The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is asking the public to report moose sightings and observations. According to a statement released June 6, the DEC and its research partners use public sightings as an indication of the number of moose in the state and a guide to where they live. The public observation effort is part of a multi-year research project to obtain information on the status of New York's moose population, health of the moose, and the factors that influence their survival and reproductive rate. "Moose are iconic animals and the public's help in reporting moose sightings is key to creating successful moose management plans that work toward growing and maintaining a healthy population," Commissioner Basil Seggos said.  Moose sightings increase in the spring with the rising temperatures and melting snow. In 2018, a total of 220 moose observations were reported to the DEC, a marked increase from the 163 reports in 2017. If you see a moose, let the DEC know by reporting going online to DEC [dot] NY [dot] gov.