Science Source

Factors affecting epizootics of winter ticks and mortality of moose

Confirms the proposal that warmer and shorter winters result in increased survival of adult female ticks dropping off moose in March and April, and increased tick populations on moose the following winter
Finds annual changes in hair damage and loss on moose, which are documented from the air, coincided with annual changes in numbers of ticks on moose, providing managers with a survey tool to monitor and estimate changing numbers of ticks
Finds tick numbers lagged 1 year behind moose numbers in Elk Island National Park over a 12-year period, and many moose died when numbers of both were high
States several widespread, concurrent die-offs suggest extrinsic influences play a role, possibly independent of moose density