Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose)
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INTEGRATING HABITAT USE AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF MOOSE IN NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
No full textThe New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the University of New Hampshire initiated research in northern New Hampshire to better understand population dynamics and seasonal habitat use of a moose population that has apparently stabilized, despite optimal habitat and modest harvest levels. In total, 94 moose were captured by helicopter (81 net-gunned and 13 tranquilized) in December 2001-2003 and 2 were darted at salt-licks in July of 2002. Capture mortality attributed to myopathy and injury was 4%. In comparison to measured reproduction during capture (63 and 100%), our ability to measure pregnancy by direct observations (69 and 100%) was validated in 2002-2003. Production was 0.82 and 0.85 calves per adult cow; rate of twinning was 20 and 10%. Calf mortality 2 months post-partum was similar (26 and 27%) each year. Annual mortality of adult/yearling moose was 27 and 12%. Hunting and vehicle collision mortality was 4 (all adult cows) and 6% (all calves but 1) each year. High annual winter calf mortality (38-43%) in late March and early April was associated with the combined effects of malnutrition and winter tick/lung nematodes. Winter home range size was not restricted, and composition of available habitat was similar across seasons although overlap was minimal between seasons. Consideration of habitat and population dynamics data suggests that both density dependent and independent factors could be influencing the study population
HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF SHIRAS MOOSE IMMOBILIZED WITH THIAFENTANIL
No full textSeventy-three (30 male, 43 female) free-ranging adult Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi) were captured in southeastern and northwestern Wyoming, blood sampled, and radio-collared in 2004 and 2005. Moose were darted from the ground and air using 10 mg thiafentanil. Blood samples were analyzed for hematology, serum chemistry, cortisol, and bacterial and viral serology. Selected serum chemical parameters and cortisol were analyzed as indicators of physical exertion or physiological stress and none of these parameters suggested that moose were stressed as a result of capture. Hematologic parameters were considered within normal limits. Moose were serologically negative for Brucella, Leptospira, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, parainfluenza-3 virus, and bovine respiratory syncytial virus. Fecal and ear swab analysis and examination of the moose indicated that they were relatively free of ecto- and endoparasites. Three moose died within 30 days of capture for reasons probably associated with the capture effort
HISTORY OF MOOSE MANAGEMENT IN WYOMING AND RECENT TRENDS IN JACKSON HOLE
No full textMoose are believed to have entered Wyoming from Montana and Idaho within the past 150 years. Moose did not become established in Jackson Hole until the early 1900s. In 1903, the Wyoming State Legislature closed moose hunting seasons. In 1908, agency reports indicate moose were distributed along the Tetons, the upper Yellowstone River, and at the head of the Green River. By 1912, population estimates increased to 500 moose and the hunting season was reopened. Moose began to occupy portions of the Wind River Range during the 1930s and became quite numerous by the 1960s. Moose were first introduced in the Bighorn Mountains in 1948. Moose moved into the Medicine Bow Mountains from Colorado in the 1980s. Moose presently occupy habitats in western, north central, and southeastern Wyoming. Statewide, managers recognize 14 distinct herd units. Each herd has a postseason population objective that is set according to biological, sociological, and political considerations. Population estimates are based on aerial surveys, hunter harvests, and age structure of the harvest. Check stations are utilized to monitor harvest rates and collect data from harvested animals along exit routes from popular hunting areas. Wyoming currently utilizes population modeling, indices, and in some cases sample estimates such as sightability models to estimate moose populations. The 2001 statewide population was estimated at approximately 13,657 moose. The statewide population objective is 14,650 moose. Hunting seasons in Wyoming are traditionally conservative and hunter success has generally remained in the 80–90% range. A harvest questionnaire is sent annually to all moose permit holders. Response is typically 80%. Harvest data are used to calculate hunter success, days of hunter effort per moose harvested, total harvest, and harvest composition. In 2001, a total of 1,379 hunters harvested 806 bulls, 337 cows, and 72 calves. These hunters had an 89% success rate and spent an average of 6.2 days hunting / animal harvested. In 2001, a total of 411 per moose. A restitution value of $7,500 for illegally taking moose has been established. Statewide, a total of 2,308 moose were classified in 4 herd units and the calf:cow ratio was 35 calves per 100 cows and the bull:cow ratio was 62 bulls per 100 cows. Statewide, populations have remained relatively stable, however, in the Jackson area moose populations have declined in recent years. License quotas have decreased from an average of 410 licenses during 1991 –1995 to 248 during 1999 – 2003. Calf:cow ratios declined from a 1963 – 1993 average of 48 calves:100 cows (SE=8.9) to a 1998 – 2003 average of 34:100 (SE=8.3) Low pregnancy and twinning rates have been reported in this herd. Habitat changes and predator population increases are thought to be contributing to this decline
AN EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF GLYPHOSATE HERBICIDE FOR WOODLAND CARIBOU HABITAT MANAGEMENT
No full textTwo studies evaluating the effects of glyphosate used for habitat management on caribou lichens and dwarf shrubs were undertaken. Glyphosate substantially reduced blueberry cover at all rates tested in both cutover and uncut areas. Glyphosate did not affect caribou lichen cover
ILLEGAL MOOSE KILL IN NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO: 1997 – 2002
No full textConservation Officers found 793 illegally killed moose in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Northeast Region during the period of 1997 – 2002. Of these illegally killed moose, 365 were abandoned. The majority of abandoned moose were a result of illegal harvesting, as 68% of all abandoned moose had signs of positive human interaction with the carcass. Three hundred and twenty moose (40%) spoiled and were unsuitable for human consumption. Bulls were illegally killed at a significantly higher proportion, and calves at a significantly lower proportion, than their respective availability in the herd structure. Cow moose are illegally killed proportional to their availability. Illegal moose kills were positively and significantly correlated with moose populations, the number of applicants for adult validation tags, and the number of hunters checked by Conservation Officers. The illegal moose kill has both an immediate and a long-term impact on the regional herd population. An estimated 613 moose were not recruited into the regional herd as a result of illegal harvesting. Moose Watch, a program to reduce the region’s illegal moose kill was initiated in 2000, and was expanded province-wide in 2001. A toll-free 24-hour violation reporting line was established, and received 387 calls over 3 years regarding illegal hunting violations for a wide variety of wildlife species. During the 6 years, Conservation Officers in the region contacted over 108,000 hunters, issued 3,064 warnings, and laid 2,580 charges while conducting moose hunt enforcement duties
RELATIVE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTIONS AND HABITAT USE PATTERNS OF SYMPATRIC MOOSE AND WHITE-TAILED DEER IN VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, MINNESOTA
No full textWe examined the distribution and home range characteristics of moose (Alces alces) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. Pellet count transects revealed low densities of moose and higher densities of white-tailed deer, and provided evidence of partial spatial segregation between moose and white-tailed deer possibly due to habitat heterogeneity. There was limited interspecific overlap in the relatively large annual home ranges of radio-collared moose and white-tailed deer. Both moose and white-tailed deer exhibited significant selection for spruce (Picea spp.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) vegetation types at the home range scale. White-tailed deer significantly selected a 12-20 m canopy height over all others while moose significantly selected 5-11 m and 21-30 m canopy heights over the 12-20 m canopy height. Moose significantly selected open/discontinuous canopy cover and white-tailed deer selected both closed/continuous and open/discontinuous canopy covers over dispersed/sparse canopy cover. Differential habitat selection between moose and white-tailed deer at Voyageurs National Park might be related to the differences between these species' abilities to cope with a northern mid-continental climate. Spatial segregation between moose and white-tailed deer at Voyageurs National Park may allow moose to persist despite the presence of meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) in white-tailed deer
RESPONSE OF A WINTERING MOOSE POPULATION TO ACCESS MANAGEMENT AND NO HUNTING – A MANITOBA EXPERIMENT
No full textWe report on an experiment undertaken in eastern Manitoba beginning in 1996, in which a moose population wintering in 62 km2 (24.2 mi2) was protected from hunting until September 2003. At the time of closure, it is speculated that about 37 (0.6/km2 (1.5/mi2)) moose wintered in the area based on aerial surveys and considering visibility bias. The closure was supported by the Eastern Region Committee for Moose Management, which is comprised of Manitoba Conservation staff, First Nation representatives from local communities, local hunting organizations, and other interest groups such as Tembec Manitoba Incorporated and the Manitoba Model Forest. Road access to the area was curtailed by using locked gates, millstones, and V-plowing a portion of the road in 2002. The area was surveyed from a helicopter on March 4, 2003, and 107 moose were counted in the closed area and again, based on visibility bias, it is speculated that about 142 moose (2.3/km2 (5.8/mi2)) were present. This experiment clearly demonstrates that moose will respond positively to access management and no hunting, and that V-plowing roadbeds is a useful technique for controlling access. The cost associated with such plowing varies from about 1,500/km depending on material contained in the roadbed
WINTER PRESENCE OF MOOSE IN CLEAR-CUT BLACK SPRUCE LANDSCAPES: RELATED TO SPATIAL PATTERN OR TO VEGETATION?
No full textWinter aerial surveys of moose (Alces alces) were completed on 14 landscapes (10–256 km2 ) formed of aggregated black spruce (Picea mariana) clear-cuts logged 3–9 years ago in southcentral Québec. Moose were present in 8 landscapes (11 yards) and had a mean density of 0.20 moose/10 km2, which was 50% of the density observed in the same hunting zone with a similar forest composition. Based on previous work, effects of variability in hunting pressure and time since cutting were assumed not to influence distribution and abundance of moose. Browse density did not increase with age of cuts. Moose density was not related to the size of the clear-cut landscapes or the proportion of residual forest (18–40%) within each landscape (P = 0.14). Moose yards were not located close to uncut forest surrounding the landscapes and did not have a greater proportion of residual forest than clear-cut landscapes. Moose yards had a denser shrub layer and more browse available than random sites selected in the same landscapes. The presence of moose in large clearcut black spruce landscapes is related to vegetation characteristics and not the spatial pattern of the forest. The authors propose two strategies to maintain moose populations and moose hunting activity in this type of forest after harvesting
REAL-TIME MOOSE TRACKING: AN INTERNET BASED MAPPING APPLICATION USING GPS/GSM-COLLARS IN SWEDEN
No full textTo date, moose (Alces alces) tracking has relied on techniques either based on ‘Very High Frequency’ (VHF) / ‘Ultra High Frequency’ (UHF) radio collars, or Global Positioning System (GPS) collars, often requiring significant effort in the field to collect data. Here we present a technique that automatically tracks and reports moose in almost real time, and presents moose positions and movement paths with an interactive web-based map service. We equipped 25 female moose with GPS/GSM collars in Västerbotten county, northern Sweden. The GPS receivers acquired a position every 30 minutes and transmitted them after 3.5 hours as a standard Short Messaging Service (SMS) message using the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) cell phone network. The positions were automatically extracted from the receiving local GSM-modem and stored in a database. During 18 days in March 2003, 18,638 GPS positions were transmitted by 2,719 SMS messages. Of all positioning attempts 98.1% resulted in a valid position, whereof 99.7% were 3-dimensional positions. The real-time approach allows for many new research studies; e.g., smallscale migrational studies with adapted GPS schedules for different phases of migration. Further, public access to the moose data by a web-based map can be of fundamental importance for public acceptance when dealing with local concerns
EFFECTS OF OVERABUNDANT MOOSE ON THE NEWFOUNDLAND LANDSCAPE
No full textThe long-term effects of introduced and overabundant herbivores on community development must be monitored and managed in an ecosystem-based forest management approach. This paper builds on previously published ecological descriptions and hypotheses offered on the effects of moose overabundance in Newfoundland. The island, in the absence of wolves, provides a setting for study of local irruptions in moose populations, which now affect an increasing area of the forest. Moose effects occur most often after natural disturbances and logging, involving unique forest succession patterns. We describe some of these changes, along with anticipated and realised changes in associated forest biodiversity. We offer suggestions to improve or refine monitoring of moose populations, especially at local scales, to detect cases of overabundance. Finally, we offer recommendations for the management of overabundant moose populations