Moose, the largest member of the deer family, were extirpated from New York State by the late 1800s due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. The species naturally re-established a resident population, with sporadic sightings beginning in the 1980s. Their return signifies the improving health of northern New York’s vast forest ecosystems. Today, these massive herbivores are a celebrated presence, requiring careful monitoring and public awareness of safety protocols.
Where New York Moose Live
The population of New York moose is concentrated in the Adirondack Park and the surrounding North Country region. These areas provide the expansive, undeveloped habitat necessary to sustain the large mammals, whose home range can vary from 5 to 50 square miles. Within this primary range, moose prefer boreal forests, areas of regenerating forest growth, and extensive wetlands.
Moose are browsers, and their diet relies heavily on the leaves, twigs, and buds of species like willow, birch, and maple. An adult consumes between 40 and 60 pounds of forage daily. They also spend substantial time in ponds and wetlands during the summer, wading into the water to feed on aquatic vegetation. While the Adirondack Park and the Taconic Highlands along the Massachusetts and Vermont borders are the main population centers, occasional wanderers are sighted in other parts of the state.
Population Status and Conservation Efforts
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) estimated the moose population within the Adirondack Park to be approximately 716 individuals as of 2018. Researchers believe the population is currently stable or potentially growing, though not at the rapid rates seen in neighboring New England states. The DEC, in collaboration with universities, conducts multi-year research projects to assess the health and trajectory of the population.
Population monitoring involves several methods, including periodic aerial surveys conducted in the early winter over known moose habitat in the northeastern Adirondacks. These surveys use a technique called ‘Distance Sampling’ to estimate the total population size based on the number of animals seen from the air. Additionally, the state uses GPS tracking collars on captured adult cows, calves, and yearlings to monitor survival rates, movement patterns, and mortality factors. Researchers also examine the remains of deceased moose to check for the presence of parasites and diseases, such as brainworm and winter ticks.
Public Safety and Encounter Guidelines
The most frequent hazard involving New York moose is the risk of vehicle collision, especially in the Adirondack and North Country regions where their population is densest. Drivers should exercise caution during the hours of dusk and dawn, as these are the peak times for moose movement and their dark coloration makes them difficult to see. Reducing speed in areas marked with moose crossing signs helps avoid collisions.
If a moose is sighted near a roadway, using the horn or flashing headlights can sometimes encourage the animal to move away from the road surface. If a collision does occur, motorists should never approach the downed animal, as the mammal may be frightened and can cause harm with its powerful hooves. For encounters on foot, maintaining a distance of at least 50 feet is advised, and hikers should never approach a cow with a calf. Signs of agitation, such as laid-back ears or raised hair on the back, indicate that the animal is stressed and requires more space.