Wild Moose Tick Infestation and Climate-Driven Collapse

Winter tick infestations driven by climate change are causing catastrophic moose calf mortality in the northeastern United States and Canada.

Key Facts

Winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) require snow cover to die off in spring - milder winters allow more ticks to survive
Individual moose can carry tens of thousands of winter ticks simultaneously - a burden called ghost moose from their pale, rubbed coats
Tick burdens of 70,000+ cause severe anemia, hypothermia, and hair loss in calves during their first winter
Calf survival in heavily infested areas has dropped from 50-60% to under 20% in some New Hampshire and Maine populations
Climate models project continued warming that will further reduce winter tick mortality and intensify infestations
New Hampshire moose population has declined approximately 40% since 2000, partly attributable to tick-driven calf mortality
No practical treatment exists for wild moose tick infestations - habitat-level climate management is the only intervention

Welfare Considerations

Calves carrying enormous tick burdens spend hours daily rubbing against trees to remove ticks, causing extensive hair loss that compromises their insulation in late winter when temperatures are still cold. Anemia from blood loss weakens calves that are simultaneously experiencing their most energetically demanding winter. This prolonged debilitation before death represents significant, climate-driven animal suffering.

What You Can Do

Support aggressive climate policy as the primary intervention for tick-driven moose welfare
Donate to moose population monitoring programs in the northeastern US and Canada
Learn about climate-wildlife health interactions to understand emerging welfare crises
Advocate for research funding on tick-borne wildlife disease in a changing climate
Follow New Hampshire Fish and Game moose health research programs