Last Update: August 2000
Author: F. A. Leighton
Reviewer: W.M. Samuel (August 2000)
It is impossible accurately to count the ticks on an animal's skin simply by going over the skin and counting them one by one. To determine the number of Winter Ticks on the hide of a moose or other animal, the hide must be removed in its entirety and then either digested completely in chemicals that will dissolve the skin and hair but not the ticks, or divided into identical pieces and a random sample of the pieces dissolved and the ticks counted. The hides must be collected under conditions which cause the ticks to remain attached until the counting procedure is underway. Otherwise, some ticks will drop off the dead animal or hide, and the count will not be accurate.
Accurate counting of ticks thus requires equipment and expertise. A detailed description of the technique is given in the following reference. The authors of this paper may provide guidance and advice if contacted.
Welch, D.A. and W.M. Samuel. 1989. Evaluation of random sampling for estimating density of winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) on moose (Alces alces) hides. International Journal of Parasitology 19: 691-693.