AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- An aerial survey shows Maine has about 76,000 moose.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife uses a double-count technique in the winter where two observers independently report the number of moose observed while flying in a helicopter over northern and eastern Maine. One observer sits in the front of the helicopter while the other sits in the back on the same side. They feed data to a recorder.

The technique was adapted from Quebec and New Brunswick, where it was used to count deer. 

The department did not survey southern Maine, saying the low moose population numbers in the area would likely add little to the total statewide population.                

NEWS CENTER