That poor moose looks like he's been infested by winter ticks. They can literally bleed an adult moose to death. It is common in the Alberta moose population. I have a book here by Dr. Bill Samuel, White as a Ghost: Winter Ticks and Moose. Bill was the chairman of the wildlife biology department at the University of Alberta, now retired I believe. His brother, Dr. Dave Samuel, was the chairman of the wildlife biology department at either Virginia or West Virginia. I can't remember which. Winter ticks will work together in loose cooperation. For example they will form a chain by one tick holding another, and another, and another until they are a couple of inches long. When a suitable moose walks under them, the last tick grabs on and they all infest the poor creature.
