Productivity, Survival, and Movements of Female Moose in a Low-density Population, Northwest Territories, Canada
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic1224Keywords:
Animal behaviour, Animal distribution, Animal population, Animal reproduction, Grazing, Moose, Radio tracking of animals, Wildlife management, Animal tracks, Mackenzie River region, N.W.T.Abstract
Moose (Alces alces andersoni) occur at low density (140-160 moose/1000 sq km) and are the most important game animal in much of the Mackenzie Valley, western Northwest Territories. Productivity and survival of 30 female moose (>=1.5 yr.) were studied from November 1985 through November 1988. Twenty-nine of these moose were radio-tracked for a total of 1039 relocations. Pregnancy rates were 96% for adult and 40% for yearling females. Most females returned to the same restricted area to calve each year. Mean newborn calf:female ratio and twinning rates were 1.2:1 and 31%, respectively. Mean annual female survival rate was 85%. Annual calf survival was high and stable (44±0.02%). Individual total home range size varied from 40 sq km to 942 sq km. Mean home range size for 29 moose was 174±31 sq km and 202±59 sq km for the 14 moose radio-tracked the entire three years of study. Fall home ranges were twice the size of winter and summer home ranges; seasonal ranges overlapped widely, indicating that these moose were non-migratory.
Key words: moose, low density, productivity, movements, Mackenzie Valley, Northwest Territories
