Being curious about the moose population in Connecticut, tonight I tuned into a virtual presentation with Andrew M. LaBonte, deer and moose biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division, being offered by the Granby Public Library and Granby Land Trust.

LaBonte’s talk covered the history, current status and expectations for the future of Alces alces, the largest mammal in our state. The goal was for us to learn about the biology of the animal, its presence in Connecticut and throughout New England, and its potential for population growth relative to its habitat.

About the presenter:  Andrew M. LaBonte received a B.S. in wildlife biology from Unity College, Unity, Maine and his M.S. degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Connecticut. Andrew received certification as a wildlife biologist through the Wildlife Society. His research activities have focused on the population dynamics of deer and moose and human dimensions of wildlife management. He is employed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division.