Finding Our Niche: An Overview of Moose Management on Penobscot Nation Tribal Lands
Benjamin Simpson1
Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources, 28 Wabanaki Way, US
Abstract As a sovereign nation with lands within the state boundaries of Maine, USA, the Penobscot Nation is committed to managing a culturally significant species in a way that aligns with our values and traditions. For years, the Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources (PN DNR) has relied on the state of Maine’s moose management strategies to guide our decisions. However, our priorities and perspectives on moose conservation differ from those of the state, necessitating a unique approach. To address this, we have developed and implemented a research program that fulfills our Tribal conservation goals while also providing valuable insights that state agencies can utilize to address gaps in their own programs. Our primary focus has been studying the effects of winter ticks on moose populations through trail camera monitoring and annual tick drags (September – December). Now in its fifth year, this initiative represents the longest-running tick sampling effort in the northeastern United States. Additionally, we have deployed GPS collars on 20 adult moose across two Tribal properties in western and north-central Maine. These collars collect fine-scale location data (12/day), allowing us to assess adult movement patterns and habitat use throughout the year. This data has also been instrumental in identifying habitat use during the tick drop-off period (March 15 – May 6). Furthermore, we aim to estimate moose population densities on Tribal lands using our camera studies. Our future plans include integrating these datasets with hunter harvest rates to evaluate the overall health of our moose population. Preliminary findings suggest that moose on Penobscot Nation lands may experience lower tick infestations compared to those in northern Maine. If this pattern holds, we aim to investigate the underlying factors contributing to this difference.