Nature has its own miniscule horde of bloodthirsty Draculas - the killer moose tick - that's destroyed 75 percent of the moose population in New Hampshire and is threatening moose herds in neighboring states and Canada.

The infamous moose tick or winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) only preys on moose. At 15 millimeters in length, this tiny killer makes up for its puny size by attacking moose (Alces alces) by the thousands. Wildlife experts say up to 80,000 ticks can attack a single moose and suck-up so much blood the moose suffers greatly then dies in agony.

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"It doesn't bode well for moose in the long term if we continue to have these short winters," said moose biologist Kristine Rines.

Experts say D. albipictus might be responsible for the sharp drop in the Eastern moose population throughout the southern half of their habitat.

Winter ticks thrive in milder and short winters such as those prevalent today because of climate change. New data also show 2015 was the second straight year moose calves suffered from a high mortality rate. But there's a twisted advantage to the large numbers of moose calves dying.

"As our moose numbers decline, the ticks will decline, as well," Rines said. "What we don't know is at what point will things level off."

Ticks weaken moose and make them vulnerable to starvation and attacks by wolves. Tick numbers are rising because of warm springs, warm summers and warm autumns. Five of the past six summers (2001-2006) have been the hottest summers in the history of a project studying these ticks.

Moose ticks, however, don't carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Experts claim meat from infested moose and other animals can be eaten as long as they're cooked well.

Tagsmoose tick, moose, New Hampshire