The overall prevalence of the winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) within moose (Alces alces) populations can vary among years (Addison et al. 2016, Samuel 2004), mostly dependent on spring snow levels, air temperatures, early autumn snowfall events, and moose densities.
Historic observations of winter tick infestations in British Columbia (BC) is mostly anecdotal, and there is little known about the distribution, severity, and population-level impacts of winter tick on BC moose populations. The Provincial Moose Winter Tick Surveillance Program was established to document winter tick distribution and infestation severity within the province through the use of “citizen-science”. Now in its third consecutive year, the program continues to engage a wide variety of user groups to collect observations of moose throughout the province.
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