Ticks cause record moose death in Maine

Moose in rural Maine are experiencing a record high death rate due to a massive tick infestation. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife says that after collaring 70 moose (Alces alces) calves last winter, 60 had died by the beginning of May. That’s an 86% mortality rate—the highest since the agency started keeping records. Biologists say longer falls and shorter winters are moose to accumulate more winter ticks—tens of thousands of them—which can bleed the animals to death.

Read more from the Associated Press.