Wild Moose Welfare and Tick Infestation

How climate change is enabling winter tick explosions that cause severe welfare harm to moose populations.

Key Facts

A single moose can host 50,000-100,000 winter ticks in heavily infested populations
Severe tick loads cause anemia, hair loss, and hypothermia in moose that cannot groom effectively
Warmer falls allow more ticks to reach hosts before being killed by cold — climate change amplifies infestations
"Ghost moose" — animals with severe hair loss from tick infestation — are increasingly documented across North America
Moose calf survival rates drop dramatically in years with severe tick infestations

Welfare Considerations

Winter tick infestations in moose represent one of the most vivid examples of climate change creating wildlife welfare crises. The massive blood loss from tens of thousands of parasites causes progressive anemia, weakening moose over winter. Hair loss from tick irritation eliminates the insulating coat that enables moose to survive cold temperatures. Ghost moose — animals white with hair loss and visible weakness — are increasingly documented in New England, Maine, and Canada. These individuals suffer for weeks before dying. Climate action is the primary intervention — cooler falls reduce tick survival and limit infestation severity in ways that no direct management approach can replicate.

What You Can Do

Support climate action policies that reduce the warming enabling winter tick population explosions
Donate to wildlife disease monitoring programs tracking tick infestation impacts on moose populations
Learn about moose ecology and share the winter tick story as a concrete example of climate-wildlife welfare connections
Support research into potential management interventions for severe tick infestations in at-risk moose populations