AUGUSTA, Maine — In order to meet the public goal of decreasing the moose population in eastern Aroostook county, the Department is proposing to substantially increase the number of moose permits available in WMDs 3 and 6. Two public hearings will be held to discuss the proposal.
The department is looking to increase the number of permits in WMD 3 from 455 to 635, a 40% increase from this past season, and in WMD 6, the department has proposed to increase the number of permits from 500 to 715, a 43% increase.
“The increase is consistent with the public’s desire and the department’s goal to decrease the moose population in that area of the state,†said Roland D. Martin, Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
The first scheduled public hearing is set for Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 6:30 p.m., at the Mattanawcook High School on 33 Reed Drive in Lincoln; On Thursday, December 6, there will be another public hearing at 6:30 p.m. at the Caribou High School Performing Arts Center on 308 Sweden Street in Caribou.
The Caribou public hearing was scheduled due to the increase in permit numbers in the area. Lincoln was also chosen for a public hearing after the Department received a petition signed by over 1,800 people that asked the department to decrease the moose population in that area. Commissioner Martin is hopeful that the public hearings will allow citizens a forum to express their opinions concerning the moose population in Lincoln and surrounding areas.
Written comments on the proposal can be submitted until December 17, 2007. Comments can be sent to Andrea.Erskine@maine.gov by email or by mail to Andrea Erskine, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333.
Posted by Tom Remington
