Moose Winter Tick Surveillance

Engagement Summary

The BC Wildlife Health Program was again asking for help assessing the effects of winter ticks on the province’s moose population as part of its annual moose winter tick surveillance program.

The program relies on observations from wildlife professionals, wildlife enthusiasts and the public to:

• Document and map the distribution of winter ticks in moose in B.C. and;
• Estimate the severity of winter tick infestations within moose populations across the province.

Additional background information is available on the moose winter tick program page.

Engagement Timeframe

January 1, 2019 to April 30, 2019 & January 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020

Input Received – 2020

• 268 Online surveys
• 123 Electronic PDF surveys
• 35 Mobile phone application surveys

Input Received – 2019

• 322 Online surveys
• 98 Electronic PDF surveys
• 92 Mobile phone application surveys

Input leads to action:

The findings of the surveillance program will contribute to the Provincial Moose Research Program, which was initiated in 2013 to investigate factors influencing moose populations in British Columbia. Results will also support the BC Wildlife Health Program in establishing a baseline measure of the extent of winter tick infestation in B.C.’s moose population.