This moose was seen walking in circles around a pole for 5 minutes
Biologist says moose likely experiencing neurological problems caused by parasite
Most people do not start their day filming a moose walking around a light post for five minutes.
But the CBC's Jordan Gill, up earlier than most for his shift with Information Morning Fredericton on Friday, saw the strange behaviour from his home in Red Rock, near Stanley, N.B., and filmed it on his phone.
CBC shared the video, over six minutes long, with some wildlife experts.
Graham Forbes, a biologist with the University of New Brunswick, said the moose in the video is likely experiencing "moose sickness," or neurological problems caused by a parasite that gets into the moose's spinal cord and brain.
"They get into moose and cause debilitating loss of mobility," he said.
The worm-like parasite, Forbes said, is usually long, slightly thicker than a hair, and is part of the nematode group. Likely introduced to New Brunswick in the 1940s through the white-tailed deer, moose have not evolved with immunity to the parasite.
This
photo of brain worms in a container at a research lab at Acadia
University is what a parasite in a moose's body could look like. (Submitted by Willow Bennett)
The worm gets into the moose's body by accident and bad luck, Forbes said. It happens when the moose is feeding on vegetation and consumes a snail carrying the eggs of the parasite. The larvae then hatch, and the worm gets into the moose's organs and tissue, and eventually the brain and spinal cord.
That can affect the moose's mobility and motor functions.
"They're known for going in circles," Forbes said.
"Sometimes you'll see a circle on the ground where they're just spinning because they can't stand up, and they keep going in a circle but sort of half lying down," he said.
"It's quite difficult to watch."
Moose in video looks underfed, biologist says
Forbes said if people encounter a moose exhibiting similar behaviour, they should keep their distance and report the animal to the Department of Natural Resources, who are equipped to euthanize the animal.
"It's the only humane thing that can be done," Forbes said, adding there's nothing that can be done for a moose in this state — it will either starve or wander out onto a road, potentially hurting itself and drivers.
Nicolas Lecomte, a biology professor at the Université de Moncton, said a parasite could be the cause for the moose's strange behaviour, but that a lack of social interaction or other neurological issues could be at play.
He compared this to animals in captivity, which will sometimes show repetitive behaviour because of a lack of stimuli.
The moose in the video, though, looks unhealthy and underfed, Lecomte said.
"For the middle of winter, usually they're quite replenished in their fat resources."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Jordan Gill
Jimmy Cochrane
More likely a glyphosate overdose.
Eddy Geek
Reply to Jimmy Cochrane
The circling behaviour is not at all a symptom of ingesting glyphosate
John Brown
Maybe Bullwinkle found some "un-harvested plants" to chow down on...s'pose?
I's retired...freaking YAY!!! :-)
Brian Dufoe.
Good thing there was only one pole.
Brian Dufoe
I know the feeling,
Reply to Joe Lawbreaker
Poptarts flew off the shelves yesterday ,
Big sales,
David Amos
Reply to Brian Dufoe
No doubt there was run on butter tarts as well
I wish you hadnt mentioned buttertarts,
Made with maple syrup,yummy
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