Cervid
Guides
Dermacentor albipictus
winter tick, moose tick
Dermacentor albipictus, commonly known as the winter tick or moose tick, is a one-host hard tick native to North America. It is primarily known as a serious pest of moose (Alces alces), with heavy infestations of up to 150,000 ticks documented on individual animals, often leading to death. The tick also parasitizes other cervids including elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and caribou, as well as cattle and horses. Unlike many tick species, D. albipictus is not known to transmit disease pathogens to humans, wildlife, or domestic animals. Its life cycle spans approximately one year, with all feeding stages occurring on a single host.