Found where a moose gave birth today

Yea. That all makes sence. I found no ticks though where most of the blood was. You would think you would find some there. That would be a terrible way to go.:(

I am curious now. How long of a cold spell would it take to kill off the ticks that are on the body? We went though a good cold spell here and is just warming up now.
 
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Tick as a brick

Ticks for sure. We've had some terrible infestations through Algonquin park--one of the area's moose population reservoirs--iin years past. I'm not so sure warm spells instigate the build-up although they sure don't help.
Any deer in the moose yards?
Ticks seem to be a serious threat to Wintering moose but why does it seem to be periodic? Probably a combination of contributing factors. Sure wish we could help reduce the infestation levels some.
 
Ticks

If I recall the sequence correctly tick eggs are deposited in or on the ground. The hatch may go through a larval stage (I'm uncertain) and emerge as the insect when snow melt occurs and crawl up on grass stems until an animal wanders brush by and they attach themselves to the animal. Early thaws speed up their emergence and if the weather changes to very cold weather following their emergence you have makings of a serious kill of the host species.

I doubt if they are killed by cold weather after they are attached to the animal and using it's body heat. Perhaps they also build up anti freeze similar to pine beetles but that is conjecture on my part as I've seen no study on the subject although one may exist.

My best guess is that ground fires hot enough to kill the eggs are the natural control.
 
if the mating season is in late november, hardly can be a mommy moose gestating for only so short.

ticks or other... wounded by some animal. Bipeds who poach ?
 
Your moose has moose ticks very bad will probably kill it I have seen them on Elk that heavy. These ticks get bad this time of year and have been know to actually kill. The only way she should be calving know is if some one in the area has been feeding her over the winter it will speed up the justation period at least that is what happened to the elk where they are being fed according to the MNR. I wonder if it might have something like brain worm? Or something?????
 
hunt365 said:
I wonder if it might have something like brain worm? Or something?????
Click to expand...

My first thought as well. The walking in circles bit is what made me think brain worm immediately, could also explain the blood spray (coughing) as well as the hair loss and the bedding so often (most likely falling down due to loss of balance control)
 
From your photos, there is good evidence of a heavy Moose (or Winter) Tick
(Dermacentor albapictus) infestation.

Try an internet search of 'Moose Tick' ... you should find a Minnesota DNR site with a very helpful explanation, as well as a couple of other good sites with photos, maps etc.
 
Definitely a really bad tick infection. Always feel sorry for the poor moose. Those that get it really bad almost certainly die, as they scrape away much of their fur, leaving bare, raw skin...lose their insulation and add in a cold snap and you have one hypothermic moose that freezes to death. Hard way to go. I'm glad we don't have that bad a tick problem here in Newfoundland. One benefit to a cold, wet climate!
 
You might want to call in the MNR to go with you and get samples they always have students doing studies of one sort or another. It would be worth the phone call and if you do let us know the response.
Good luck
 
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