Moose calves die in New Hampshire as ticks feed on them during short winters

[HuckleB]

http://nhv.us/content/16056238-moose-calves-die-new-hampshire-ticks-feed-them-during-short

"The fight between moose and ticks in New Hampshire has become a serious issue as almost 75% of 36 moose calves, which were part of a New Hampshire project, have died due to tick attack. Winter ticks are killers that breed in shorter and milder winters. Therefore, if shorter winters continue in future, moose death is inevitable.

During short winters, ticks latch onto moose and feed on them. A moose offer feeding ground to up to 75,000 ticks on its body. The moose become week when spring comes and they starve to death. When their host dies, ticks look for another host to feed on. The data collected through project revealed that this year is the second to have a high mortality rate for moose calves.

According to moose biologist Kristine Rines, the lower number of moose also means less density of ticks as they rely on these calves' population to survive. The reducing population of moose somehow benefits them. However, the biologists are not aware about when their numbers become proportionate.

"The winter tick is on the moose all winter up until right now when moose are molting and shedding their winter coat and so the three life stages, larvae, nymph and adult are all operating at the moose, taking blood meals on those three occasions", said Maine's moose biologist Lee Kantar.

..."

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[petronius]

1. Well that's gruesome and fascinating

Here's an article from last year, with some (graphic!) pictures and more details on other things stressing the moose population.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/06/150601-ghost-moose-animals-science-new-england-environment/

It's confusing me a bit, though: when I read about the life cycle of the winter tick, it sounds as though they'd be dropping off in spring anyway, to lay eggs, which develop and hatch over the summer. I wonder if the issue is not that they're seeking a second host, but rather than more of the females (and their eggs) are surviving to boost the hatch at the end of summer, and thus a more devastating infestation the following winter...

[HuckleB]

2. It could be.

The fact that they can live even a day longer seems like that might be possible. Thanks for the NG piece. Very interesting.

[malaise]

3. The moose become week when spring comes

Good grief - they mean weak!

[HuckleB]

5. I've given up. Copy editors don't exist any more, I suspect.

[joeybee12]

4. Sucks...thank you global warming deniers

Poor babies...a group of kittens I rescued in October were covered in ticks...this was October, usually not the time for them.

[HuckleB]

6. It's crazy, and it's only getting more bizarre.

The Cascades had about five percent of their normal snow the Winter of 2014-15. Thus, we went backpacking to one of our favorite mountain lakes in June. Normally, we would have traversed over snow for most of the trek, but the snow that was left was about what one would expect in September. And there were very few mosquitoes at a time when they are usually just ramping up.

Sure, I took advantage of being able to hit the mountain lakes in June and July, but it's not good.