Sad about the moose

That's a good point. Not sure if it's applicable to this species of tick but for ticks in general it's been speculated as such, particularly in regards to the incidence of Lyme disease.

One caveat, the situation in Alberta may not reflect the situation elsewhere. There may indeed be a tick epidemic in other provinces or areas in the US.

 

"Moose living in northern states such as New Hampshire and Minnesota face an increased threat from blood-feeding ticks and deer-borne parasites because of shorter winters caused by climate change, U.S. wildlife officials say."

"Winter ticks account for 41 percent of all deaths of the antlered animal popular with hunters and wildlife watchers in New Hampshire -- the same percentage killed there by hunting and moose-vehicle collisions, according to a study released this week by the state's Fish and Game Department."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/18/us-moose-ticks-idUSTRE75H1UJ20110618

Now one could argue that Winter Ticks have always survived through the winter because they have been documented on moose since the 1800's. Personally, although I do believe their numbers are increasing due to milder, shorter winters that's not my point. My point is that we need to do something (enviornmentally sound) about it. I care about the suffering endured by our precious wildlife. Ticks make moose anemic and crazy (brain swelling) and obviously distress the animals.