BODY TEMPERATURE OF CAPTIVE MOOSE INFESTED WITH WINTER TICKS

Authors

  • Edward M. Addison Ecolink Science 107 Kennedy Street West Aurora, ON L4G 2L8
  • Robert F. McLaughlin R.R. #3, Penetanguishene, ON L0K 1P0
  • Peter A. Addison Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northwest Region, Regional Operations Division, 173 25th Sideroad, Rosslyn, ON P7K 0B9

Keywords:

Physiology, Disease

Abstract

Eighteen captive moose calves (Alces alces) were divided into 3 groups that represented 3 levels of winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) infestation (0, 21,000, and 42,000 ticks). A total of 321 body temperatures (Tb) were taken on 19 occasions between late November and mid-April. The mean Tb of individuals was 38.2 ± 0.4 °C, ranging from 38.0–38.3 °C, and was not different among the control and infested groups (P = 0.816), but varied temporally (P < 0.001) with a significant interaction effect between treatment and time (P = 0.041); these temporal differences are unexplained. The Tbs measured in this study are some of the lowest reported for moose and presumably represent the resting Tb of free-ranging moose, more so than those measured after pursuit, restraint, and/or immobilization during capture. This was not a definitive test of the effects of tick infestation on wild moose because the captive moose consumed a high quality diet throughout winter and surprisingly low numbers of ticks remained on the animals in mid-April.

Author Biographies

Edward M. Addison, Ecolink Science 107 Kennedy Street West Aurora, ON L4G 2L8

Robert F. McLaughlin, R.R. #3, Penetanguishene, ON L0K 1P0

Peter A. Addison, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northwest Region, Regional Operations Division, 173 25th Sideroad, Rosslyn, ON P7K 0B9

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Published

2014-08-25

How to Cite

Addison, E. M., McLaughlin, R. F., & Addison, P. A. (2014). BODY TEMPERATURE OF CAPTIVE MOOSE INFESTED WITH WINTER TICKS. Alces, 50, 81–86. Retrieved from https://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/122

Issue

Vol. 50 (2014)

Section

Articles

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