One Of The Smallest Things In Mi Is A Big Problem For Moose

Growing Michigan's moose population in the Upper Peninsula is tough with predators like wolves, bears, and cougars. One tiny menace is becoming a big issue for moose.

Michigan's Moose Population

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been trying to grow the moose population in the Upper Peninsula to 1,000 since the 1980s. The estimated population of moose in the U.P. is around 426.

It is tough to grow a moose population when you have apex predators like gray wolves, black bears, and cougars that love to eat them. The big problem is that predators mainly prey on moose calves. It's so bad in Canada that they beg American hunters to hunt black bears and offer cheap tags.

The DNR has attached GPS tracking devices to several Michigan moose, which is helping researchers learn more about their behavior and survival. The collars allow the DNR to fly drones with thermal sensing units to capture images of the animals.

Read More: Michigan DNR Reports Slow Moose Growth

Recently, the DNR captured images of collared moose that were showing signs of another problem.

Tiny Michigan Pest Poses Big Threat to Moose

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Facebook page, winter ticks which are much smaller than black bears, gray wolves, and cougars, can cause big problems for mooose. A winter tick is different because they spend their lifetime feeding off one animal and don't switch hosts like the normal ticks you may find on your dog.

Winter ticks can cause a moose to lose their winter coats which can lead to freezing. It is much worse for moose calves who depend on their thick fur to help them get through the winter.

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Winter ticks don't carry disease but the itching causes the moose to chew off their fur in an attempt to remove them. A moose could have thousands of ticks on it all at once, and without that insulation in the winter months can lead to death.

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