time breeders, must be at least 440 pounds to successfully bare calves the next spring. Adults, two years and older, typically give birth to twin calves if their fall weights are at least 550 pounds. Many of our cows have been under these weights the last few falls. So our moose cows are producing fewer calves than they did a decade ago.

Thirdly, as our winters have warmed there has been a big increase in deer numbers across the central and southern parts of the state. Deer carry a brain worm that is non-fatal todeer but very fatal to moose. It appears an increase in moose brain worm is the cause of

declining numbers in the southern half of the state.

It appears all factors contributing to our declining moose numbers are related to a changing climate. And it is not just New Hampshire facing declining moose numbers. From Maine to Vermont on over to Minnesota and Utah moose numbers are down significantly this past decade.

We must act on reducing carbon emissions now to keep this iconic animal on our landscape.

Eric Orff 110 River Rd. Epsom, NH 03234 eorff@aol.com 603-731-0054