A moose die-off is currently occurring in North America as drastic declines have been predicted in most locations throughout North America.
The decline in the moose population has been linked to two culprits: Lyme disease and climate change.
Ticks are usually a bigger problem when the weather is warmer, but the last decade or so fall and spring has gotten warmer every year, meaning ticks are an issue almost the entire year, according to CBS News.
The winter tick has also been spreading more than ever in the wild, and states like Minnesota are crediting the winter bug as the reason for the decline in moose population in their state.
Since 20 years ago, the moose population has decline from around 4,000 to 100 in Minnesota.
Researchers have blamed climate change for the population increase in ticks, according to Lymedisease.org.
"(Ticks) reproduce in greater numbers if there's less snow on the ground by spring," said the website in a statement about the moose die-off.
The animals are living with an increased number of ticks on their bodies, which can cause them to become anemic, according to The New York Times.
Ticks can bother an animal so much that they tear off large patches of hair to try getting rid of the pest, causing them to lose their coats, increasing the chance of suffering from hypothermia.
"You can get 100,000 ticks on a moose," Kristine Rines, a biologist with the state's Fish and Game Department, said to The New York Times.
Brain worms and liver flukes have also other issues reported, along with the increase in wolves and hunting in certain locations. Moose hunting has been suspended in some states due to its decline in population.
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