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Dermacentor albipictus, the winter tick, is a species of hard tick that is an external parasite of moose (Alces alces) in North America. Heavy infestations of up to 75,000 ticks have been seen on single moose, and can lead to the death of the animal.

There is evidence that the winter tick may be responsible for a steep decline in the Eastern moose population throughout the southern half of their range. copied from article

Sources to use

http://www.isleroyalewolf.org/node/44

http://wildlifedisease.unbc.ca/winter_tick.htm

http://nrri.d.umn.edu/moose/information/WinterTick.html

https://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/english/wildlife/wildlife-habitats/winter-tick.jsp

https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/tickid/maine-tick-species/winter-tick-or-moose-tick/

http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/157/200

Description
The tick measures up to 15 mm. And is reddish brown in color.

Life Cycle
The life cycle of the dermacentor albipictus last for about a year, and is a single host tick. This means that the entire life cycle of the tick (larvae, nymphs, and adults) all happen on a single host animal. First, in late summer larvae hatch from eggs. Then after laying dormant for sometime they start to crawl up and group in clusters on vegetation up to 1.25 m in height. This allow them to get on to animals that pass by. They then start to feed on the host they latch on to. While on this host the larvae goes through the stages of nymphs and then finally transform into an adult. During late winter the ticks mate, and blood filled females drop off the host to lay their eggs and die.

Effect on Isle Royale
The tick has not only effects moose on Isle Royale, but also other wildlife that can be connected with the moose. In 2001 the moose abundance was around 1200, but due to the tick the moose abundance fell to around 400 in 2007. With the decrease moose population, the main food source of the moose various shrubs species and balsam fir seen an increase in abundance. This decrease in moose population caused an increase in wolf population.