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 to 
deer 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