Northern New England is home to the largest population of moose in the lower 48 states after abrupt expansion in the 1980-90s. However, regional moose have declined slowly in the past 20 years because of a unique host-parasite relationship between moose and winter ticks that is devastating to calf survival.

This story continues to play out as climate change increasingly influences this relationship and other aspects of moose ecology. This presentation will highlight 15 years of study that unraveled much of this mystery through novel field-laboratory research and 500 radio-collared moose in New Hampshire and Maine. From exciting helicopter captures of moose, stalking of maternal cows and newborn calves, to the unending sad recovery of dead calves at winter end, biologists unraveled this unprecedented moose story.

Dr. Pete Pekins is Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Ecology in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of New Hampshire (1987-2021) where he served as Coordinator of the Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program for most of his career, receiving numerous teaching and advising awards. He was previously the Director of the UNH Wildlife Research Facility; Editor-in-Chief of ALCES, the International Journal of Moose Research and Management, received the Distinguished Moose Biologist Award from his peers in 2015, and will present a keynote address at the 2025 International Moose Conference in Sweden.