Moose with Ticks

Lately, environmentalists, residents, and tourists from New Hampshire to Minnesota have been distraught over the relatively sudden decline of their iconic lone herbivore, the moose. Theories were raised—have wolves killed off the population? Over-hunting? Disease?

The answer? Ticks.

Conservationists have repeatedly found moose who have chewed off chunks of fur, exposing pale skin, abraded and pocked with sometimes over 100,000 plump winter ticks. These “zombie-moose” are quite literally sucked dry of blood, only to fade away, anemic, weak, and manic from the thousands of parasites biting at their skin. Given that moose are solitary animals, they end up dying alone deep in the woods, making them difficult to find for scientific research.

Typically, along the southern fringe of American moose territory, long, snowy winters keep the moose population abundant and ticks in check. But with global warming, the balance is tipping. Deer, who can live in warmer climates, have evolved to constantly groom, a practice ridding them of excessive parasites.  Moose however, don't have this instinctual habit and have not been given the time to develop it.

I heard this story first on PBS Newshour, and was immediately hooked. I love the mystery of it—the allure of a silent killer—and resounding shock and disgust of a harmful species gluttonous and cheering at our warming planet. The threat to us is real.  Ticks spread disease, as do many other parasitic creatures.  As their numbers rise, the possibility of getting bit and infected by a virus or bacteria will surely increase. 

Perhaps it's time to shed the imagery of polar bears and icebergs and adopt a new poster-child for global warming: pests and parasites—the silent and stealthy vectors of disease.

"Moose with Ticks" 48x26 inch, oil on canvas

Hope you enjoy the painting!  I will post my preliminary drawings later...I left my sketchbook in Georgia...it's currently in the mail on its way back to me. 

Here is the PBS Newshour clip: