Shrnutí

Popis

This report summarizes a study done on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to determine which habitats moose prefer to calve in. The majority of observations of female moose,Alces alces with recentlyborn calves have been in open, bogmeadow, black spruce, Picea mariana, habitats on the Kenai National Moose Range, but many moose probably calve in other areas where they are more difficult to observe. Frequent aerial surveys over the MooseChickaloon River Area during the calving period from 1957 to 1970 revealed maximum numbers of observed cows in the calving area in 1964, or 17 years after a major wildfire burned through the area. Numbers of observed cows declined after several years of antlerless seasons and several severe winters but increased again after antlerless seasons were suspended and winters moderated. Numbers of observed calves paralleled numbers of observed cows. Maximum twinning rates declined from a high of 46 percent in 1962 to 7 percent in 1966 but increased to 48 percent in 1969. Twinning rates appeared related to forage conditions, mild winters and moose density. General observations and observed numbers of calves suggest two birth peaks may have occurred in the 1960s, one in early June and another in early July. Population estimates suggest generally less than 20 percent of the refuges moose population calve in the MooseChickaloon River Area.