The Maine Moose

There are signs along the highways in Maine warning drivers of wandering moose.  I’ve never seen a moose in Maine.  Just because I haven’t seen a moose in Maine during my brief sojourns here doesn’t mean there are no moose here. It doesn’t disprove the road signs.  There could be moose in Maine. Can I believe this to be true without seeing one? 

Supposedly Maine is one of only a few states in the U.S. that has a sizable moose population.  In fact, Maine is supposed to have around 75,000 moose, the largest concentration of moose in the country next to Alaska.  I asked several people who have lived here in Maine all their lives  if they have ever seen one of these 75,000 moose.  Not a one could report that they had ever seen a moose.  They told me there are moose here, even though they haven’t seen one.  They told me that if you see a moose in Maine it is a once-in-lifetime experience!  I’m going to keep my eyes pealed—but it is doubtful that I’m going to see one.  That does not mean there are no moose in Maine—there are around 75,000 of them.  Seeing is not a requisite for believing there are moose in Maine.

Maine is a land of lobsters, seagulls, clams, lighthouses, endless miles of rocky coastline, and fishing ports—and they say, moose.  It also has the oldest population in the nation.  The median age is 43 and one-third of its population is in or approaching retirement, according to Hari Sreenivasan.  In order to reverse this situation, Maine lawmakers have come up with a plan.  They are saying to young people,  “Come and live and work in Maine, and we will help you pay off your student loans.”  This relief will come in the form of a tax credit.  College graduates who work in Maine will be allowed to deduct student loan payments from their state income tax.

If you are burdened with college loan debt, you might want to come to Maine to live.  You could enjoy many benefits other than just getting your loan paid.  You could eat lobster every day,  listen to the music of the seagulls and frolic along the rocky coastline.  Indeed, you might even see a moose!  If I were young and  burdened with college loan debt, I might consider moving to Maine.  Even without college loan debt, I find Maine very inviting.