Essential Solutions: Balsam Fir Oil as a Way to Reduce Tick Infestations on Moose
Grace Moeggenborg, an applied ecology and environmental science student, is searching for a way to reduce winter tick populations using essential oil from balsam fir trees native to the region.
Ticks make moose miserable. A single animal can acquire 20,000 ticks or more in a year, and once they're established, the parasites hang on. Infestations can cause anemia and malnutrition due to blood loss, and the itchy bites prompt moose to overgroom, which leads to coat loss and cold exposure. Warmer temperatures mean winter ticks are more abundant, causing problems for the moose population, including those on nearby Isle Royale.
"This research aims to pave the way for an organic and environmentally friendly solution for the plight of winter ticks on moose," said Moeggenborg. "Balsam fir essential oil has previously been shown to be effective in killing black-legged ticks. We wanted to find out if it is effective against winter ticks as well, since that could have big implications for moose conservation."
Learn more about Grace's research and experiences working with faculty mentors during her time at Tech.
