The Downfall of the Moose

            Weighing between 800 and 1,200 pounds, moose are quite tough for most animals to take down. That is why once they reach adulthood they have few natural predators. It is estimated that between 500 and 1000 moose currently call the Adirondack Mountains their home. Unfortunately, this figure is dropping because of global warming. Warming temperatures account for longer summers and shorter winters, allowing ticks and parasites more time to reproduce and latch onto moose. While large predators such as wolves and coyotes have a difficult time bringing down a gargantuan moose, it is actually quite easy for ticks and parasites, especially with the assistance of humans.

            It has been scientifically accepted that humans are contributing to our planet’s warming. Temperatures have risen in the past years, polar ice caps are melting at extreme rates, greenhouse gas emissions are rising, and more extreme storms and weather and now standard. Unfortunately for moose, these effects are proving to be deadly, with little sign of improvement. Moose thrive in cold climates with abundant fresh water such as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, upstate New York, Minnesota, and Wyoming. Alas, as global warming has been making summers longer and winters shorter, moose are losing a high percentage of their habitat and experiencing numerous consequences. Longer warm seasons allow for ticks and parasites to latch onto moose and remain there into the winter. As cold weather mammals, moose are not adapt to handle numerous parasites, as they like to spend most of their lives in extremely cold weather where parasites cannot survive, but as temperatures warm, deer are beginning to invade moose territory. Usually deep, thick snows have kept deer and moose populations separate, but with a lack of snowfall, deer are starting to co-mingle with moose. Along with increased competition for food and resources, deer bring warm weather parasites that they are better suited to handle. These parasites usually live within deer without any repercussions, but moose have been reacting much more adversely to these parasites. One parasite in particular, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, or brain worm has been especially deadly, causing moose to become brain dead and either die as easy prey or from lack of food and water. Ticks have also been a major dilemma for the moose community, covering some moose from head to toe and sucking all the blood off of moose. The moose cannot eat enough to maintain adequate nutrition levels and end up cannibalizing their own muscle as they slowly die.

As global temperatures continue to rise, parasite and tick populations will only grow, further endangering the livelihood of moose in the ADK and across the country. The only feasible solution at this time is to reduce deer populations in moose habitats, and control the breeding of ticks. Ultimately, the future of the moose, the largest species in the deer family, rests on the ability for us to assuage the impacts of warming temperatures, while dispelling parasites that currently are rampant among moose. It does not look bright for the majestic moose, which is likely to be one of the many casualties of our ever-warming planet.

Works Cited

Carey, John. "The Deepening Mystery of Moose Decline." National Wildlife Federation. N.p., 29 Sept. 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.

"Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know?" Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.

Iacurci, Jenna. "Moose Die-Offs Prompt Population Count in Adirondacks." Nature World News RSS. N.p., 01 Dec. 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.

"Moose." Wilderness Classroom. N.p., 29 Nov. 2008. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.

Xu, Daniel. "Warm Winter Results in Tick Infestation, “Ghost Moose” in Idaho." OutdoorHub. N.p., 12 Apr. 2015. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.