HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPA931DEPARTMENT
J U N E A U,
0 F F I S H
ALASKA
STATE OF ALASKA
William A. Egan, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
James W. Brooks , Commissioner
DIVISION OF GAME
Frank Jones, Director
Donald McKnight, Research Chief
AND
I N T E R I 0 R M 0 0 S E S T U D I E S
by
John W. Coady
Volume II
Project Progress Report
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
Project W-17-6, Jobs 1.3R, 1.4R, 1.8R and l.llR
ARLIS
Alaska Resources
:..-ibrary & Information Service s
Anch :g~ 1\hska
G A r~ E
Persons are free to use material in these reports fo r edu cational
or informational purposes. However, since most reports treat only part
of continuing studies, persons intending to use this material in scien-
tific publications should obtain prior permission from the Department of
Fish and Game. In all cases, tentative conclusions should be identified
as such in quotation, and due credit would be appreciated.
(Printed October 1974)
State:
Cooperator:
Project No.:
Job No.:
Period Covered:
JOB PROGRESS REPORT (RESEARCH)
Alaska
John W. Coady
W-17-6
1.3R
Project Title: Big Game Investigations
Job Title: Evaluation of Moose Range
and Habitat Utilization
in Interior Alaska
July 1, 1973 through June 30, 1974
SUMMARY
Site characteristics, plant associations, and browse utilization by
moose and hares have been studied near Fairbanks since 1972. Data will
be reported in a future publication.
2 Eight aerial surveys were conducted on a 260 km count area on the
Tanana Flats between June 1973 and April 1974. Total animals observed
were greatest in early summer and lowest during mid-winter. Most animals
were observed in aquatic and low shrub habitats during all seasons.
However, habitat use by radio-collared moose suggests a far greater
preference for deciduous and coniferous tree habitats during all seasons
than indicated by the aerial surveys. Therefore, a large number of
moose probably occupy, and are not observed in, dense habitat types
during aerial moose surveys.
ARLIS
Alaska Resources Library & Infonnation Services
Library Building, Suite Ill
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508-4614
i
Summary . .
Background.
Objectives.
Procedures.
Vegetation Studies
Habitat Utilization. •
Results • • . . • . . . .
Vegetation Studies •
Habitat Utilization.
Acknowledgments .
Literature Cited .•...
See Job 1.8R.
CONTENTS
BACKGROUND
OBJECTIVES
i
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
.11
.11
The objectives of this study are to identify and characterize major
vegetation types in the Tanana Flats and adjacent portions of Game
Management Unit 20B, to evaluate browse preference and utilization in
selected areas of Units 20A and 20B, and to monitor seasonal distribution and
composition of populations within major habitat types in Units 20A and
20B.
PROCEDURES
Vegetation Studies
Methods used to describe site characteristics and plant associations
and to evaluate browse preference and utilization by moose (AZces aZces)
and hares (Lepus americanus) have been described by Coady (1973).
Habitat Utilization
Aerial surveys were 2conducted on eight occasions between June 1973
and May 1974 in a 260 km count area on the Tanana Flats (Fig. 1) to
monitor seasonal distribution and composition of moose populations
within different habitat types.
Area 1 consists primarily of a mosaic of deciduous and coniferous
tree stands and small ponds. Much of Area 2 consists of low shrub and
aquatic communities with relatively few large stands of trees. Most of
Area 3 was burned in 1957, and consists largely of shrub regrowth and
stands of unburned conifer trees.
RESULTS
Vegetation Studies
General site characteristics and floristics of aquatic, low shrub,
tall shrub, deciduous tree and coniferous tree communities on the
1
Fig. 1. Count area on the Tanana Flats where frequent aerial surveys were
conducted during 19.73-74 to monitor seasonal distribution and
composition of moose populations within different habitat types .
..---------------"----
FAIRBANi<S~
\
)
I
\ (.' ' ..---:: Ar~EA ·~ ... ~~ ARi~~/\
NO. 1 ... ,, NO.2
0
I
2
Miles
'.,
4
2
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\
\
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\
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td~EA
r\!o. 3
I lj)
'.I
IY'
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1"/-.
10'\
I
'...>. \-p
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o~a/o/r 0 Lakes
--------
•
Tanana Flats have been described by Coady (1973). In summer 1972 six
low shrub, six tall shrub, two deciduous tree and three coniferous tree
stands on the Tanana Flats were sampled. In addition, three tall shrub
stands in a 15-year-old burn on the Little Chena River were sampled. In
summer 1973 two low shrub stands on the Tanana Flats and four tall shrub
stands along the Little Chena River were sampled. Data for most stands
have been analyzed with regard to frequency of occurrence, cover and
density, and will be reported in a future publication (Coady and Simpson,
in prep.).
Utilization of browse species by moose and hares in three low
shrub, five tall shrub and one deciduous tree stands was evaluated on
the Tanana Flats in summer 1972. Browse utilization in two low shrub
stands on the Tanana Flats and in two tall shrub stands in the Little
Chena River was evaluated in summer 1973. Average browse class (0 = no
browsing of new leader growth during past year, 1 = 1 to 33%, 2 = 33 to
66% and 3 = 66 to 100% of new leaders browsed during past year) for
several deciduous shrub and tree species on the Tanana Flats is shown in
Table 1. Additional results and conclusions regarding competition
between moose and hares for browse will be presented in a future publica-
tion (Coady and Simpson, in prep.).
Habitat Utilization
Total moose observed during aerial surveys on the Tanana Flats
count area gradually declined from 196 in June 1973 to a low of 51 in
January 1974, and then again increased to 106 in May 1974 (Fig. 2). The
above data suggest a gradual emigration of moose from the Tanana Flats
between mid-summer and late fall, and a return to the Flats sometime
between late winter and early summer. Similar observations have been
reported by Bishop (1970).
Percent of the total number of moose in each of three areas of the
total count area suggests a preference for the burn regrowth of area
three during fall, and for the deciduous and coniferous tree stands of
area one during late winter (Fig. 2). Area two was utilized during both
summer and winter. Habitat utilization in the total count area indicated
by habitat type in which moose were observed suggests a preference for
aquatic and low shrub types during summer, and for low shrub types all
other times (Fig. 3).
Habitat utilization indicated by observations of radio-collared
moose on the Tanana Flats and in the Alaska Range (Job l.llR) suggests
a far greater use of coniferous and deciduous habitats during all months
than indicated by aerial surveys (Fig. 4). Except during October and
December, conifer habitats were used more extensively than any other
habitat type. Preliminary results suggest that bulls (Fig. 5) may
prefer less dense low shrub and tall shrub habitats during fall and
winter than do either lone cows (Fig. 6) or cows with calves (Fig. 7).
During November, when fall moose surveys are conducted, and during
May, when spring moose surveys are conducted in the Tanana Flats and/or
Alaska Range, over 50 percent of the radio-collared moose were observed
in coniferous and deciduous habitats. For comparison, habitats in which
3
Table 1, Average browse clas~·for deciduous species on the Tanana Flats.
Moose Hares
Average Average
Species Browse Class Species Browse Class*
Salix Z-asiandra 1.60 s. Z-asiandra
s. arbuscuZ.oides 1.37 s. interior
s. interior 1. 30 s. monticol-a
s. pl-anifolia subsp. s. glauca
pul-chra 1.23 s. al-exensis
s. al-exensis 1.04 s. bebbiana
s. novae-angUae 1.01 s. scouleriana
s. bebbiana 0.78 s. novae-ang liae
s. monticol-a 0.43 s. arbuscul-oides
s. gl-auca 0.37 s. pla:nifolia subsp.
s. scouleriana o.oo pul-chra
Popul-us balsamifera 0.96 Larix laricina
P. tremul-oides 0.40 B. papyrifera
Betula papyrifera 0.39 P. balsamifera
Alnus crispa 0.20 A. tenuifolia
A. tenuifoUa 0.00 P. tremuloides
L. laricina o.oo A. crisp a
* Browse classes -0 -no browsing
1 -1-33% of new leaders browsed during past year
2 -34-66% of new leaders browsed during past year
3 -66-100% of new leaders browsed during past year
4
2.31
2.10
2.05
2.02
1.95
1. 76
1.67
1.40
1.36
0.40
2.90
2.19
1.44
1.36
0.90
0.80
'• ..... _
~.J •.
--·
'l -~-·
, ........ .. _, ..
Fig. 2.
~j .: .,
Total number of moose and percent of total moose observed in three
areas of a 260 km 2 count area on the Tanana Flats during frequent
aerial surveys in 1973-74.
\
r;
,j , .. \ i~-:~! ("!
!"''. ~" '· .. : '\ __ j
~ r ,,
1': ~--.... ~
.,
·: I • ~ -·~'.'\ ' ~
.---~-·' · .. , :-.....
~ .... -~ ......... ~ .... h" _._,. ........ -.,_;,-., ..... ,-., ••• ,t. ..... ·.~ ______ _. ....... -~ ...... -·J,tJfpO.:.'
5
0
f!J
C)
~ . .....,:.. .... ,, .. ;/
"-~
... · ...... -~
.. ··~ ... _..,
)L __
-:·---!
0 .,
,-'-(";
-~,; ........ /
... •
'~ ... i
. }
Fig. 3. Habitat utilization by all sex and age group moose determined by
frequent aerial surveys in a 206 km2 area on the Tanana Flats.
Mar
A
Jan
1974
Nov
6
A-Aquatic
LS-Low Shrub
TS-Toll Si1r-ub
D-Dec id L'OU s Tree
C-Conifetous Tree
Fig. 4. Habitat utilization by all sex and age group radio-collared moose
on the Tanana Flats and Alaska Range during 1973-74.
A
Mar
Feb
7
Oct 1973
Jan 1974
A-Aquatic
LS-Low Shrub
TS-Tull Shrub
0-Deciduous Tree
C-Coniferous Tree
" '·
Fig. 5. Habitat utilization by radio-collared bull moose on the Tanana
Flats and the Alaska Range during 1973-74.
May
44 °/o
Apr
33
Mar
43
Feb
8
A
Oct. 1973
89
78
50
Jan 1974
A-Aquatic
LS-Low Shrub
TS-Tall Shrub
D-Deciduous Tree
C-Coniferous Tree
·•
..
Fig. 6. Habitat utilization by radio-collared lone cows on the Tanana
Flats and the Alaska Range during 1973-74.
Apr
9
Oct. 1973
A-Aquatic
LS-Low Shrub
TS-Toll Shrub
D-Deciduous Tree
C -Con i fer o u s T r i:: ()
Fig, 7. Habitat utilization by radio-collared cows with calves on the
Tanana Flats and the Alaska Range during 1973-74.
Mar
Feb
10
Oct. 1973
Jon 1974
A-Aquatic
LS-Low Shrub
TS-Tall Shrub
0-Deciduous Tree
C-Coniferous Tree
316 moose were observed on the Tanana Flats during spring surveys in
1974 were as follows:
Habitat Type Total Moose Percent of Total
Aquatic 95 30
Low shrub 171 54
Tall shrub 35 11
Deciduous 2 1
Coniferous 13 4
2 Spring surveys and surveys in the 260 km count area were conducted
during early morning when the greatest number of moose may be active in
aquatic and shrub habitats. Nevertheless, comparisons of survey data
with radio-collared moose observations suggest that a large number of
moose occupying an area are probably not observed in deciduous and
coniferous habitats during all times of the year. Habitat use by moose
in the Tanana Flats and Alaska Range will be further reported in a
future publication.
Additional publications associated with this job include 1) a co-
authored review paper: Distribution and Habitats of Moose in Alaska
(LeResche, Bishop, Coady, in press) to be published in Le Naturaliste
Canadien, Volume 101; and 2) Moose Food Habits in Alaska: a preliminary
study using rumen content analysis (Cushwa and Coady, ms) which will be
published in the Canadian Field Naturalist after revision.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Dot Simpson and Edward Kootuk provided needed field assistance, and
Don McKnight and Richard Bishop offered valuable suggestions in vegetation
studies. Much of the data was analyzed by Dot Simpson and Dale Haggstrom.
The contribution of these individuals is gratefully acknowledged.
Bishop, R. H. 1970.
ratios of moose
Flats, Alaska.
Kamloops, B.C.
LITERATURE CITED
Preliminary review of changes in sex and age
and their relation to snow conditions on the Tanana
Proc, 6th Annu. N. Am. Moose Com. Meeting, Feb. 3-5.
Coady, J. W. 1973. Interior Moose Studies. Volume I Proj. Prog. Rep.,
Proj, No. W-17-4 and W-17-5. 80pp.
11
PREPARED BY:
John W. Coady
Game Biologist
SUBMITTED BY:
Richard H. Bishop
Regional Research Coordinator
APPROVED BY :
of Game
Research Chief, Division of Game
12
State:
Cooperator:
Project No.:
Job No.:
Period Covered:
JOB PROGRESS REPORT (RESEARCH)
Alaska
John W. Coady
W-17-6
1.4R
Project Title: Big Game Investigations
Job Title: Evaluation of Moose Browse
and Rumen Fermentation in
Moose in Interior Alaska
July 1, 1973 through June 30, 1974
Procedures, results, and conclusions associated with this job have
been reported in: 1) Rumen Function and Energy Production of Moose in
Interior Alaska (Coady and Gasaway, 1972; Proc. 8th Ann. N. Am. Moose
Con£.) and 2) in a review paper: Review of Energy Requirements and
Rumen Fermentation in Moose and Other Ruminants (Gasaway and Coady, in
press) to be published in Le Naturaliste Canadien, Volume 101, and will
not be reported here.
PREPARED BY: APPROVED BY:
John W. Coady
Game Biologist Game
SUBMITTED BY:
Research Chief, Divis1 n of Game
Richard H. Bishop
Regional Research Coordinator
State:
Cooperator:
Project No.:
Job No.:
Period Covered:
JOB PROGRESS REPORT (RESEARCH)
Alaska
John W. Coady
W-17-6
1.8R
Project Title: Big Game Investigations
Job Title: Snow Characteristics in
Relation to Moose Distribution
in Interior Alaska
July 1, 1973 through June 30, 1974
SUMMARY
Properties of the snow cover, temperature, wind velocity, moose
tracks and moose observed during frequent aerial surveys have been
monitored in the Chena and Chatanika River drainages since 1971. Data
from three winters suggest that integrated resistance of the snow cover
measured with a Rammsonde penetrometer and/or wind velocity, may be more
important than snow depth peP se in influencing altitudinal moose movements
during some winters. Rammsonde measurements and wind velocity, as well
as snow depth should be measured in other areas to further test relation-
ships between these factors and moose movements and distribution.
Results of a spring 1974 North Slope moose survey, as well as aerial
moose surveys in Game Management Unit 20A from 1958 to the present are
recorded.
i
CONTENTS
Summary • • . • • .
Background ••
Objectives.
Procedures. . • . .
Moose-Snow Relationships
Results • . . • . • . • . • . • • . .
Moose-Snow Relationships
Moose Surveys.
Acknowledgments •
Literature Cited. .
BACKGROUND
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
i
1
2
2
2
3
3
7
9
9
Moose (AZces alces) are Holarctic in distribution (Rausch 1963),
occurring in several Eurasian countries, Canada, the conterminous Unitzd
States, and Alaska. Four Eurasian races (Heptner et al. 1961) and four
North American races (Hall and Kelson 1959) of moose are recognized.
The Alaskan moose (A. a. gigas) is of pre-Wisconsin age, remains having
been found in Illinoian beds in the "Cripple Creek sump" near Fairbanks
(Pewe and Hopkins 1967).
Moose are expanding their range throughout North America (Kelsall
1972, Kelsall and Telfer 1973). In Alaska, moose are widespread within
the boreal forest zone (Alaska Department of Fish and Game 1973), although
many reports suggest they are more common beyond tree line in several
areas than in previous years (Rausch 1951, Bee and Hall 1956, Lutz 1960,
Pruitt 1966, Chesemore 1968, and LeResche et al. 1973). Northward
dispersal of moose may be due in part to an increase in riparian climax
vegetation resulting from gradual Holarctic warming trends during the
last half century (Leopold and Darling 1953). This apparent expansion
may also result from recent increased human activity in northern regions,
thereby increasing opportunity for sighting animals (Kelsall 1972).
Moose play an important economic and cultural role in Alaska.
Between 1963 and 1972 an average of 7,500 moose per year were reported
killed by hunters. In 1971 alone, over 8,800 moose were reported killed,
1,070 of which were from the Fairbanks region (Game Management Unit 20).
Thousands of recreationists photograph and observe moose each year. The
extensive distribution, large numbers and relatively visible nature of
the species has made moose a symbol of Alaskan wildlife.
Since statehood in 1959 the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has
actively engaged in collecting information in Interior Alaska relating
to moose biology. Major emphasis has been placed on extensive aerial
surveys during fall to document changes in productivity, to assess the
effect of hunting on bull-cow ratios, to determine survival of moose to
1.5 years of age, and to document changes in relative abundance and
distribution of moose. Annual aerial surveys have been conducted in
selected areas during spring to assess survival of moose to one year of
age, and to monitor changes in relative abundance and distribution of
1
moose. Harvest statistics and basic life history information have also
been collected. In spring 1966 a moose calf tagging program was initiated
on the Tanana Flats south of Fairbanks to help determine distribution,
movement and population identity of moose calving in the area. Between
1966 and 1969 over 800 moose calves were tagged and locations of tagged
moose continue to be recorded as sightings are made.
Major contributions to moose studies in Interior Alaska have been
made by Robert A. Rausch (Rausch 1967, 1971, Rausch and Bishop 1968) and
Richard Bishop (Bishop 1969, 1970, Bishop and Rausch 1973). Together
these individuals conducted and directed many early studies of moose in
Interior Alaska. Their work has provided the background for and continues
to provide guidance in developing current moose studies.
In February 1971, during a winter of record snowfall in Interior
Alaska, a moose research program was initiated at Fairbanks to further
identify and quantify major factors limiting moose populations. Basic
emphasis of the program centers around effects of certain relationships
between snow and range conditions on the production, survival and
distribution of moose in Interior Alaska. Information obtained from
this project will hopefully contribute to efficient management of moose
in Interior Alaska, where growth of human populations and increased
demands on wildlife and land resources are expected.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are to monitor distribution, survival
and productivity of moose in relation to characteristics of the snow
cover in Interior Alaska.
PROCEDURES
Moose-Snow Relationships
Snow characteristics and relative abundance of moose were monitored
at one-to two-week intervals at a study area in the Chatanika and Chena
River drainages, about 20 miles northeast of Fairbanks. Methods of
measuring characteristics of the snow cover have been described previously
(Coady 1973, 1974), and will not be discussed here. Wind velocity was
measured with a counting cup anemometer. The anemometer records the
miles of wind which flow past the instrument, and when miles of wind are
divided by hours in the recording period, average wind velocity is
obtained.
Relationships between altitudinal moose movements and snow conditions
have been monitored since 1971. The seven day total (counted daily) of
fresh moose tracks crossing a one-half mile long transect in the Chatanika
River Valley was recorded between November and May during each winter.
This valley is located at 245 m elevation, and represents typical winter
riparian moose habitat. The number of moose coun2ed during frequent
intensive aerial surveys in a 17-year-old, 122 km upland burn in the
Little Chena drainage near the valley transect was also recorded. The
upland site ranges from 300 to 670 m in elevation and characteristically
supports large numbers of moose during fall and early winter.
2
Snow depth and relative abundance of moose were monitored between
October 1973 and March 1974 in Snow Mountain Gulch2 in the foothills of
the Alaska Range. The area is approximately 50 km in size, and ranges
in elevation between 600 and 1000 m. Vegetation consists of conifer
stands at lower elevation and upland shrub and tundra communities in
higher areas. Large numbers of moose use the area during and immediately
following the rut in fall and early winter.
RESULTS
Moose-Snow Relationships
The response of moose to winter weather factors in the Chatanika-
Chena drainage was monitored in 1972-73 (Fig. 1) and 1973-74 (Fig. 2).
Moose observed in the upland burn declined between mid-November and late
March during both winters. Fresh moose tracks in the valley were most
common beginning in early January in 1973, and in late January in 1974.
The delay between decline in moose in the upland burn and increase in
tracks in the valley is apparently the result of dispersal of many
animals from the burn into adjacent upland shrub and deciduous tree
habitats before immigrating to lowland areas. This pattern of fall and
winter movement was demonstrated by radio-collared moose in 1972-73
(Coady 1973).
Maximum-minimum temperature, average wind velocity, snow depth and
integrated Rammsonde snow hardness (Ri) were also monitored in upland
and lowland areas in 1972-73 (Fig. 1) and 1973-74 (Fig. 2). Snow depths
were similar in upland and lowland areas during both winters. However,
both average wind velocity and integrated Rammsonde snow hardness were
greatest in the upland area during both winters. Wind probably increases
the hardness of snow, and during both winters an increase in average
wind velocity was associated with an increase in R .. The appearance of
moose tracks in the valley in 1972-73 was associat~d with a sharp increase
in both average wind velocity and Ri in the upland burn during mid-
December (Fig. 1). An abrupt decline in moose observed in the upland
burn in early December 1973 occurred during a period of strong winds in
the area, while the increase in lowland moose tracks in late January and
early February occurred during an increase in R. in the upland area
(Fig. 2). Similarly, a sharp decline in moose 5bserved in an upland
area and the appearance of moose tracks in the Chatanika Valley in late
December 1971 occurred during a period of rapidly increasing R. in the
upland site (Coady 1973). 1
Total number of moose observed during aerial surveys, number of
radio-collared moose and snow depth in Snow Mountain Gulch were monitored
between October 1973 and March 1974 (Fig. 3). Numbers of radio-collared
and unmarked moose declined rapidly between October and December, while
snow depth increased from approximately 25 to 55 em during that period.
Although increasing snow depth may have stimulated emigration from the
area during November, other properties of the snow cover may have been
important and should be investigated in the future.
While unusually deep snows may cause an abrupt migration of moose
from high to low elevation (Coady 1973), the time and magnitude of fall
3
Fig. 1. Relationship between moose movement between and snow and weather
conditions at high and low elevations near 40 mile Steese Highway
during winter 1972-73.
Moose-
Upland Burn
Tracks-
Volley Ri
[\)(>J~(}l
0 0 0 0
Snow Depth
(em)
c
z O!
< '
0
Q
0
(_
0
::J
~
0
'
> u
'
'
(Jl
0
0
0 0 (Jl oo 0000
~,----~----1 --~~~----~
p
t
·~
~ <; < 0
:r:
0
(]1
0
0
0
Wind Velocity
(mph)
I
Up Ia nd Tern p.
(oC)
I
f\.) ~ 0 f\.) ~0 0 0
1-----~--~--1 ------~-----
1 r! 1
'd-o'<
I " ~/ ,1J
?:;f
Q
I b----::o ?" ......... -
¢
Q
6---i) I ,..""' _,I
I(
~
"p
O.,'Q
.b
0'
0
I
z
0 <
0
(D
0
(_
0
::J
11
(D
cr
$:
0
~
)>
"'0
~
Fig. 2. Relationship between moose movement between and snow and weather
conditions at high and low elevation near 40 Mile Steese Highway
during winter 1973-74.
Moose-Tracks-
Upland Burn Valley
R[ Snow De)th
(em
N {JJ ~
(J1 0 0 0 0 (J1 0
0 0 0 (.Jl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
I
9
\
\ -g. p ctl '< = I ctlQ '< ' '--......,0
I
Q
¢ i I
6
Wind Velocity Upland Temp.
(mph) (oC)
I I
~ f\)
0 N ~ 0 0 0
I I I
r
Q r---t q H
\ c;;
I < 9 e. , .............. _
I (t) Po'< f,
Q
b.'P
I co
Q
'
{b"'-
Fig. 3. Relationship between movement of marked and unmarked moose from
and snow depth in Snow Mountain Gulch in the foothills of the
Alaska Range during 1973-74.
150
~ 100
0
0
2
0 50
-+-
~
"'0 10
Q) Q)
"-(})
0 0 5
0
0 ~ (.) 0
..c
........ -~ E 50
Cl (.) -3:
Snow Mountain Gulch
~ ~._
0
ll'iSII','j'n'JIII"~91ft .. 'll'!ll!lll'
0 c
(f) 0 ......_ _______ ...., ·--------·-·--·-·-·-------
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
Month
6
and winter movements during years of moderate snow conditions may be
influenced by factors other than snow depth per se. Average or below
average snow depths occurred in the Chatanika-Chena Study Area during
the winters of 1971-72, 1972-73, and 1973-74, and during each winter the
timing and magnitude of the downward migration of moose in the area was
most closely related to an increase in wind velocity and/or R ..
1
Although analyses of additional Rammsonde and National Research
Council of Canada (NRC) snow measurements are incomplete at this time,
preliminary results suggest that snow depth may not be the most important
factor influencing winter movements of moose under many conditions.
Snow hardness indicated by Rammsonde penetrometer (and perhaps by NRC)
measurements and wind velocity, as well as snow depth, are factors which
should perhaps be considered when attempting to predict patterns of
winter moose migrations.
Results of this study, conclusions and recommendations will be
reported in a future publication.
Additional publications associated with this job include 1) a
review paper: Influence of Snow on Behavior of Moose (Coady 1974) to be
published in Le Naturaliste Canadien, Volume 101; and 2) a note: Late
Pregnancy of a Moose in Alaska (Coady, in press) to be published in the
Journal of Wildlife Management.
Moose Surveys
Between April 16 and 19, aerial moose surveys were conducted on
several North Slope rivers. Riparian willow habitat was surveyed as
thoroughly as possible using PA-18 aircraft, and locations of animals
were plotted on USGS 1:250,000 maps. Count conditions were generally
excellent.
Table 1 indicates numbers and age of moose and survey time on each
river. Stephenson (ADF&G, Fairbanks) has summarized past moose surveys
on the North Slope (memo dated September 20, 1973) and reported, for
example, that total moose surveyed on the Chandler River in 1970, 1971,
1972, and 1973 was 180, 158, 144 and 61, respectively. Since these
counts were made using C-185 aircraft, and the 1974 survey was conducted
using a PA-18 aircraft, a greater proportion of the animals may have
been seen in 1974 than in previous years. In any event, a decreasing
trend in total animals observed on the Chandler River is apparent, in
spite of modest calf production/survival. For comparison, Unit 20A
spring moose surveys in 1972 and 1973 indicated 11.0 and 13.4 percent
yearlings in the herd, respectively.
The approximate area of riparian moose habitat and density of moose
observed along several. North Slope rivers has been calculated by visually
estimating the width and measuring the length of rivers on a map (Table
2). In addition to willows, however, the area includes small amounts of
other vegetation types, sandbars and the river itself. Density of
observed moose along the larger rivers (Colville, Anaktuvuk, and Chandalar
7
Table 1. North Slope moose survey April 16-19, 1974.
% Calves Count Time
Location Adults Calves Total in Herd (Hrs.)
Anaktuvuk River 93 16 109 14 2.9
Chandler River 100 21 121 17 3.5
Ayiyak River 6 2 8 0.9
Tuluga River 7 1 8 0.8
Colville River 247 42 289 14 8.1
(Killik R.-Anaktuvuk R.)
Total 453 82 535 16.2
Table 2. Area of riparian habitat and density of moose observed along North
Slope rivers, April 16-19, 1974.
Length Average
Area (km 2)
No. of
Location Surveyed (km) Width (km) Animals Density
Anaktuvuk River 96 1.5 144 109 0.8
Chandler River 102 1.5 153 121 0.8
Ayiyak River 51 o.s 25 8 0.3
Tuluga River 38 0.5 19 8 0.4
Colville River 122 3.0 366 289 0.8
(Killik R.-Anaktuvuk R.)
8
Rivers) was 0.8 moose/km2 , while that along smaller rivers (Tuluga and
Ayiyak Rivers) was considerably less.
Additional results and conclusions will be reported in a future
publication.
Appendices 1 through 53 record both spring and fall aerial moose
surveys in GMU 20A from 1958 to the present.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Mike Vierthaler conducted NRC and Rammsonde snow measurements, and
H. Don Draper made meticulous moose track counts and weather observations
throughout the winter along the Steese Highway. Tony Smith and Spencer
Linderman conducted replicate aerial moose surveys in the Alaska Range
and in the Chena River drainage, respectively. Dale Haggstrom assisted
in data analysis. Moose-snow relationships reported here are due largely
to contributions by the above individuals. Robert LeResche, Robert
Stephenson and Richard Shiedeler cooperated in conducting aerial moose
surveys on the North Slope. Moose survey and inventory data reported for
Interior Alaska were collected by numerous biologists, and the author
accepts no credit for obtaining this information.
LITERATURE CITED
Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 1973. Alaska's wildlife and
habitat. 590pp.
Bee, J. W., and E. R. Hall. 1956. Mammals of northern Alaska on the
Arctic Slope. Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. No. 8. Univ. Kansas,
Lawrence. 309pp.
Bishop, R. H. 1969. Moose Report, Vol. 10. Alaska Dept. Fish & Game,
Ann. Proj. Seg. Rept., Proj. W-15-R-3, Work PlanK. 153pp.
1970. Preliminary review of changes in sex and age ratios
of moose and their relation to snow conditions in the Tanana Flats,
Alaska. 6th N. Am. Moose Conf. Kamloops, B.C. 16pp. Xerox.
and R. A. Rausch. 1973. Moose population fluctuations in Alaska,
1970-72. Proc. Int. Symp. on Moose Ecology, Quebec City, March 1973.
Chesemore, D. 1. 1968. Occurrence of moose near Barrow, Alaska. J.
Mammal. 49(3):528-529.
Coady, J. W. 1973. Interior Moose Studies. Vol. I. Proj. Prog. Rep.,
Proj. No. W-17-4 and W-17-5. 80pp.
1974. Influence of snow on behavior of moose. Naturaliste
Can. 101:417-436.
Hall, E. R., and K. R. Kelson. 1959. The mammals of North America.
Vol. 2, Ronald Press, New York.
9
Heptner, V. G., A. A. Nasimovich, and A. G. Bannikov.
shchie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Vol. 1, Parnokopytnye
Moscow, Vysshaia Shkola.
1961. Mlekopitaiu-
i neparnokopytnye.
Kelsall, J. P. 1972.
western Canada.
The northern limits of moose (Alces alces) in
J. Mammal. 53(1):129-138.
and E. S. Telfer. 1973. Biogeography of moose with
particular reference to western Canada. Proc. Int. Symp. on
Moose Ecology, Quebec City, March 1973. 26pp.
Leopold, A. S., and F. F. Darling. 1953. Wildlife in Alaska. Ronald
Press Co., New York. 129pp.
LeResche, R. E., R. H. Bishop and J. W. Coady. 1973. Distribution
and habitats of moose in Alaska. Proc. Int. Symp. on Moose
Ecology, Quebec City, March 1973. 43pn.
Lutz, H. J. 1960. Early occurrence of moose on the Kenai Peninsula
and in other sections of Alaska. Misc. Publ. Alaska Forest Res.
Center, 1:1-25.
I I
Pewe, T. L., and D. M. Hopkins. 1967. Mammal remains of pre-Wisconsin
In D. M. Hopkins, ed. The Bering Land Bridge. Age in Alaska.
Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford. 495pp.
Pruitt, W. 0., Jr. 1966. Ecology of terrestrial mammals. InN. J.
Wilimovsky and J. N. Wolfe, eds. Environment of the Cape Thompson
Region, Alaska. USAEC Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 1250pp.
Rausch, R. A. 1967. Report on 1965-66 moose studies, Vol. 7, ADF&G
Annu. Proj. Seg. Rep., Proj. W-15-R-1, Work PlanK. Juneau. 129pp.
1971. Moose Report, Vol. 11, ADF&G, Prog. Rep., Proj.
W-17-1, Work Plan K. Juneau. 118pp.
and R. Bishop. 1968. Report on 1966-67 moose studies,
Vol. 8 and 9, ADF&G Annu. Proj. Seg. Rep. Proj. W-15-R-2 and -3,
Work Plan K. 263pp.
Rausch, R. L. 1951. Notes on the Nunamiut Eskimo and mammals of the
Anaktuvuk Pass region, Brooks Range, Alaska. Arctic 4:147-195.
1963. A review of the distribution of holarctic recent
mammals. Pages 29-43 in J. L. Gressitt, ed. Pacific Basin
Biogeography. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu.
10
PREPARED BY:
John W. Coady
Game Biologist
SUBMITTED BY:
Richard H. Bishop
Regional Research Coordinator
APPROVED BY :
Research Chief, Division of Game
Appendix 1. Summary of moose survival and production surveys, June 1962.
Yearlings Single Twin Total
Total Total F/0 F/1 F/2 F /? (12 months Newborn Newborn Parturi-Total Flying Moose
Date Males Females Calf Calf Calf Calf old) Calves Calves tions Moose Time per hr.
6/8 252 174 117 44 1 12 28 44 2 45 500 4 hr. 113.6
24 min.
6/9 113 103 48 47 3 5 27 47 6 50 296 4 hr. 63.5
40 min.
6/11 172 182 72 90 7 13 48 90 14 97 506 4 hr. 126.5
6/12 208 213 75 96 15 27 54 96 30 111 601 4 hr. 138.7
20 min.
6/11 &
6/12 380 395 147 186 22 40 102 186 44 208 1107 8 hr. 132.8
20 min.
Appendix 2.Parturition counts, Tanana Flats, 1966.
Newborn Yearlings Totals Births/ Yrlg/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 F Yrlgs. Calves M Moose M/lOOF lOOF lOOF Aircraft*
I
TOTALS
II
5/17 &
5/20 206 2 0
5/21 190 12 0
5/25 213 28 3
5/29 182 41 5
Calf Tagging Operations
6/6 118 74 4
6/10 59 41 3
6/14 138 49 4
6/21 96 44 3
1202 291 22
5/18 &
5/19 202 0 0
5/27 79 22 2
III 5/19 &
5/20 120 0 0
6/8 34
Count Ill
6/8 20
* S=Super Cub
H=Helicopter
4 2
7 0
0 3
0 4
0 3
1 5
1 2
0 2
0 5
6 4
8 28
0 1
0 2
0 4
0 0
0 2
17 2 227 24
18 1 221 24
10 0 254 13
14 0 243 19
6 1 204 10
4 0 107 6
11 1 203 17
13 0 162 17
93 5 1621 130
9 0 211 10
2 0 115 4
5 0 125 9
2 1 43 3
0 0 27 2
2 116 369 51 0.9 10.6 s
12 143 400 75 5.4 11.0 H
34 137 438 54 12.2 5.0 s
51 234 547 96 18.9 7.8 s
82 166 462 81 38.0 4.9 s
47 126 286 118 41.1 5.6 s
57 219 496 108 26.1 8.4 H
49 178 406 148 29.0 8.9 H
334 1319 3404 81 8.0
0 66 287 1 0.0 4.7 s
26 86 231 75 22.6 3.5 s
0 26 160 21 0.0 7.2 s
8 52 106 121 18.8 7.0 s
7 36 72 133 25.3 9.3 s
Appendix 3. Lincoln Index estimates of calf production on the Tanana Flats, 1966.
Tagged Percent Estimated
Survey Calves Calves Tagged Calves/ Total Total
Area Number Date Counted Counted Counted 100 Cows Moose Calves
I 1 June 6 78 19 24 38.1 459 558
2 June 10 47 7 15 43.9 286 913
3 June 14 54 14 26 26.1 493 525
4 June 21 49 11 22 30.2 406 606
III 1 June 8 8 0 0 18.8 106
2 June 8 7 1 14.3 25.3 72 420
Appendix 4.Summary of moose parturition counts, Tanana Flats, 1967.
Newborn Calves Yearlings Total Total Total Calves/ Yrlgs/ Total Moose/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 Tagged Calves Yrlings Cows 100 F 100 F Males Moose Hour
I 5/31-
6/1 117 43 6 8 2 21 0 6 55 23 195 28.2 11.8 147 420 75
II 6/4 49 33 1 5 0 7 0 1 35 7 95 36.8 7.4 129 266 78
III 6/2 18 13 0 5 1 3 0 0 13 4 39 33.4 10.3 76 132 34
Salchaket-
Tanana 6/1 7 6 1 0 4 0 0 0 8 4 18 44.4 22.2 1 30 20
Totals 191 95 8 18 7 31 0 7 111 38 347 32.0 11.0 353 848 59
Proposed Fairbanks
Wildlife Center
5/31 11 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 2 14 7.1 14.2 2 19 24
Appendix 5. Summary of moose parturition counts, Tanana Flats, post-tagging, 1968.
Newborn Calves Yearlings Total Total Total Calves: Yrlgs: Total Moose/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 Tagged Calves Yrlgs Cows 100 F 100 F Males Moose Hour
I 6/4-
6/5 79 67 8 23 5 18 1 0 83 20 201 41.2 9.9 267 571 88
45 tagged calves
II 6/13 31 22 1 0 0 3 0 0 24 3 57 42.7 5.2 70 154 42
7 tagged calves
III 6/12 18 14 6 8 1 24 0 0 26 24 71 36.6 33.8 73 194 68
7 tagged calves
Tanana-
Salchaket 6/4 2 13 1 5 1 1 0 0 15 1 23 65.2 4.3 2 41 20
5 tagged calves
E. of area I,
s. of Salchaket
6/4 2 7 1 0 0 2 0 0 9 2 12 75.0 16.7 1 24 26
1 tagged calf
Totals 132 123 17 36 7 48 1 0 157 50 364 43.4 11.0 413 984
65 tagged calves, total
Appendix 6.Summary of moose parturition counts, Tanana Flats, 1969.
Newborn Calves Yearlings Total Total Total Calves/ Yrlgs/ Total Moose/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 Tagged Calves Yrlgs Cows 100 F 100 F Males Moose Hour
I 5/23 62 8 1 3 4 30 1 11 10 36 105 9.5 34.3 141 292 79
1 adult M tagged
II 5/25 16 7 0 2 1 3 0 0 7 4 28 25.0 14.5 44 83 55
III 5/24 20 6 4 2 0 4 0 0 14 4 34 41.1 11.8 20 72 29
Total 98 21 5 7 5 37 1 11 31 44 167 26.3 205 447
Appendix 7. Summary of moose parturition counts, Tanana Flats, 1970.*
Newborn Calves Yearlings Total Total Total Calves/ Yrlgs/ Total Moose/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 Tagged Calves Yrlgs Cows lOOF 100 F Males Moose Hour
I 5/19 60 9 0 0 10 28 1 10 9 40 98 9.2 40.8 55 202 61
II 5/21 44 17 4 3 7 16 1 4 25 25 85 29.4 29.4 38 173 58
III 5/20 43 11 1 0 10 11 0 1 13 21 66 19.7 31.8 41 141 61
IV 5/21 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 0.0 20.0 0 5 9
Total 151 37 5 3 27 56 2 15 47 87 254 18.5 34.3 134 521 57
% yearlings of total minus calves 87 18.4
521-47
* Observer -M. Buchholtz, Pilot -T. Classen
Appendix 8. Summary of moose parturition counts, Tanana Flats, 1971.
Newborn Calves Yearlings Total Total Total Calves/ Yrlgs/ Total Moose/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 Tagged Calves Yrlgs Cows 100 F 100 F Males Moose Hour
I 5/17-
5/18 105 2 3 2 5 108 4.6 13 126 31
5 red right ear adults observed in Area I
II 5/24 138 15 3 5 5 21 10 161 13.0 6.2 49 241 80
1 yellow left ear adult observed in Area II
III 5/19-
5/20 98 3 1 5 3 6 106 2.8 5.6 17 132 33
2 yellow right ear adults, 1 dead left ear orange adult observed in Area III
Total 341 18 3 8 13 2 24 21 375 6.4 5.6 79 499 45
% yearlings of total minus calves 21 4.4
499-24
Appendix 9. Summary of moose parturition counts, Tanana Flats, 1972.
Newborn Calves Yearlings Total Total Total Calves/ Yrlgs/ Total Moose/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 Tagged Calves Yrlgs Cows 100 F 100 F Males Moose Hour
I 5/24-
5/25 162 9 1 9 22 3* 11 31 194 5.7 11.3 50 286 73
II 5/25 91 3 -3 15 1 3 20 110 2.7 18.2 54 187 75
III 5/24 62 5 2 3 11 1* 9 14 80 11.2 17.5 35 138 40
Total 315 17 3 15 48 1 4* 23 65 384 6.0 16.9 139 611 62
% yearlings of total minus calves = 65 11
611-23
* Adult females
Appendix 10. Summary of moose parturition counts, Tanana Flats, 1973.
Newborn Calves Yearlings Total Total Total Calves/ Yrlgs/ Total Moose/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 Tagged Calves Yrlgs Cows 100 F 100 F Males Moose Hour
I 5/16-
5/17 229 2 73 1 6* 2 75 305 0.7 24.5 104 486 93
II 5/18 149 1 2 18 1 20 168 0.6 11.9 48 237 68
III 5/17 81 1 1 22 1 1 25 105 1.0 23.3 31 162 51
IV 5/18 16 1 1 17 5.3 7 25 28
Total 475 4 3 114 2 6 4 121 595 0.7 20.3 190 910 71
% yearlings of total minus calves 121 = 13.4
910-4
* 6 Adults (4F, 2M)
Appendix 11. Summary of moose parturition counts, Tanana Flats, 1974.
Newborn Calves Yearlings Total Total Total Calves/ Yrlgs/ Total Moose/
Area Date F/0 F/1 F/2 F/? w/oF F/1 F/2 Tagged Calves Yrlgs Cows 100 F 100 F Males Moose Hour
I 5/16-
5/17 192 7 3 29 4 7 32 228 3.1 14.0 115 382 52
II 5/17 106 8 8 114 7.0 14 136 47
III 5/16 42 1 2 6 2 8 49 4.1 16.3 9 68 25
Total 340 7 1 5 43 4 9 48 391 2.3 12.3 138 586 45
% yearling of total (minus calves) = 48 = 8.3%
586-9
Appendix 12.Total number and age ratio of moose observed on the Tanana Flats during
spring aerial surveys.
Percent Calves/ Count
Year Area Total Yearlings in Herd 100 Cows Time (Hrs.)
1974 1,2,3 586 8.2 12.3 13.0
1973 1,2,3,4 910 13.3 20.3 12.8
1972 1,2,3 611 10.6 16.9 9.8
1971 1,2,3 499 4.2 5.6 11.1
1970 1,2,3,4 521 16.7 18.5 9.1
1969 1,2,3 596 11.4 35.9 7.5
1968 1,2,3,4 984 5.1 43.4 16.0
1967 1,2,3,4 848 4.5 32.0 14.4
Appendix 13.Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Valley, October 27, 1958 -December 6, 1958.
Total Total
Male Female Total Ident. Unident. Total Time Moose Seen
Area Young Adult Total W/0 W/1 W/2 Total Calves Moose Moose Moose Obser. Per Hour
Tanana Valley
Chena R., Chatanika R.'
Shaw Cr., Salcha R.'
Goodpaster R. 16 45 61 67 44 3 114 50 225 8 233 9.0 26
Tanana River
(Salchaket) 21 31 52 61 32 5 98 42 192 2 194 2.8 69
Totals 37 76 113 128 76 8 212 92 417 10 427 11.8 36
Appendix 14. Sex and age ratios in moose populations, Tanana Valley, 1959.
Young Total
Bulls/ Sets of Calf % Young Bulls Young Bulls/ Identi-
Bulls/ 100 Calves/ Twin Calves/ of % of 100 Bull Young Bulls/ fiable
Area 100 Cows Adult Bulls 100 Cows 100 Cows w/calves Total Herd Total Herd Calves 100 Cows Moose
Tanana
Chena R. , Chatanika R. ,
Goodpaster R., Salcha R.'
Shaw Cr. 38 36 68 15 33 5 29 10 82
Salchaket Slough area 70 28 49 26 22 7 60 15 179
Total 60 29 55 22 26 6 47 13 261
Appendix 15. Comparison of sex and age ratios in moose populations in interior Alaska.
Young
Bulls/ Sets of Calf % Young Bulls Young Bulls/ Total
Bulls/ 100 Calves/ Twin Calves/ of % of 100 Bull Young Bulls/ Moose
Area Year 100 Cows Adult Bulls 100 Cows 100 Cows w/calves Total Herd Total Herd Calves 100 Cows in Sample
Tanana
Valley 1959 60 29 55 22 26 6 47 13 261
1958 53 49 43 9 22 9 80 17 419
1957 60 32 42 2 20 7 69 15 236
1956 83 25 47 5 20 7 71 16 405
Appendix 16. Sex and age ratios, Tanana Valley, 1960.
Young
Bulls/ Sets of Calf % Young Bulls Total
Bulls/ 100 Calves/ Twin Calves/ of % of Young Bulls/ Moose
Area 100 Cows Adult Bulls 100 Cows 100 Cows w/calves Total Herd Total Herd 100 Cows in Sample
Tanana
1 55 6 30 8 16 2 3 187
1 67 4 44 3 24 8 18 148
2 80 60 60 0 20 10 19 60
3 68 33 47 0 22 8 17 177
4 68 19 31 0 16 6 11 108
5 65 43 so 3 23 9 20 145
6 140 64 36 5 13 20 54 153
7 77 47 60 23 26 10 25 88
8 80 33 50 6 21 9 20 170
9 127 50 59 10 20 15 43 114
Total 77 36 43 5 20 9 20 1350
Appendix 17. Comparison of sex and age ratios in moose populations in interior Alaska during the last five years.
Young Total
Bulls/ Sets of Calf % Young Bulls Identi-
Bulls/ 100 Calves/ Twin Calves/ of % of Young Bulls/ fiable
Area Year 100 Cows Adult Bulls 100 Cows 100 Cows w/calves Total Herd Total He.rd 100 Cows Moose
Tanana
1960 77 36 43 5 20 9 20 1328
1959 60 29 55 22 26 6 13 261
1958 53 49 43 9 22 9 17 419
1957 60 32 42 2 20 7 15 236
1956 83 25 47 5 20 7 16 405
Appendix 18. Moose composition counts, Tanana Valley, interior Alaska, Fall 1972.
Cows Cows Cows
W/0 W/1 W/2 Lone Young Adult Uniden-Total
Area Date Calves Calf Calves Calves Bulls Bulls tified Moose
1 11/29 38 33 5 2 6 37 11 175
2 12/12 62 20 0 2 11 31 5 151
3 12/17 38 6 0 0 1 9 0 60
4 12/6 46 48 0 3 2 16 0 163
5 11/30 22 29 4 3 2 13 1 111
6 12/17 65 16 0 3 5 29 0 134
7 11/27 27 25 0 1 10 40 4 132
8 Omitted from 1962 counts
9 11/27 43 20 4 5 7 29 4 140
Total 341 197 13 19 44 204 25 1066
Appendix 19. Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Flats, October 1963.
Adult Young Total Total Total Unident. Sex Total Moose
Area Males Males Males F/0 F/1 F/2 Females Calves and Age Moose Per Hour
1 55 15 70 77 24 2 103 30 0 203 221
2 25 6 31 27 15 0 42 15 0 88 66
3 35 15 50 45 37 2 84 42 0 176 160
4 50 7 57 37 25 2 64 29 0 150 80
5 40 19 59 35 37 4 76 47 0 182 68
6 26 1 27 19 31 1 51 34 2 114 104
7 29 2 31 39 9 1 49 12 0 92 61
8 35 3 38 24 14 0 38 16 0 92 46
9 31 4 35 39 33 2 74 38 0 147 47
Total 326 72 398 342 225 14 581 263 2 1244 81
Appendix 20. Moose sex and age ratios, Tanana Flats, October 1963.
Twin Calves/ Percent Percent
Yearling Bulls/ Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Calves Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Total
Area 100 Adult Bulls 100 Cows 100 Cows w/Calf in Herd Bulls in Herd 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows Moose
1 27 68 29 8 14.8 8.7 100 15 203
2 24 73 36 0 17.0 8.2 80 14 88
3 42 59 50 5 23.9 11.2 58 18 176
4 14 89 45 7 19.3 5.8 50 11 150
5 47 77 62 10 25.8 14.1 81 25 182
6 3 52 67 3 30.4 1.3 6 2 114
7 6 63 24 10 13.0 2.5 33 4 92
8 8 100 42 0 17.4 3.9 38 8 92
9 12 47 51 6 25.8 3.7 21 5 147
Total 22 68 45 6 21.1 7.4 55 12 1244
Appendix 21. Moose population composition counts, Tanana Flats, interior Alaska, 1965.
Flying
Time Young Adult Total Cows Cows Cows Total Unid. Total Total Calf % Moose
Area (hrs.) Bulls Bulls Bulls W/1 W/2 W/0 Cows Adults Adults Calves Moose in Herd Per Hour
2 7.7 15 73 88 35 0 126 161 0 249 36 285 13 37
3 1.9 3 13 16 18 0 34 52 0 68 18 86 21 45
4 2.0 3 15 18 3 0 33 36 1 54 3 57 5 29
5 2.8 7 19 26 29 0 40 69 0 95 29 124 23 44
6 2.9 6 30 36 14 0 46 60 0 96 14 llO 13 38
7 1.8 3 4 7 2 0 37 39 0 46 4 so 8 28
8 2.3 3 17 20 14 0 46 60 1 81 14 95 15 41
9 3.3 6 19 25 34 1 83 118 0 143 39 182 22 55
Total 24.7 46 190 236 149 1 445 595 1 832 157 989 16 40
Appendix 22. Moose sex and age composition ratios, Upper Wood River, 1965.
Twin Calves/ Percent Percent
Year ling Bulls/ Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Calves Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls Moose Total
Area 100 Adult Bulls 100 Cows 100 Cows w/Calf in Herd Bulls in Herd 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows 12er Hour Moose
I
Foothills
Japan Hills 8 32 22 0 14 1 20 2 67 350
Upper Wood
River 12 68 23 6 12 4 65 7 169 389
Total 11 49 22 3 13 3 41 5 98 739
Appendix 23. Moose population composition counts, Upper Wood River, 1965.
Flying
Time Young Adult Total Cows Cows Cows Total Unid. Total Total Calf % Moose
Area (hrs.) Bulls Bulls Bulls W/1 W/2 W/0 Cows Adults Adults Calves Moose in Herd Per Hour
I
Foothills
Japan Hills 5.2 5 66 71 50 0 173 223 6 300 50 350 14 67
Upper Wood
River 2.3 15 124 139 40 3 161 204 0 343 46 389 12 169
Total 7.5 20 190 210 90 3 334 427 6 643 96 739 13 98
Appendix 24. Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Flats, 1966.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
2 10/22 40 1 41 47 15 0 62 0 103 1 16 119 3.8 31
3 10/22 4 1 5 37 19 0 56 0 61 2 21 82 1.4 59
4 10/23 53 2 55 92 19 0 111 0 166 0 19 185 3.5 53
5 10/18 12 0 12 18 20 1 39 0 51 1 23 74 2.9 26
6 10/23 22 4 26 37 4 0 41 0 67 0 4 71 1.7 42
7 10/23 21 0 21 51 10 0 61 0 82 0 10 92 1.8 51
8 10/21 27 2 29 26 12 0 38 0 67 0 12 79 2.3 34
9 10/21 27 7 34 59 18 0 77 0 111 1 19 130 2.6 50
Total 206 17 223 367 117 1 485 0 708 5 124 832 20.0 42
Appendix 25. Xoose sex and age composition ratios, Tanana Flats, 1966.
Twin Calves/ Percent Percent
Yearling Bulls/ Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Calves Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Year ling Bulls I Moose Total
Area 100 Adult Bulls 100 Cows 100 Cows w/Calf in Herd Bulls in Herd 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows Eer Hour Moose
2 2.5 66.1 25.8 0.0 13.4 0.8 12.5 1.6 31 ll9
3 25.0 8.9 37.5 0.0 25.6 1.2 9.2 1.8 59 82
4 3.8 49.5 17.1 0.0 10.3 1.1 21.1 1.8 53 185
5 0.0 30.8 59.0 5.0 31.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 26 74
6 18.2 63.4 9.8 0.0 5.6 5.6 200.0 9.8 42 71
7 0.0 0.0 16.4 o.o 10.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 51 92
8 7.4 76.3 31.6 0.0 15.2 2.5 33.3 5.3 34 79
9 25.9 44.2 24.7 o.o 14.6 5.4 73.7 9.1 50 130
Total 8.3 46.0 25.6 0.8 14.9 2.0 27.4 3.5 42 832
~ppendix 26. Summary of moose population composition counts, Alaska Range, 1966.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
I 10/24-
10/25 318 11 329 445 86 0 531 2 862 0 86 948 5.3 179
Upper Wood
River 10/24 102 5 107 179 41 1 221 1 328 0 43 372 3.6 103
Rex Dome-
Tat1anika Cr.l0/27 80 3 83 110 18 0 128 4 211 0 18 229 1.8 92
Ferry-Healy-
Yanert 10/28 127 3 130 369 36 5 410 4 536 0 46 590 4.3 137
Total
(Alaska Range
East of Nenana R.) 627 22 649 1103 181 6 1290 11 1937 0 193 2139 15.0 143
Lignite-
Savage 10/28 13 0 13 15 11 0 26 0 39 0 11 so 1.3 38
Appendix 27. Moose sex and age composition ratios, Alaska Range, 1966.
Twin Calves/ Percent Percent
Yearling Bulls/ Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Calves Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls Moose Total
Area 100 Adult Bulls 100 Cows 100 Cows w/Calf in Herd Bulls in Herd 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows Eer Hour Moose
I 3.5 62.0 16.2 0.0 9.1 1.2 25.6 2.1 179 948
Upper Wood
River 4.9 48.4 19.5 2.4 11.6 1.3 23.3 2.3 103 372
Rex Dome-
Tatlanika Cr. 3.8 64.8 14.1 0.0 7.9 1.3 33.3 2.3 92 229
Ferry-Healy-
Yanert 2.4 31.7 11.2 12.2 7.8 0.5 13.0 0.7 137 590
Total
(Alaska Range
East of Nenana
River) 3.5 50.3 15.0 3.2 9.0 1.0 22.7 1.7 143 2139
Lignite-Savage
(Oct. 28) 0.0 50.0 42.3 0.0 22.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 38 so
Appendix 28. Moose sex and age ratios, Tanana Flats, 1960-1966.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
2 11/60 50.0 19.0 60.0 10.0 100.0 25.0 0.0 20.0 60
2 12/62 51.0 13.0 35.0 7.8 100.0 27.0 0.0 14.6 151
2 10/63 73.0 14.0 24.0 8.2 80.0 36.0 0.0 17.0 66 88
2 11/65 54.0 9.0 20.0 5.0 83.0 22.0 o.o 13.0 37 285
2 10/66 66.0 2.0 3.0 0.8 13.0 26.0 0.0 13.4 31 119
3 11/60 68.0 17.0 33.0 17.9 72.0 48.0 0.0 22.0 177
3 12/62 33.0 2.0 11.0 1.7 33.0 14.0 0.0 10.0 60
3 10/63 60.0 18.0 43.0 8.5 71.0 50.0 5.0 23.9 160 176
3 11/65 31.0 6.0 23.0 3.0 33.0 35.0 0.0 21.0 45 86
3 10/66 9.0 2.0 25.0 1.2 10.0 38.0 0.0 25.6 59 82
4 11/60 69.0 11.0 19.0 5.6 71.0 31.0 0.0 15.7 108
4 12/62 19.0 2.0 13.0 1.2 8.0 54.0 0.0 31.3 163
4 10/63 89.0 11.0 14.0 4.7 48.0 45.0 7.0 19.3 80 150
4 11/65 50.0 8.0 20.0 5.0 200.0 8.0 0.0 5.0 29 57
4 10/66 50.0 2.0 4.0 1.1 21.0 17.0 0.0 10.3 53 185
5 ll/60 65.0 20.0 43.0 9.0 79.0 50.0 3.0 22.8 145
5 ll/62 27.0 4.0 15.0 1.8 10.0 72.0 12.0 36.0 111
5 10/63 78.0 25.0 48.0 10.4 81.0 62.0 10.0 25.8 68 182
5 11/65 38.0 10.0 37.0 6.0 46.0 42.0 0.0 23.0 44 124
5 10/66 31.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 59.0 5.0 31.1 26 74
Appendix 28. Continued.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
6 11/60 140.0 55.0 64.0 49.6 300.0 36.0 6.0 13.1 153
6 12/62 42.0 6.0 17.0 3.7 53.0 23.0 0.0 14.2 134
6 10/63 53.0 2.0 4.0 0.8 6.0 67.0 3.0 29.8 114 104
6 11/65 60.0 10.0 20.0 5.0 86.0 23.0 0.0 13.0 38 110
6 10/66 63.0 10.0 18.0 5.6 50.0 10.0 o.o 5.6 42 71
7 11/60 78.0 25.0 47.0 10.2 78.0 64.0 24.0 26.1 88
7 11/62 96.0 19.0 25.0 7.6 77.0 50.0 0.0 19.7 132
7 10/63 63.0 4.0 7.0 2.2 33.0 24.0 10.0 13.0 61 92
7 11/65 18.0 8.0 75.0 6.0 150.0 10.0 0.0 8.0 28 50
7 10/66 34.0 0.0 o.o 0.0 0.0 16.0 0.0 10.9 51 92
8 11/60 80.0 20.0 33.0 8.2 80.0 50.0 6.0 20.6 170
8 1962 Not Surveyed
8 10/63 100.0 8.0 9.0 3.3 38.0 42.0 0.0 17.4 46 92
8 11/65 33.0 5.0 18.0 3.0 43.0 23.0 0.0 15.0 41 95
8 10/66 76.0 5.0 7.0 2.5 33.0 32.0 0.0 15.2 34 79
9 11/60 127.0 43.0 52.0 14.0 145.0 59.0 10.0 19.3 114
9 11/62 54.0 7.0 24.0 5.0 42.0 49.0 16.7 23.5 140
9 10/63 47.0 5.0 13.0 2.7 21.0 51.0 6.0 25.8 47 147
9 11/65 21.0 5.0 32.0 3.0 30.0 33.0 2.8 22.0 55 182
9 10/66 44.0 9.0 26.0 5.4 74.0 25.0 0.0 14.6 so 130
Appendix 29. Moose sex and age ratio, Tanana Flats, 1956-1966.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
Tanana Flats* 10-11
1956 84.2 15.8 23.1 6.8 65.2 48.4 0.0 20.8 221
Total Tanana Flats*
and Wood River 1956 89.8 14.5 19.3 6.3 73.0 39.8 0.0 17.3 427
Tanana River* 10-12
Salchaket S. 1957 43.9 7.3 20.0 4.1 40.0 36.6 0.0 20.3 37 74
Tanana River* 10-12
Salchaket S. 1958 53.1 21.4 67.7 10.8 100.0 42.9 13.5 21.6 69 194
Tanana River*
Sa1chaket S. ll/59 69.5 14.6 26.7 6.7 60.0 48.8 25.8 22.2 180
Total, 2-9 1960 83.0 25.0 43.0 10.6 107.0 47 .o 5.0 19.8 1015
Total, 2-9 1962 43.0 8.0 23.0 4.3 39.0 22.0 4.7 22.1 891
Total, 2-9 1963 69.0 12.0 21.0 5.5 49.0 49.0 6.0 22.4 72 1041
Total, 2-9 1965 40.0 8.0 24.0 5.0 58.0 26.0 0.7 16.0 40 989
Total, 2-9 1966 42.0 4.0 8.0 2.0 27.0 26.0 0.8 14.9 42 832
* Area counted in 1956-59 is only part of area counted from 1960-66.
Appendix 30. Hoose sex and age ratios, Alaska Range, 1956-1966.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
Foothills,
Alaska Range 1 11/60 60.0 9.0 18.0 4.5 52.0 36.0 5.0 18.2 335
1 11/62 57.0 8.0 16.0 3.4 27.0 59.0 13.0 25.7 175
1 10/63 27.0 15.0 27.0 8.7 100.0 29.0 8.0 14.8 221 203
1 11/65 32.0 2.0 8.0 1.0 20.0 22.0 0.0 14.0 67 350
1 10/66 62.0 2.1 3.5 1.2 25.6 16.2 0.0 9.1 179 948
Wood River 10/56 95.6 13.2 16.0 5.8 85.7 30.8 0.0 13.6 260
Upper Wood River 11/65 68.0 7.0 12.0 4.0 65.0 23.0 6.0 12.0 169 389
Upper Wood River 10/66 48.4 2.3 4.9 1.3 23.3 19.5 2.4 11.6 103 372
Rex Dome-
Tatlanika Creek 10/66 64.8 2.3 3.8 1.3 33.3 14.1 0.0 7. 9 92 229
Ferry-Healy-
Yanert 10/66 31.7 0.7 2.4 0.5 13.0 11.2 12.2 7.8 137 590
Total, Alaska Range,
Unit 20A (Foothills-
Wood River) 11/65 49.0 5.0 11.0 3.0 41.0 22.0 3.0 13.0 98 739
Total, Alaska Range
(East of Nenana
River) 10/66 50.3 1.7 3.5 1.0 22.7 15.0 3.2 9.0 143 2139
Lignite-Savage
River 10/6.6 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 o.o 42.0 0.0 22.0 38 50
Appendix 31. Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Flats, 1967.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
2 10/26-
10/27 35 3 38 68 15 0 83 0 121 0 15 136 3.1 44
3 10/25 10 4 14 35 16 1 52 0 66 0 18 84 1.8 47
4 10/27 22 0 22 19 5 0 24 0 46 0 5 51 3.0 18
5 10/25 9 2 11 12 7 0 19 0 30 0 7 37 2.1 18
6 10/25 18 5 23 30 5 0 35 0 58 0 5 63 1.7 37
7 10/28,
10/30 14 0 14 14 3 0 17 1 31 0 3 35 2.5 14
8 10/30 4 0 4 14 2 0 16 0 20 0 2 22 1.3 17
9 10/27-
10/28 20 6 26 33 20 0 53 0 79 1 21 100 3.6 29
Total 132 20 152 225 73 1 299 1 451 1 76 528 19.1 28
Appendix 32. Moose sex and age ratios, Tanana Flats, 1967.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
2 10/26-
10/27 45.8 3.6 8.6 2.2 40.0 18.1 0.0 11.0 44 136
3 10/25 26.9 7.7 40.0 4.8 44.4 34.6 5.9 21.4 47 84
4 10/27 91.6 0.0 0.0 o.o 0.0 20.8 0.0 9.8 18 51
5 10/25 57.9 10.5 22.2 5.4 57.1 36.8 0.0 18.9 18 37
6 10/25 65.7 14.3 27.8 7.9 200.0 14.3 0.0 7.9 37 63
7 10/28
10/30 82.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 o.o 17.6 0.0 8.6 14 35
8 10/30 25.0 0.0 o.o 0.0 o.o 12.5 o.o 9.1 17 22
9 10/27-
10/28 49.1 11.3 30.0 6.0 57.1 39.6 0.0 21.0 29 100
Total 50.8 6.7 15.2 3.8 52.6 25.4 1.4 14.4 28 528
Appendix 33. Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Flats, 1968.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
2 11/13 48 9 57 62 29 1 92 0 149 2 33 184 1.7 108
Tagged calves: 1 male, 1 female
3 11/12-
11/13 2 7 9 25 25 0 50 0 59 1 25 84 2.1 40
Tagged calves: 2 females
4 11/14 51 8 59 71 32 3 106 0 165 2 40 205 3.0 68
Tagged calves: 7 males, 5 females, 1 sex unknown
5 11/12 23 13 36 69 23 1 93 0 129 0 25 154 3.3 47
Tagged calves: 5 females
6 11/13 20 7 27 18 7 0 25 0 52 0 7 59 1.4 42
Tagged calves: 1 female
7 11/15 10 2 12 19 2 0 21 1 34 0 2 36 2.2 16
Tagged calves: none
8 11/17 7 0 7 4 14 0 18 2 27 0 14 41 2.4 17
Tagged calves: 1 male
9 11/14 15 4 19 39 32 4 75 0 94 0 40 134 2.3 58
Tagged calves: 2 males
Total 176 so 226 307 164 9 480 3 709 5 186 897 18.4 49
Tagged calves: 11 males, 14 females, 1 sex unknown
Appendix 34. Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Valley, 1968.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
Fairbanks
Wildlife
Center 11/18 0 0 0 4 6 0 10 0 10 1 7 17 0.5 34
Goldstream
(Martin Siding
to Steese Hwy)
11/17 0 0 0 1 4 0 5 0 5 0 4 9 1.7 5
Appendix 35. Hoose sex and age ratios, Tanana Flats, 1968.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Year ling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
2 ll/13 62.0 9.8 18.8 4.9 54.5 35.9 3.3 17.9 108 184
3 11/12-
11/13 8.0 14.0 350.0 8.3 56.0 50.0 0.0 29.8 40 84
4 11/14 55.7 7.5 15.7 3.9 40.0 37.7 8.6 19.5 68 205
5 11/12 38.7 14.0 56.5 8.4 104.0 26.9 4.2 16.2 47 154
6 11/13 108.0 28.0 35.0 11.9 200.0 28.0 0.0 11.9 42 59
7 11/15 57.1 9.5 20.0 4.9 28.6 9.5 0.0 5.6 16 36
8 11/17 38.9 0 0 0 0 77.8 0.0 34.1 17 41
9 ll/14 25.3 5.3 26.7 3.0 20.0 53.3 11.1 29.9 58 134
Total 47.1 10.4 28.4 5.6 53.8 38.8 5.2 20.1 49 897
Appendix 36. Summary of moose population composition counts, 1969.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour Yearlings
Tanana Flats 5/15 60 85 38 1 124 0 184 227 2.75 83 43
{pre-tagging)
Area I
Tanana Flats 6/4
(post-tagging) 6/6 169 49 29 3 112 281 35 359 3.7 97 43
Area I
Tanana Flats 6/7 54 28 9 3 54 108 15 137 1.8 76 14
(post-tagging)
Area II
Tanana Flats 6/7 25 16 14 5 40 65 24 100 2 so 11
(post-tagging)
Area III
Appendix 37. Moose sex and age ratios, 1969.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total % Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose Yrlgs.
Tanana Flats 6/4
(post -tagging) 6/6 150.8 31.2
Area I
9.3 9.7 97 359 11.9
Tanana Flats 6/7 100.0 27.7 33.3 10.9 76 137 10.2 (post-tagging)
Area II
Tanana Flats 6/7 62.5 60.0
(post-tagging)
26.3 24.0 so 100 11.0
Area III
Appendix 38. Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Flats, 1970.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
1 12/9-11 42 13 55 187 58 1 246 27 301 60 388 7.8 so
2 12/9 12 2 14 19 7 26 2 40 7 49 2.6 19
3 11/11 3 6 9 13 4 17 26 1 5 31 1.2 26
4 12/7 2 1 3 20 16 36 1 39 1 17 57 1.5 38
5 11/10-11 13 13 26 45 24 1 70 96 1 27 123 3.0 41
6 12/7 1 1 3 2 5 6 2 8 0.8 10
7 12/10 7 7 39 10 49 1 56 10 67 2.5 27
8 12/8 14 5 19 19 5 24 2.0 12
9 11/12 24 5 29 62 23 1 86 115 1 26 141 2.5 56
Total 104 40 144 402 149 3 554 31 698 4 159 888 23.9 37
Areas 2-9 only 62 27 89 215 91 2 308 4 397 4 99 500 16.1 31
Appendix 39. Moose sex and age ratios, Tanana Flats, Alaska Range Foothills, 1970.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
1 12/9-11 22.4 5.3 31.0 3.4 43.3 24.4 1.7 15.5 50 388
2 12/9 53.8 7.7 16.7 4.1 57.1 26.9 14.3 19 49
3 11/ll 52.9 35.3 200.0 19.3 240.0 29.4 16.1 26 31
4 12/7 8.3 2.8 50.0 1.8 11.8 47.2 29.8 38 57
5 11/10-ll 37.1 18.6 100.0 10.6 96.3 38.6 4.0 23.0 41 123
6 12/7 20.0 40.0 25.0 10 8
7 12/10 14.3 20.4 14.9 27 67
8 12/8 26.3 26.3 12 24
9 11/12 33.7 5.8 20.8 3.5 38.5 30.2 4.2 18.4 56 141
Total 26.0 7.2 38.5 4.5 50.3 28.7 2.0 17.9 37.2 888
Areas 2-9 only 28.9 8.8 43.5 5.4 54.5 32.1 2.2 19.8 31 500
Appendix 40. Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Flats, Alaska Range Foothills, Upper Wood R., 1971.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
1 11/9,10
11,13,
& 15 171 19 190 434 130 5 569 759 3 143 902 14.9 60
Upper Wood
River 11/15'
& 16 56 3 59 123 28 4 155 214 36 250 4.4 57
3 11/10 3 3 12 8 20 23 8 31 1.3 24
4 11/11 22 22 26 12 38 60 12 72 3.0 24
5 11/12 4 4 10 15 25 29 15 44 3.3 13
2, 6 11/11 64 3 67 87 38 125 192 38 230 2.9 79
7 11/10 7 7 12 3 15 22 3 25 2.0 12
8 11/10 17 1 18 37 10 47 65 1 11 76 2.5 30
9 11/9 16 1 17 43 13 1 57 74 15 89 3.3 27
Flats total (2-9) 133 5 138 227 99 1 327 465 1 102 567 18.3 31
Flats, 1, Upper Wood 360 27 387 784 257 10 1051 1438 4 281 1719 37.6 46
Appendix 41. Moose sex and age ratios, Tanana Flats, Alaska Range Foothills, Upper Wood River, 1971.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Year ling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ lGO Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
1 11/9,10
11,13,15 30.0 3.3 11.1 2.1 26.6 25.1 3.7 15.8 60 902
Upper Wood
River 11/15-16 38.1 1.9 5.4 1.2 16.7 23.2 12.5 14.4 57 250
3 11/10 15.0 40.0 25.8 24 31
4 11/11 57.9 31.6 16.7 24 72
5 11/12 16.0 60.0 34.1 13 44
2, 6 11/11 53.6 2.4 4.7 1.3 15.8 30.4 16.5 79 230
7 11/10 46.7 20.0 12.0 12 25
8 11/10 38.3 2.1 5.9 1.3 18.2 23.4 14.5 30 76
9 11/9 29.8 1.8 6.2 1.1 13.3 26.3 7.1 16.8 27 89
Flats Total (2-9) 42.2 1.5 3.8 0.9 9.8 31.2 1.0 18.0 31 567
Flats, 1, Upper Wood R. 36.8 2.6 7.5 1.6 19.2 26.7 3.7 16.3 46 1719
Appendix42. Summary of moose population composition counts, Tanana Flats, Alaska Range Foothills, Upper Wood R., 1972.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
1
Foothills 11/20-22 72 11 83 184 51 235 318 2 53 371 12.8 29
Upper Wood 11/22 19 4 23 71 11 82 105 11 116 4.2 28
2 11/17 51 12 63 62 27 89 152 27 179 3.2 56
3 11/16 8 6 14 15 13 28 42 13 55 2.3 24
4 11/18 9 1 10 17 6 23 33 6 39 2.7 14
5 11/15 4 6 10 7 15 22 32 15 47 3.2 15
6 11/16 7 1 8 30 7 37 45 7 52 1.5 35
7 11/16 9 1 10 18 9 27 37 9 46 2.3 20
8 11/16 9 1 10 25 3 28 38 3 41 2.0 20
9 11/14 28 10 38 46 44 4 94 132 1 53 185 3.7 50
Flats, Foothills,
Upper Wood total 216 53 269 475 186 4 665 934 3 197 1131 37.9 30
Flats (2-9) 125 38 163 220 124 4 348 511 1 133 644 20.9 31
Appendix 43. Moose sex and age ratios, Tanana Flats, Alaska Range Foothills, Upper Wood River, 1972.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
1
Foothills 11/20-22 35.3 4.7 15.3 3.0 41.5 22.6 14.3 29 371
Upper Wood 11/22 28.0 4.9 21.0 3.4 72.7 13.4 9.5 28 116
2 11/17 70.8 13.5 23.5 6.7 88.9 30.3 15.1 56 179
3 11/16 50.0 21.4 75.0 10.9 92.3 46.4 23.6 24 55
4 11/18 43.5 4.4 11.1 2.6 33.3 26.1 15.4 14 39
5 11/15 45.4 27.3 150.0 12.8 80.0 68.2 31.9 15 47
6 11/16 21.6 2.7 14.3 1.9 28.6 18.9 13.5 35 52
7 11/16 37.0 3.7 11.1 2.2 22.2 33.3 19.6 20 46
8 ll/16 35.7 3.6 11.1 2.4 66.7 10.7 7.3 20 41
9 11/14 40.4 10.6 35.7 5.4 37.7 56.4 8.3 28.6 50 185
Flats, Foothills,
Upper Wood Total 40.4 8.0 24.5 4.7 53.8 29.6 2.1 17.4 30 1131
Flats (2-9) 46.8 10.9 30.4 5.9 57.1 38.2 3.1 20.6 31 644
Appendix 44. Summary of moose population composition counts, Unit 20A, 1973.
Count
Large Small Total Cows Cows Cows Total Total Lone Total Total Time Moose/
Area Date Bulls Bulls Bulls W/0 W/1 W/2 Cows Unid. Adults Calves Calves Moose (hrs.) Hour
Foothills E.
Wood River 11/13-
(Area 1) 11/16 73 7 80 75 23 2 100 180 27 207 8.1 26
Foothills W.
Wood River 11/12-
(Area 1) 11/16 36 16 52 214 60 5 279 331 1 71 402 6.9 58
Flats, Foothills,
Delta River to
Delta Creek 11/13 16 1 17 35 9 44 61 9 70 3.0 23
2, 6 11/16 25 11 36 54 9 63 99 9 108 4.0 27
3 11/13 1 l 5 4 9 10 4 14 1.2 12
4 11/23 6 2 8 19 6 25 33 6 39 3.6 11
5 11/13 8 3 11 12 5 17 28 5 33 2.6 13
7 ll/15 15 4 19 24 2 26 45 2 47 3.0 16
8 11/14 8 8 19 6 25 33 6 39 2.9 13
9 11/12 6 1 7 23 11 34 41 11 52 3.6 14
Flats (2-9) Total 68 22 90 156 43 199 289 43 332 20.9 16
Foothills Total 125 24 149 324 92 7 423 572 1 107 679 18.0 38
Upper Wood River
(cumulative total
from 2 replicate
counts) 66 5 71 165 35 200 271 35 306 9.8 31
20A Totals 259 51 310 645 170 7 822 1132 1 185 1317 48.7 27
Appendix 45. Hoose sex and age ratios, Unit 20A, 1973.
Percent Twin Calves/
Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/ 100 Cows Percent Total
Area Date 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows w/Calf Calves Moose/Hour Moose
Foothills, E.
Wood River 11/13-
(Area 1) 11/16 80.0 7.0 9.6 3.4 51.8 27.0 8.0 13.0 26 207
Foothills, w.
Wood River 11/12-
(Area 1) 11/16 18.6 5.7 44.4 4.0 45.1 25.4 7. 7 17.7 58 402
Flats, Foothills,
Delta River to
Delta Creek 11/13 38.6 2.2 6.2 1.4 22.2 20.4 12.8 23 70
2, 6 11/16 57.1 17.5 44.0 10.2 244.4 14.3 8.3 27 108
3 11/13 11.1 11.1 7.1 50.0 44.4 28.6 12 14
4 11/23 32.0 8.0 33.3 5.1 66.7 24.0 15.4 11 39
5 11/13 64.7 17.6 37.5 9.1 120.0 29.4 15.2 13 33
7 11/15 73.1 15.4 26.7 8.5 400.0 7. 7 4.3 16 47
8 11/14 32.0 24.0 15.4 13 39
9 11/12 20.6 2.9 16.7 1.9 18.2 32.4 21.2 14 52
Flats (2-9) Total 45.2 11.1 32.4 6.6 102.3 21.6 13.0 16 332
Foothills Total 35.2 5.7 16.1 3.5 44.9 25.3 7.1 15.8 38 679
Upper Wood River
(cumulative total
from 2 replicate
counts) 35.5 2.5 7.6 1.6 28.6 17.5 11.4 31 306
20A Total 37.7 6.2 19.7 3.9 55.1 22.5 4.0 14.0 27 1317
Appendix 46. Summary of moose population composition counts, Unit 20A, Upper Wood River, 1973.
Area Date
Large
Bulls
Small Total
Bulls Bulls
Cows
W/0
Cows
W/1
Cows
W/2
Total
Cows Unid.
Total
Adults
Lone
Calves
Total
Calves
Total
Moose
Count
Time Moose/
(hrs.) Hour
Drainages on either side of Wood River upstream from Threemile Creek on the east to Wood River headwaters, and upstream
from the south drainages of Cody Creek on the west to Wood River headwaters. Drainages on west side of Wood River
between Cody Creek and Threemile Creek not included.
11/8,
11/21 35 2 37 91 19 110 147 19 166 4.8 35
Drainages on either side of Wood River upstream from Threemi1e Creek to Kansas Creek on the east, and western drainages
upstream from a point due west of Threemi1e Creek to Wood River headwaters. Eastern and northern drainages between
Virginia Creek and Wood River headwaters not included.
11/8 31 3 34 74 16 90 124 16 140 5.0 28
Appendix 47. Moose sex and age ratios, Unit 20A, Upper Wood River, 1973.
Percent
Area Date
Bulls/
100 Cows
Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Bulls/ Yearling Yearling Bulls/ Calves/
100 Cows 100 Adult Bulls Bulls 100 Bull Calves 100 Cows
Twin Calves/
100 Cows
w/Calf
Percent
Calves Moose/Hour
Total
Moose
Drainages on either side of Wood River upstream from Threemile Creek on the east to Wood River headwaters, and upstream from the south
drainages of Cody Creek on the west to Wood River headwaters. Drainages on west side of Wood River between Cody Creek and Threemile
Creek not included.
11/8,
11/21 33.6 1.8 5.7 1.2 21.1 17.3 11.4 35
Drainages on either side of Wood River upstream from Threemile Creek to Kansas Creek on the east, and western drainages upstream
from a point due west of Threemile Creek to Wood River headwaters. Eastern and northern drainages between Virginia Creek and
Wood River headwaters not included.
11/8 37.8 3.3 9.7 2.1 37.5 17.8 11.4 28
166
140
Appendix. 48. Bull:cow and calf:cow ratios in foothills of the Alaska Range, east
and west of the Wood River from 1965 to 1973.
East of Wood River West of Wood River
Year M/100 F Calf/100 F M/100 F Calf/100 F
1965 27 17 32 26
1966 87 19 51 15
1969 155 55 70 34
1970 68 23 12 25
1971 42 27 28 24
1972 56 26 23 30
1973 80 27 19 25
Appendix 49. Total number and age
fall aerial surveys.
ratio of moose observed on the Tanana Flats during
Percent Calves/ Count
Year Area Total Yearlings in Herd 100 Cows Time (Hrs.) Harvest
1973 1-9 1011 4.5 24 38.9 710
1973 2-9 332 6.6 22 20.9
1972 1-9 1015 4.8 32 33.7 484
1972 2-9 644 5.9 38 20.9
1971 1-9 1469 1.6 27 33.2 350
1971 2-9 567 0.9 31 18.3
1970 1-9 888 4.5 29 29.3 306
1970 2-9 500 5.4 32 16.1
1969 1-9 1254 6.9 42 24.0 255
1969 2-9 752 9.2 44 18.0
1968 2-9 897 5.6 39 18.4 258
1967 2-9 528 3.8 25 19.1 210
Appendix 50. Total number and sex ratio of moose observed and snow depth on ground
(U.S. Weather Bureau records for Fairbanks, Alaska) during fall aerial
surveys in count area no. 1 (foothills of Alaska Range) of GMU 20A.
1000
Q)
(/)
0
0
~·-.2:
0 -~ 0
80
0+
0
0 -40 ~
oC
80 ..r::.
+-
0..
Q)-
o E
(.)
~ -0 c
U) 0
Count Area No. 1
Go c32 63 65 66 69 70 71 -r2 73
Nov Nov Oct Nov Oct Nov Dec Nov r\Jov
Year 8 Month
Appendix 51. Sex ratios of moose observed during fall aerial surveys east and
west of the Wood River in count area no. 1 (foothills of Alaska
Range) of GMU 20A.
80
60
40
20
( 155)
East of Wood R.
0 1-_.....,1 _____ J .. -I -~-_J~ ____ .J _ __,_ ___ .,-·-~. ·~-.
West of Wocd F<.
1965
Apnendix 52. Total number and sex ratio of moose observed during fall aerial
surveys in count areas no. 2-9 (Tanana Flats) of GMU 20A.
Q)
(/) 800 0
0
>-
0 400 -~
0
O+ 80
0
0 40
............
~
0
-
0) (}) 0
L() L() <.0
N
lO lO
Count Areas No. 2-9
I I j_ __ L_J
~ m <.0 ~ ro m o N ~
lO lO lO lO w lO ~ ~ ~~ ~
Year
Appendix 53. Total moose observed during fall aerial surveys in count
1-9 of GMU 20A. areas no.
1800
-
Q) 1400-
(/)
0
0 ~ 1000-
0
0 600-
1-
--
200-
Count Areas No. l-9
0 C\1 1'0 L[) <.D 01 0 N 1'0 w w w w w m ~ ~ ~ ~
Year
State:
Cooperator:
Project No.:
Job No.:
Period Covered:
JOB PROGRESS REPORT (RESEARCH)
Alaska
John W. Coady
W-17-6
l.llR
Project Title: Big Game Investigations
Job Title: Seasonal Movement and
Distribution of Moose
Breeding in the Alaska
Range Foothills
July 1, 1973 through June 30, 1974
SUMMARY
Twenty adult moose were radio-collared in the Alaska Range during
October 1973. All animals were located weekly, and search time required
to visually sight animals, habitat, activity, and association with other
animals were recorded. Approximately 575 locations have been obtained
since the animals were collared, and data will be reported in a future
publication.
i
Summary ..
Background.
Objectives ..
Procedures. .
Results ...
Acknowledgments
See Job 1.8R.
CONTENTS
BACKGROUND
OBJECTIVES
i
. 1
. . 1
1
2
• 3
The objectives of this study are to determine the annual loyalty of
animals to particular breeding sites, and thereby the extent to which
moose (Alces alces) rutting in restricted areas constitute discrete
populations; to determine the influence of weather and habitat on the
movement and distribution of moose, and on the visibility of moose from
an aircraft; and to monitor the influence of hunting and wolves (Canis
lupus) on the behavior of moose in the Alaska Range foothills.
PROCEDURES
Seventeen adult cows and three adult bulls were radio-collared
between October 8 and 13, 1973 in Snow Mountain Gulch and Gold King
Creek in the foothills of the Alaska Range.
Snow Mountain Gulch is located 90 km south of Fairbanks. The area
forms a gentle bowl in the foothills of the Alaska Range and ranges in
elevation from 600-1200 m. Conifer and tall shrub stands at lower
elevations merge into treeless low shrub communities and herbaceous
meadows in higher areas. Gold King Creek flows north from the Alaska
Range, approximately 100 km south of Fairbanks. The creek flows through
a relatively narrow, steep-sided valley in the mountains, ranging in
elevation from 600 to 1200 m. Vegetation in the valley bottom is dominated
by conifers, while that on the valley sides consists largely of stands
of low and tall shrubs.
Helicopter darting techniques were used to capture animals and will
not be further described here. Each animal was color-coded with ear
streamers, an incisor tooth for aging and a hair sample for mineral
analysis were collected and standard body measurements were obtained at
the time the radio collar was attached.
Radio collars were designed and constructed by Ocean Applied Research
Corporation (OAR), San Diego, California. These units, weighing 8.8 kg,
transmit a pulsed CW signal (1 pulse per 2 to 2.5 seconds) on frequencies
between 150.800 to 151.075 MHz. Signal detection range is approximately
160 km ground to air, and life expectancy is 1 or more years.
1
A LA-12 telemetry receiver constructed by AVM Instrument Company,
Champaign, Illinois, and a three-element Yagi antenna, constructed by
Hy-Gain Electronics Corporation, Lincoln, Nebraska, are being used.
All animals are located weekly from the air. Both a PA-18-150 with
the antenna mounted facing forward on the struts, and a Hello-Courier
with the antenna mounted facing forward on the wing have been satisfactorily
used. Both pilot and observer wear earphones, and the plane (and antenna)
is flown in the direction in which signal reception is loudest until the
transmitter and moose are located. Location of each animal is plotted
on 1:63360 USGS maps or on vegetation type maps constructed by ADF&G
(Job 1.3R). Search time required to visually sight the moose after its
location is determined electronically, as well as time of day, habitat
(aquatic, low shrub, tall shrub, deciduous tree, coniferous tree),
activity (bedded, standing, traveling, feeding), grazing with other
moose, temperature and approximate snow depth are recorded (Fig. 1).
RESULTS
The history of the radio-collared moose, in chronological order, is
as follows:
October 8-13, 1973 -20 moose radio-collared and 2 moose visually
collared; one bull killed by overdose of drug; one cow killed in self
defense.
November 1 -Moose #93455 (radio #14) found dead, apparently from
effects of drug; about one-half of animal eaten by wolves and ravens
(Corvus aorax); instrument moose #93594 with radio #14.
November 8 -Signals from radios #2 and #15 lost.
November 15 -Moose #93466 and #93527 (radios #2 and #15, respectively)
shot by hunters and collars turned in to ADF&G.
December 11 -Instrument moose #93694 and #93697 with radios #2 and
#15, respectively.
December 13 -Calf of moose #93451 (radio #5) disappeared.
January 10, 1974 -Moose #93457 (radio #9) and her calf partially
consumed and probably killed by wolves. Radio-collar retrieved.
February 14 -Moose #93451 (radio #5) partially consumed and probably
killed by wolves. Radio-collar retrieved.
March 7 -Calf of moose #93460 (radio #18) disappeared; possibly
wolves, since tracks of a pack of three and a pack of six wolves were
seen in the area.
April 3 -Signal from moose #93463 (radio #20) lost; moose later
spotted and confirmed that transmitter was inoperative.
2
April 18 -Signal from moose #93460 (radio #18) lost; possibly
wolves since fresh wolf tracks were seen in area where moose was last
located.
May 6 -Moose #93468 (radio #4) totally consumed and probably
killed by wolves; radio-collar retrieved.
June 7 -Signal from moose #93456 (radio #16) lost; unknown cause.
To summarize, of the 20 adult moose originally radio-collared, two
were killed by hunters, three were consumed and probably killed by
wolves, one may have been killed by wolves, one transmitter has failed
and the fate of three transmitters (and moose) is unknown. As of August
1, 1974 twelve radio-collars were operative on instrumented moose, and
three radio-collars were operative and being stored at the ADF&G office
in Fairbanks.
Movement data have not been analyzed and will not be reported in
detail here. However, approximately 575 locations have been determined
as of August 1, 1974 on the Tanana Flats and in the Alaska Range.
Most collared as well as unmarked moose emigrated from alpine
habitat in the foothills of the Alaska Range during late fall and early
winter (see Fig. 3, Job 1.3R). Approximately 14 collared animals moved
north to deciduous and coniferous tree and shrub habitat on the Tanana
Flats, while the remaining moose shifted to riparian willow habitat in
the foothills or further south into the Alaska Range. During early
spring collared moose wintering in the foothills and mountains migrated
north onto the Tanana Flats, where most of the marked animals spent
early summer. By late June, some individuals were slowly moving back
toward the foothills of the Alaska Range.
Search time, activity and grouping data have been partially analyzed,
but will not be reported here. Preliminary results of habitat utilization
were reported under Job 1.3R of this report. Results of this study will
be reported in two or three future publications.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Bill Giffin, John Trent, and Spencer Linderman made valuable contri--
butions to radio-collaring and locating moose. The assistance and
enthusiasm of John J. Burns in collaring all moose and the ability,
persistence and interest of Tony Smith in locating radio-collared moose
on numerous occasions are especially appreciated. Richard Bishop and
Robert LeResche made helpful suggestions and provided stimulating discussions.
Dale Haggstrom analyzed portions of the data. Contributions by the
above biologists have made this study possible.
3
PREPARED BY:
John W. Coady
Game Biologist
SUBMITTED BY:
Richard H. Bishop
Regional Research Coordinator
APPROVED BY:
Research Chief, Division of Game
4