The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife reports that winter tick infestations once again took a heavy toll on the state’s yearling moose. Collared moose calves showed a 72% mortality rate this year due to tick infestation, despite hopes that last year’s drought would reduce the population of these harmful parasites.

The winter tick population has increased dramatically in recent decades due to the warming climate. As a result, young moose can experience anemia when infested by tens of thousands of ticks. Large numbers of ticks can also reduce fertility in female moose.