Wildlife Disease

Tick-Borne Diseases and Wildlife Host Welfare

Tick-borne diseases cause significant suffering in wildlife hosts, with climate change expanding the geographic range and season of tick activity.

Key Facts

White-tailed deer, birds, and small mammals are primary wildlife hosts for Ixodes ticks
Heavy tick burdens cause anemia, hair loss, and immune suppression in moose and deer
Moose in some Canadian populations carry up to 90,000 ticks simultaneously — a lethal burden
Climate change has extended tick activity seasons by 3 to 4 weeks across temperate zones
Tick paralysis — caused by tick saliva toxins — kills thousands of wild birds annually

Welfare Considerations

Tick infestations cause prolonged suffering that is invisible to casual observers. Animals carrying thousands of ticks experience chronic blood loss and immune stress for months. Climate-driven expansion of tick ranges means this welfare burden is growing. Management tools include prescribed burns and targeted acaricide treatments in high-impact areas.

What You Can Do

Support habitat management programs that reduce tick population density in wildlife areas
Advocate for climate policy that limits warming and thus constrains tick range expansion
Report moose with visible hair loss in winter to wildlife agencies as a potential tick burden indicator