Save the moose

To the Editor;
While scrolling through my photos of past trips to Baxter State Park, I realized that in years past every trip included a photo of a moose. This year, I made a half-dozen multi-day trips to the park to both the north and south ends, and not only did I not see a moose, but it was only outside the park that I even saw evidence of moose.

Last year, my visits resulted in no moose sightings, and two years ago, I brought a young grandniece and grandnephew to Roaring Brook for an overnight stay. My nephew was a moose fanatic who had never seen a moose. I promised him that by staying at Roaring Brook and going out early in the morning and in the evening, we would be guaranteed to see moose at Sandy Stream Pond. But after all our efforts, including many trips to the pond at optimal times, no moose were seen.

I know there are moose in the park. I was awakened recently by a bull in rut. But the frequency of observing moose in the wild in Maine has been greatly diminished. We are in the midst of another moose hunt. Let us hope the state will balance the interest of the many who want to only observe moose in the wild with those who hunt. Moose hunting is prohibited in Baxter State Part, but unfortunately moose know no boundaries.

Janice Kasper
Swanville