Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose)
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CO-MANAGEMENT - THE MANITOBA EXPERIENCE
No full textManitoba Conservation (formerly Manitoba Department of Natural Resources) has been involved in co-management programs involving First Nation communities as well as other organizations for some time. Those with the former attract the most attention. Some agreements in Manitoba are ad hoc arrangements that have been developed with various First Nation communities in an attempt to solve local problems. There is always an underlying element of skepticism that such arrangement may affect treaty rights. Manitoba's current Conservation Minister has stated that he hope to reach a province-wide accord to balance native hunting and fishing rights with conservation efforts and to include them in resource management activities. He has also indicated that treaty rights are not negotiable but that natives are willing to carry out conservation measures through co-management, and that as long as they are part of the decision making process, they be satisfied. This statement takes on added significance in that the Minister is a First Nation person
HABITAT USE BY BLACK-TAILEDDEER IN RELATION TO RATE OF FORAGE INTAKE
No full textAvailability of digestible energy is potentially the most important limiting factor of black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) from a nutritional perspective, but patch use by other ruminants has been netter correlated with intake rates of digestible protein and digestible dry matter. We hypothesized that black-tailed deer would concentrate their use in habitats in which intake rates of digestible energy or protein were highest. Using direct observations of 9 tractable deer over a continuous 2-year period, we examined animal-specific rates of: (1) dry matter intake; (2) protein intake; and (3) metabolizable energy intake in 4 habitats. Those habitats were Vaccinium, devil's club (Oplopanax), skunk cabbage (Lysichiton), and beach. For each animal, we compared the observed time spent active in each habitat to predictions of time allocation based on the measured rates of intake. Intake rates in summer differed significantly for all animals among habitats. In the first summer, animals used habitats on the basis of habitat availability and not relative to intake rates obtained in each habitat; the second summer deer used habitats in proportion to digestible dry matter and intake rates of metabolizable energy. In winter, when intake rates varied significantly among habitats, deer used habitats in proportion to their availability. Habitat use cannot be predicted by intake rates in winter. When we compared actual habitat use by black-tailed deer with use predicted by observed pellet defecation, we concluded that pellet groups did not accurately predict habitat use by black-tailed deer in spring, summer, or on an annual basis in the fine-grained habitats of our study area.
LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED MOOSE MANAGEMENT PLANTS IN NORWAY
No full textSince the 1940s, moose populations in parts of Norway have increased rapidly. This had led, by the 1990s, to increases in traffic accidents, damage negatively impacting the agricultural and forest industries, and reductions in growth and fecundity of moose. Local level management of moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) has occurred for 45 years represented by The Wildlife Board in every municipality. This board, however, was a governmental institution. The national regulations seem unnecessarily detailed by today's standards. In 1996, the Directorate for Nature Management started a project aimed at making management of cervids increasingly community based. The project was completed in the year 2000. The vision is that local management plans developed by the landowners and hunters are going to direct future management and be the basis for solving many of the current challenges
SUMMER FOOD HABITS OF GRAY WOLVES IN THE BOREAL FOREST OF THE LAC JAQUES-CARTIER HIGHLANDS, QUÉBEC
No full textAs part of a larger study on the ecology of gray wolves (Canis lupis) of the Lac Jacques-Cartier highlands, Québec, the 1996-1997 summer diet of two wolf packs was determined by examining undigested animal remains in 1,621 scats (Malbaie pack: n = 1,371; Grands-Jardins pack: n = 250). Concern about the fate of a small reintroduced woodland caribou herd stimulated this study. Log-linear analysis performed on the percent volume of prey in scats revealed significant diet variation between packs and years. Corrections for prey digestibility were computed to estimate the biomass and relative numbers of prey eaten. The Malbaie pack consumed more moose (Alces alces) than Grands-Jardins pack in both years (Malbaie: 95.9-97.3 % total biomass; Grands-Jardins: 65.2-67.9 %). The Grands-Jardins pack consumed more beaver (Castor canadensis) than the Malabaie pack in both years (Malabaie: 1.5-1.9 %; Grands-Jardins 13.3-33.2 %). In 1997, consumption of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) increased significantly, especially in the Grands-Jardins pack (1996: 1.1 %; 1997: 17.4 %). We suggest that the functional response of wolves to the Lac Jaques-Cartier highlands in summer (i.e., the consumption of different prey in relation to their relative availability) is characteristic of a type III curve which could explain the variations observed in food habits
MOOSE HUSBANDRY AT THE COLUMBUS ZOO: THE NUTRITION ASPECT
No full textThe Columbus Zoo in Columbus Ohio, USA is the most southern facility to exhibit moose (Alces alces). This paper is a review of our management practices through the years. A total of 10 orphaned calves have since been received. Four survived past age one with 2 breeding and producing twin calves. Nutrition is a major concern with moose in captive environments. The use of pelleted moose rations along with the supplementation of browse is discussed. Browse is utilized as a daily dietary component during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Fresh frozen leaves are a new component of our browse program during the winter. In addition, a brief description of the exhibit outlines the features included for accommodating moose in Ohio
AN ASSESSMENT OF CATCH PER UNIT EFFORT TO ESTIMATE RATE OF CHANGE IN DEER AND MOOSE POPULATIONS
No full textCatch per unit effort (CPUE), or kills per hunter day, are often available for harvested species, and may be used to estimate population size or the finite rate of population change (λ). An assessment of the relationship between CPUE and abundance was undertaken for black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and preliminary assessment was conducted for moose (Alces alces). CPUE underestimated the population rate of decline and may overestimate rate of increase. Wildlife managers should not use CPUE to estimate rate of change unless the relationship between CPUE and abundance is known
ECOLOGY OF MENINGEAL WORM, PARELAPHOSTRONGLYUS TENIUS (NEMATODA) IN WHITE-TAILED DEER AND TERRESTRIAL GASTROPODS OF MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA WITH IMPLICAITONS FOR MOOSE
No full textMoose (Alces alces) were reintroduced to Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the mid-1980's. Because of some of the subsequent mortalities were attributed to meningeal worm, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, a study was done in 1995 - 1996 to determine potential exposure of moose to this parasite. Objectives were to determine parasite population size in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of the region as well as the abundance and distribution of gastropod intermediate hosts with emphasis on their role in the transmission of P. tenuis. Prevalence and intensity of adult worms were lower in fawns (28%, all with 1 worm) than in older deer (51%, x̄ = 1.7). Numbers of first-stage larvae were more numerous in deer feces collected in winter and spring than in feces collected in summer and autumn. Gastropods, collected June - October 1995 and June - August 1996, were most abundant in lowland areas (predominantly mixed conifer - deciduous habitat). Canonical correspondence analysis showed that % canopy cover, soil type, and soil depth best explained the distribution of snails among 35 collection sites. Eight of 23 species of gastropods collected were infected with P. tenuis larvae; 2 members of the genus Discus spp. were considered to be the most important intermediate hosts. Deer concentrated in areas called 'yards' in winter. One such type of yard where deer were fed artificially tended to have more infected gastropods than other areas, but their role in transmission of P. tenuis to moose is probably limited for several reasons including that these sites were spatially separated from primary moose range. Another type of yard that involves logging activity poses some threat to moose because numbers of gastropods in it are relatively high and, unlike artificial feeding sites, it is more accessible to moose because of seasonal decreases in human activity
FORAGING ON NORWAY SPRUCE AND ITS POTENTIAL ASSOCIATION WITH A WASTING SYNDROME IN MOOSE IN SWEDEN
No full textWe studied a sudden occurrence of moose (Alces alces) browsing twigs and stripping bark of Norway spruce (Picea abies) that coincided temporally and spatially with a moose wasting syndrome in southern Älvsborg County in southwestern Sweden from 1990 to 1992. Spruce is a low preference forage for moose across Sweden and reports on its use are limited. This study reports on the importance of spruce as moose forage and its qualitative value relative to other more commonly used moose browse species in this region. Rumen contents from moose collected in autumn contained low proportions of spruce twigs (1.5-2.3%), and only 2 animals (n = 155) had spruce bark in the rumen. Generally, there was little browsing damage on spruce, although damage was severe in local areas. Spruce contained low concentrations of macroelements (crude protein, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus) and trace elements (aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc), thereby minimizing this as a possible explanation for moose browsing. We used in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) as a measure of digestibility of spruce bark and twigs, and found no differences between spruce trees that had been bark stripped by moose and a control group of undamaged specimens. In addition, average IVDMD values of 14-25% dry matter of spruce bark were considerably lower than those found for more commonly used moose browse species in Sweden. We discuss these results with respect to the potential mechanisms underlying moose bark stripping of spruce. We cannot confirm that a potential linkage between foraging on spruce and a wasting syndrome in moose exists, and suggest that further research in this area is warranted
YEARLING MOOSE BODY MASS: IMPORTANCE OF FIRST YEAR'S GROWTH RATE AND SELECTIVE FEEDING
No full textCalf and yearling moose (Alces alces) in southeastern Norway are larger on the east side than on the west side of the Oslo fjord. We compare size of calf and yearling moose and general range conditions on the 2 sides of the fjord. We conclude that differences in calf growth rate during the first summer are responsible for the larger animals on the east side. Although forest site quality is better and browse biomass is higher on the west side, selective feeding by lactating cows apparently results in increased milk production and supports a higher growth rate of calves on the east side of the fjord. During their second summer, animals in the 2 areas have similar increases in body mass. It is concluded that autumn body mass of calves gives a better indication of summer range quality than autumn body mass of yearlings. Data from gross browse surveys should be interpreted with care
MOVEMENTS OF FEMALE MOOSE IN RELATION TO BIRTH AND DEATH OF CALVES
No full textWe followed the daily movements of 24-59 parturient moose every spring from 1994-1997 in southcentral Alaska, an area with heavy predation of calves. We tested the hypotheses that: (1) selection of a parturition site involves movements not typical of normal home range use; (2) movements during the neonatal period increase risk to calves; and (3) females are more likely to return to an area for parturition if their previous calf escaped predation. Movements of moose increased significantly in the 2 days prior to parturition, were greatly reduced for at least the next 9 days and did not approach pre-parturition levels until calves were about 26 days old. Daily movements by females that eventually lost a calf (> 48 hours after day observed) were greater than those by females that successfully reared their calf or calves through the first 45 days of life (P = 0.049). Distances between parturition sites in successive years were greater among females that lost their claves the first year (4.9 vs 2.6 km, P = 0.02), regardless of the age at which the calf died