Observation by Mike Brubaker:
I took these photos of a moose that was foraging on willows in South Anchorage. It caught my eye because it had large white patches on both sides of its body. I was wondering if this was a natural, shedding cycle, or perhaps scarring from an injury or something else. I know that deer and moose will rub to address irritation and also that we are to keep our eyes open for invasive ticks in Alaska. So I try to pay attention to the condition of moose when I see them.
Bob Gerlach, State Veterinarian with Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, writes:
You are right there may be many things that could cause hair loss from normal shedding to rubbing/scratching on trees or other objects. The rubbing could be from repeatedly walking in restricted or narrow passage or the results of a skin irritation due to a substance the animal was exposed to or an infestation with an ectoparasites like a tick or ked. In some cases, hair loss can be associated with a nutritional deficiency or imbalance or hormonal problem. The hair loss can cause stress on the animal, hypothermia, and weight loss resulting in lowering its natural defenses against other diseases. Winter tick infestations are a big concern here because they have caused problems in Canada, the Northeast part of the US and the upper mid-west ). So the Dept of Fish and Game is on the lookout for this parasite in Alaska. Moose with heavy winter tick infestations groom vigorously by licking, biting, or scratching against a tree, which results in severe hair loss that can lead to decreased fat reserves and in extreme cases, hypothermia and death. Winter ticks (and the associated hair loss), plus normal winter coat shedding is what make moose appear “scraggly” in the spring. Anyone seeing moose with significant hair loss, especially with other signs of abnormal behavior or weakness and weight loss should notify ADF&G or our office.
Comments from LEO Editors:
Related post by B. Holter Jr. on May 1, 2012 was first hairloss event (LEO) recorded in Southeast Alaska. Kimberlee Beckmen with ADF&G writes: "It is not uncommon to get reports of patches of hairloss in deer. The reports have not seemed to increase recently but are sporadic each spring. When we get access to an affected animal we will check for potential causes such as invasive, exotic ectoparasites including moose winter tick or exotic lice that may spread to Alaska with the changing climate and animal movements."
"There is a syndrome on Vancouver Island and into Washington and Oregon deer called hairloss syndrome. In our deer I think they have adapted over time to some degree so although some times the deer die from exposure and poor body condition, most live and grow new coats," writes, Dr. Helen Schwantje, DVM from the BC FW&HM.
Bill Jex, B.C. FLNR writes: >We haven’t had any reports of severe tick infections on our coastal black-tails or our inland mule & white-tailed deer; that’s not saying there isn’t any parasitism, but it’s not at a level where we are hearing about wildlife health issues or die-offs."
A similar occurrence was recorded in Washington State by the Department of Fish & Wildlife, Conservation Wildlife Health post, "Hair Loss Syndrome" caused by exotic lice (HLS), Deer "Hair Loss Syndrome" Fact Sheet published April 2010. Mike Brubaker and Moses Tcheripanoff
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