Winter Tick Observation Network

Help us to map the range of winter ticks!

Winter ticks are blood-feeding parasites that are commonly found on large deer species, such as moose, elk, caribou or deer. In large numbers, these ticks can have negative impacts on wildlife health. As many as 50,000 ticks feeding on a single moose over the winter may cause loss of hair and blood that may prove fatal. The Winter Tick Observation Network aims to map where, when and on which host animals winter ticks are found throughout their range in North America.

We are looking for all sightings of winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus):
- off host : as larvae, visible on vegetation (grass, shrubs) from August to November
- on host : patchy hair on moose, elk, caribou, deer in March - May may be due to winter tick infestation.

Winter ticks will likely do well with climate change - milder, wetter conditions and longer snow-free winters increase their survival, and give them longer to find a host to feed on. By submitting observations of winter ticks or their impacts to iNaturalist, you can help us to better understand where these ticks are now, where they could be in the future, and what level of impact they have on North America's big deer species. menos ↑