The Ely miner., 1931-05-08
MOOSE EXAMINED
REPORT To FOLLOW
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE RECENT
INVESTIGATION OF MOOSE ALL
MENTS IN THIS SECTION OF
MINN.-COMPLETE REPORT TO
BE MADE LATER.

The Miner is in receipt Of signed
account of the moose investigation
made by VIM T. Jellison, OF the div
ision of Entomology and Economic
Zoology and R. Fensternmacher of the
division of Veterinary Medicine of the
University Farm and Minnesota Live
Stock Board. A more complete report
will be made to the State Game and
Fish Commission in the near future.
The story of their work is given ver-
batim as written over the signatures
of the gentlemen and reads as follows:
"on Saturday, April Is, accompanied
by Ralph T. King, we arrived at Ely
TO make a brief study Of moose dis
eases that have been reported in this
district.
The Office and laboratory of DR.. j.
E. Thompson were placed at our dis
posal District Warden Hanson as
sisted in organizing trip into the
Newfound Lake region and detailed
John Linklater as guide. Through his
ability as guide and hunter We were
able to observe and examine game
animals and obtain valuable material
for study.
The investigation by the University
of Minnesota was brought about
through the efforts of Warden Hanson
and other local residents who have OBJ
served and reported many cases Of sick
moose during the late winter and
spring months. Several dead animals
have been forwarded to the Veterinary
Division, University Farm for eXamin-
alton No definite diagnosis could be
made from these carcases. It seemed
necessary to examine the animals IN
the field to determine what factors are
responsible for the condition. Valu
able assistance in previous examina-
tons has been given by Dr.. Thompson
whose findings and suggestions have
facilitated the present work.
Several moose that were heavily
tick infested were examined as
thoroughly as patient might be at
large hospital. This included study
of blood smears, blood counts, search
for external and internal parasites and
microscopic study of internal organs.
"AIl moose examined were practic-
ally bare and in poor condition which
may IN part be expected at this season.
PoSt-mortem examinations showed
countless numbers of ticks attached to
the animals. These Winter or Moose
ticks varied in size from fax seeds to
marbles according to the amount of
blood they had withdrawn and the
stage of development. The largest
ticks which are engorged females drop
to the ground, lay eggs and die. The
eggs soon hatch into very small larval
ticks. These must attach to other
warmblooded animals to feed and COM
plete their development. Their de-
velopment in nature requires at least
a year.
Further study than can be COM
pleted at this spring season is neces-
sary in order to determine what
animals these ticks may infest. Deer,
horses, cattle and any large animals
may be infested but we were unable to
obtain ticks from domestic stock in
this district neither could definite re-
ports of ticks on stock be obtained
from the local farmers.
Three ailments besides ticks have
been found among the moose ex-
amined, any one of which is sufficient
to cause death in domestic animals
Deer were attacked by five different
parasites. This proves that moose and
other wild animals may suffer from
many rather than one disease. The
material collected must receive care
full study at the laboratories at the
University Farm before a complete re-
port of the findings of this trip can be
made"