HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPA4126Alaska DePartment of fish and Game
Division of Wildlife Conservation
federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
Research final RePort
I JulY 1985-30 June 1995
lower Susitna ValleY Moose
PoPulation IdentitY and Movement StudY
Ronald D Modafferi
Whitten
Grants W-22-5-W-24-3
StudY 1.38
Au~ust 1999
STATE OF ALASKA
Tony Knowles, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Frank Rue, Commissioner
DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Wayne L. Regelin, Director
Persons intending to cite this material should receive permission from the
author(s) and/or the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Because most
reports deal with preliminary results of continuing studies, conclusions
are tentative and should be identified as such. Please give authors credit.
Free copies of this report and other Division of Wildlife Conservation
publications are available to the public. Please direct requests to our
publications specialist.
Mary Hicks
Publications Specialist
ADF &G, Wildlife Conservation
P.O. Box 25526
Juneau, AK 99802
(907) 465-4190
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game administers all programs and
activities free from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color,
national origin, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or
disability. For information on alternative formats for this and other
department publications, please contact the department ADA Coordinator
at (voice) 907-465-4120, (TDD) 1-800-478-3648, or FAX 907-586-6595.
Any person who believes she/he has been discriminated against should
write to ADF&G, PO Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526 or O.E.O., U.S.
Department of the Interior, Washington DC 20240.
STATE:
GRANTS:
TITLE:
AUTHOR:
PERIOD:
RESEARCH FINAL REPORT
Alaska STUDY: 1.38
W-22-5 W-22-6 W-23-1 W-23-2 W-23-3 W-23-4 W-23-5 W-24-, ' ' ' ' ' '
1' w -24-2, w -24-3
Lower Susitna Valley Moose Population Identity and Movement
Study
Ronald D Modafferi
1 July 1985-30 June 1995
Editor's note: Figures 52-59(A-X) were not submitted with this report. The editor chose to
include all textual references.
SUMMARY
During winter large numbers of moose aggregate on floodplains of the lower Susitna River,
Skwentna River, Alexander Creek, and Moose Creek in Game Management Subunits 14B,
16A, and 16B, Southcentral Alaska (62°N, 150°W). Aerial surveys in post-rut concentration
areas revealed dense concentrations of moose in remote areas of Subunit 14B in the western
foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains, east of known winter concentration areas. Managers
speculated that moose that were surveyed in these post-rut qoncentrations stayed in remote
areas in autumn and therefore were largely unavailable to hllilters in autumn hunting seasons.
To investigate the assertion that moose in winter concentration areas near railway and
roadway systems in Subunit 14B are migratory moose from post-rut concentration areas in
remote portions of Subunit 14B, I studied movements and distribution of unmarked moose
and radiocollared moose studies in the lower Susitna River valley (25,000 km2
) in
Southcentral Alaska during April 1980-February 1991. Objectives of this study were to: (1)
describe seasonal and annual distribution, movements, and home range of moose
radiocollared in winter concentration areas, post-rut concentration areas and late winter range,
(2) examine the relationship between numbers of moose in post-rut concentration areas· and
numbers of moose in winter and late winter range, and (3) assess the efficacy of autumn
surveys in post-rut concentration areas and winter hunts in winter concentration areas and late
winter range as tools for managing moose.
Moose movements in early winter though spring were correlated with accumulation of snow
which actuates migration of moose to winter concentration areas, limits movements of moose
in those areas, and induces moose to leave in spring. Precise distance and chronology of
moose long distance movements was correlated generally with magnitude and timing of snow
accumulation, which varied greatly among years. Moose migrated in early winter (17 Nov) if
snow accumulations were deep in early winter. Moose migrations were delayed if normal
accumulation of snow was in late winter (16 Jan). In a low snow winter, moose that migrated
in a normal snow winter did not migrate. I confirmed strong traditional movements in several
radiocollared moose monitored in 5+ consecutive years, although some moose were
nonmigratory in all years. In January through April, moose home ranges were smaller in
19.84-1985 and 1989-1990, years with deepest snow, than in the other years. In males and
females, home ranges in January through April were largest in 1983-1984, a year with low
snow in early winter and normal snow in late winter.
The percent of calf moose in winter surveys varied in relation to snow pack depth among
years and within a year among areas, with fewer calves seen as the winter proceeded,
especially in years of high snow accumulation. With few exceptions, extreme highs and lows
in number of train-killed moose were positively correlated with year to year variation in snow
pack depth.
Before my studies, managers of moose made incorrect inferences about the direction of
migrations of moose in the western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains and the direction and
distance of migrations of moose in the low relief region west of the Susitna River floodplain.
Moose in the Talkeetna Mountains migrated perpendicular to prominent river drainages,
whereas moose in low relief areas west of the Susitna River migrated perpendicular to river
drainages and covered greater distances than presupposed. Managers must have knowledge
about moose traditional movements to implement harvests, surveys, and habitat management
in the appropriate season and location
Key words: home range, migration, moose, snow.
11
CONTENTS
SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ i
BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................................... 2
OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................................... 2
STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................ 3
METHODS ................................................................................................................................. 3
BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................... 3
TRAIN MOOSE-KILLS ................................................................................................................ 3
SNOW pACK DEPTH .................................................................................................................. 4
CAPTURE AND RADIOCOLLARING PROCEDURES ...................................................................... .4
AERIAL SURVEYS AND SURVEY DATA ..................................................................................... 4
PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS OF RADIO-FIX DATA ................................................................... 5
RESULTS ................................................................................................................................... 8
TRAIN MOOSE-KILLS ............................................................................................................... 8
SNOWPACK DEPTH ................................................................................................................... 8
AERIAL SURVEYS OF UNMARKED MOOSE ................................................................................ 9
WCA .................................................................................................................................... 9
PCA ................................................................................................................................... JO
CAPri.JRE, RADIOCOLLARING, AND TELEMETRY MONITORING OF RADIOCOLLARED MOOSE 10
DISTRIBUTION, MOVEMENTS_, AND HOME RANGE OF RADIOCOLLARED MOOSE .................... 11
Elevation in Winter ........................................................................................................... II
Elevation in Winter Versus Elevation in Autumn .............................................................. ll
Nearness to the Parks Highway in Winter ........................................................................ II
Nearness to the Parks Highway in Winter Versus Autumn ............................................... II
Dispersal from WCA in the Susitna River floodplain in Subunit 16A to Subunits 14A,
14B, or PCA in those Subunits .......................................................................................... ]]
Destination by Subunit of Radiocollared Moose that Dispersed from WCA in the Susitna
River Floodplain in Subunits 16A and 16B ....................................................................... 12
Annual Movements of Individuals ..................................................................................... 12
Spring Season Movements of Females with Neonates, Males, and Females without
Neonates ............................................................................................................................ 13
Spring Season Home Range Size in Females and Males .................................................. ]]
Autumn Through Early-Winter Movements and Home Range Size in Females and Malesl3
Winter Movements of Females and Males ........................................................................ 14
Chronology of Seasonal Movements between Winter Range and Nonwinter Range ........ l4
Length of Time in Winter and Nonwinter Season Home Ranges ...................................... 15
Size of Winter (Nov-Apr) and Late Winter (Jan-Apr) Seasonal Home Ranges in Females
and Males .......................................................................................................................... 15
Size of Terminal Winter Home Range in Migratory and Nonmigratory Females ............ 16
Annual and Life Home Range: Configuration, Year-to-Year Uniformity, and Size ........ 16
Relationship between Life, Life Season, and Life Management Season Home Ranges in
Nonmigratory and Migratory Moose ................................................................................ 17
Spatial Relationship among the Seasonal Home Ranges in an Annual Home Range ...... 17
1
Winter and Summer Seasonal Range of Moose Grouped According to Geographic Area
and Season of Capture ...................................................................................................... 18
DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................................... 22
LITERATURE CITED ............................................................................................................. 25
Figures ....................................................................................................................................... 28
Tables ...................................................................................................................................... 152
Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 170
BACKGROUND
Knowledge about moose movements is basic to effective management of moose. Movements
of moose affect size and configuration of home ranges, seasonal distribution of populations,
timing and duration of habitat utilization, and potential for colonizing new habitat. With an
understanding of movements, managers can more effectively survey moose, address moose-
landuse conflicts, and manipulate hunter harvest to control size and composition of moose
populations. In Alaska, density of resource users, moose-human conflicts, and consumptive
and nonconsumptive demand for moose are greatest near Anchorage in the lower Susitna
River Valley (LSRV) in Southcentral Alaska. To satisfy large and increasing demands by
resource users, managers in Game Management Subunit (GMS) 14B in Southcentral Alaska
are compelled to be scrupulous in management of moose. Prior to 1986, in LSRV moose
population data were mainly gathered on nonrandom ("high grade") aerial surveys conducted
in late autumn-early winter above timberline in postrut concentration areas (PCA) (Lynch
1975). Aerial surveys in PCA in LSRV revealed dense concentrations of moose in remote
portions of Subunit 14B in the western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains. Managers
speculated that moose that were surveyed in these PCA stayed in remote portions of Subunit
14B in autumn and were inaccessible to hunters in autumn open-hunting seasons.
These inferences prompted managers to contend that the moose population in Subunit 14B
was underharvested. Data from autumn-winter surveys of moose in PCA in Subunit 14B
(ADF&G files, Rausch 1954) and numbers of train moose-kills in winter in lowland winter
range (L WR) near the Susitna River (Rausch 1954) showed correlations between chronologies
of autumn-winter decreases in numbers of moose in remote portions of Subunit 14B and
autumn-winter increases of moose in accessible lower elevations near railway and highway
systems that pass along the western boundary of Subunit 14B. These observations lead
managers to conclude that winter aggregations of moose in accessible low elevation areas in
Subunit 14B were composed of migratory moose from PCA in remote, high elevation areas in
Subunit 14B. Based on these data, managers implemented moose hunts in winter in moose
winter concentration areas (WCA) and LWR in Subunit 14B to harvest moose that were
inaccessible to hunters in autumn.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the assertion that moose in WCA near railway and roadway systems in Subunit
14B are migratory moose from PCA in remote portions of Subunit 14B, I studied lo~ation,
2
movements, and distribution of unmarked moose and marked radiocollared moose in a series
of interrelated studies in LSRV in Southcentral Alaska during April1980-February 1991. The
objective of this study was to (1) describe seasonal and annual .distribution, movements, and
home range of moose radiocollared in WCA, PCA, and L WR, (2) examine the relationship
between numbers of moose in PCA and numbers of moose in WCA and L WR, and (3) assess
efficacy autumn surveys in PCA and winter hunts in WCA and L WR as tools for managing
moose in the Lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska.
STUDY AREA
The study area, located in LSRV in Southcentral Alaska, encompassed 25,000 km2 • The area
included portions of Subunits 13E, 14A, 14B, 16A, and 16B. Viereck and Little (1972) and
Modafferi (1991) describe geography and climate of the LSRV. Snow accumulation is a
highly variable component of weather in LSRV.
METHODS
BACKGROUND
To investigate movements and distribution of moose in Southcentral Alaska, I reviewed and
compiled aerial survey information on location of unmarked moose and marked radiocollared
moose collected in previous studies. These studies were conducted in PCA, WCA, and L WR
in LSRV from April 1980 through February 1991 (Arneson 1981; Modafferi 1982, 1983,
1984, 1987, 1988a, 1988b, 1990, 1991, 1992). Studies in April 1980 through November 1985
were mainly on moose in WCA in lowland floodplains. These studies were focused on
unmarked and marked radiocollared moose in the floodplain of the Susitna River between
Portage Creek and Cook Inlet. Subsidiary studies were conducted on unmarked moose in
floodplains of Alexander Creek, Moose Creek, and Deshka River and on marked radiocollared
moose in an old homestead abutting the west bank of Susitna River at Montana Creek. Studies
during December 1985 through February 1992 were focused on unmarked moose and marked
radiocollared moose in PCA above timberline in the western foothills of the Talkeetna
Mountains. We conducted supplementary studies on moose captured and radiocollared in
WCA in floodplains of Yentna River near Lake Creek, Skwentna River near Skwentna,
Alexander Creek, and on moose captured and radiocollared in L WR in lowland mixed birch-
spruce forests west of the Talkeetna Mountains between Sheep Creek and Little Susitna River.
A study on relationship between train moose-kills and snowpack depth (Modafferi 1991)
provided indirect information on movements and winter distribution of unmarked moose in
PCA and WCA in LSRV. In an interim study, I evaluated methods for analyzing radiofix data
from radiocollared moose for information on movements and home range (Modafferi 1994).
TRAIN MOOSE-KILLS
The Alaska Railroad Corporation provided location and date of kill data on moose killed in
collisions with trains in the Alaska Railway between Willow Creek (railroad milemark 188)
and Talkeetna River (railroad milemark 227) from October through April in 1980-1991.
3
SNOW PACK DEPTH
I used snow pack depth measurements to assess snow accumulation in the study area. I
received snow depth data from Alaska Climatological Data Reports, US Department of
Commerce, Data Information Service, National Climate Center, Asheville, North Carolina.
Snow depth data from Willow and Talkeetna were used as indices of snow pack depth in
WCA and in PCA in LSRV. Snow depth data presented were maximum snow pack depth
recorded each 10 days, month, or winter (Oct-Apr) during October through April in 1980-
1991.
CAPTURE AND RAI>IOCOLLARING PROCEDURES
Moose were captured for radiocollaring by approaching and darting either from a helicopter or
on foot or snow machine. Moose were immobilized with etorphine hydrochloride (M99,
Lemmon Co., Sellersville, Pennsylvania) with or without xylaxine hydrochloride (Rompun,
Haver-Lockhart, Shawnee, Kans.) or carfentanil' citrate (Wildlnil, Wildl. Lab., Fort Collins,
Colorado, USA). M99 and Wildnil were antangonized with diprenorphine (M50-50, Lemmon
Co., Sellersville, Pennsylvania, USA) and naloxone hydrochloride (Dupont Pharmaceuticals,
Garden City, New Jersey, USA). Immobilized moose were marked with ear tags, a visual-
numbered canvas collar (Franzmann et al. 1974), and radio transmitter with or without a
mortality (motion) option (Telonics, Mesa, Arizona, USA). Capture procedures took place in
PCA, WCA, and LWR in LSRV in Southcentral Alaska. In PCA, moose were captured for
marking in December and January with capture procedures beginning after aerial surveys
indicated peak numbers of moose were present in PCA. In WCA and L WR, moose capture
and marking took place in January through April with capture procedures commencing after
numbers of moose in PCA decreased and numbers of moose in WCA increased. Radio collars
were allocated among moose within areas in relation to distribution and abundance of moose
within specific PCA, WCA, and L WR areas. We estimated age of captured moose mainly by
incisor wear. However, in studies before February 1985, a first incisor tooth was removed
from captured moose for cementum aging (Sergeant and Pimlott 1959). Marked moose were
> 18 months of age; few moose were <30 months. All marked moose were considered adults.
AERIAL SURVEYS AND SURVEY DATA
We conducted aerial surveys to determine location and verify survival of marked moose 1-5
times each month, using telemetry equipped Cessna-152, -180, -185, or Piper Super Cub (PA-
18) fixed-wing aircraft and standard aerial radiotracking procedures (Ballard et al. 1991). All
marked moose were not radiotracked on each survey. However, I frequently radiotracked >60
moose during a 1-day survey. I searched intensively at the location of each radio-fix to
confirm the geographic location and that the marked moose was alive. Marked moose were
telemetry monitored from capture to death or loss of signal contact. Moose radio-fix locations
(audio-visual or audio) were recorded on 1 :63,360-scale USGS topographic maps during
surveys. Radio-fix data were later transferred to translucent overlays of topographic maps for
computer digitization and conversion to UTM values of X, Y coordinates. Elevation of
marked moose (radio-fix locations) was determined from records of radio-fixes plotted on
topographic maps.
4
We determined distribution and abundance of moose in PCA, WCA, and old homesteads by
counting moose (unmarked and marked) on aerial surveys. Surveys were flown in PA-18
aircraft at about 100m above ground level, at a search intensity of 2-3 minutes per km2
• We
conducted survey flights at 2-to 3-week intervals with weather permitting and snow cover
sufficient to observe moose. Areas surveyed were traversed in a parallel transect search
pattern. Sufficient snow cover and low vegetative cover in PCA, WCA, and old homesteads
led to very high observability of moose. Live moose observed on aerial surveys were
classified and counted as calf, nonantlered adult, small antlered adult, and large antlered adult;
we also counted dead moose. WCA surveyed were floodplains of the Susitna River,
Alexander Creek, Deshka River, Moose Creek, and Y entna River. PCA surveyed were
Sunshine Mountain, Wolverine Mountain, Witna Mountain, Willow Mountain, Brownie
Mountain, Moss Mountain, and Bald Mountain. PCA were located above timberline between
550 m and 1200 m elevation in the western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains. Elevation of
WCA ranged from 15 m to 300m. Old homesteads (n = 14) surveyed were located near the
Susitna River and the Parks Highway .between Willow and Talkeetna at elevations ranging 70
m to 110m.
PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS OF RADIO-FIX DATA
To study life home range, radio-fix data from marked moose were combined across years; this
was >200 radio-fixes spanning >9 years for some moose. Annual and life home range was
determined for moose with >16 radio-fixes in 365 consecutive days. To study annual home
range, I used the calendar year of 7 May through 6 May the following year. A Julian calendar
year of 1 to 365 was used to describe the calendar year. To study annual movements, the
following year I used the calendar year of 1 June through 31 May. To link data on radio-fix-
locations, movements, and home range of radio collared moose to management and biology of
moose, the data were analyzed in relation to moose biological and management seasons, based
on phenological seasons and seasonal events with relevance to ecology and management of
moose. Biological and management seasons were delineated with calendar dates. Biological
and management seasons identified were calving (10-31 May), summer (13 Jul-15 Aug), rut
(15 Sep-5 Oct), post-rut (11 Oct-7 Nov), winter (19 Jan-31 Mar), hunt (20 Aug-30 Sep),
survey (7 Nov-21 Dec). In several analyses, date intervals delineating winter season were
defined by movements of moose or were confined to a limited portion of winter (e.g., late
winter, Jan-Apr) versus the entire winter (i.e., 23 Nov-Apr). To describe home range and
movements of moose captured in specific seasons and geographic areas, lifetime radio fix data
from individual moose grouped by season and geographical area of capture were analyzed by
location of capture and location in summer (7 May-30 Sep) and winter (1 Jan-31 Mar).
I used CALHOME (version 1) (Kie et al. 1996), a computer software program for estimating
home range size, to determine size of moose lifetime and seasonal home ranges and to
identify core areas (discrete utilization distributions) in home ranges with radio-fix data that
were multimodally distributed. We used adaptive kernel (AK) and minimum convex polygon
(MCP) methods to determine size of home ranges to analyze for year effects annual home
range and philopatry to winter home range. In AK analyses, I selected 50 X 50 cell grid size
and 98% utilization distribution. The 50 X 50 cell grid, the maximum number of cells,
5
prov!ded the smoothest fit. I used the 98% utilization distribution because experience from
monitoring moose and preliminary analyses indicated that very few radio-fixes were clearly
extraneous to all other radio-fixes. In other moose studies, 95% and 90% of the radio-fixes
were used in calculations of annual home ranges (Cederlund and Okarma 1988 and Cederlund
and Sand 1994, respectively). Bandwidth used in lifetime home range analyses was that with
the lowest LSCV between the optimum value determined by the program and the optimum
value times 0.55 (see Modafferi 1994). Area and linear measurements were used to evaluate
size of life annual and seasonal home ranges. The area measurement was area (km2) of a
100% minimum convex polygon (MCP). The linear measurement was greatest width (km) of
the MCP. Greatest width was the distance between the 2 radio-fixes with the greatest W;
where W =square root of((X1-X2)2+(Y 1-Y2)2) and X,Y =coordinates ofradio-fixes.
Linear distance between consecutive radio-fixes, a measure of moose movement, was used to
describe seasonal and annual movements of moose. Linear distance between consecutive
radio-fixes was also used to determine the first date and last date moose were in winter range
and nonwinter range and the number of days moose were in winter range and nonwinter
range. First date in winter range was the date of the second radio-fix in the pair of radio-fixes
that delimited the first relatively long distance movement after 1 October. The radio-fix
marking the first date in winter range was normally followed by a series of short distance
movements. Last date in winter range was the date of the first radio-fix in the pair of radio-
fixes that delimited the first long distance movement after 15 March. First date in nonwinter
range was the date of the second radio-fix in the former pair of radio-fixes. First date was
normally the date of the second radio-fix in the pair of radio-fixes that delimited the first
relatively long distance movement after 15 March. Last date in nonwinter range was the date
of the first radio-fix in the pair of radio-fixes that delimited the first relatively long distance
movement after 1 October. Number of days in winter (nonwinter) range was the Julian date of
the last date in winter (nonwinter) range, minus the Julian date of the first date in winter
(nonwinter) range.
To obtain information on terminal winter home range, analyses were performed on radiofix
data from 3 samples of moose selected on information revealed in adaptive kernel analysis of
moose lifetime radiofix data. For terminal winter home range of radiocollared moose, the
home range polygon was identified in AK analyses and was described by radiofixes obtained
after autumn-winter migration was completed and before winter-spring migration was
initiated. Terminal home range polygons did not overlap with polygons of other seasonal
ranges or include radiofixes from other seasons. Information on terminal winter home range
was obtained from analyses on component radiofixes of a terminal home range polygon .. For
baseline information on terminal winter home range, I selected 5 moose that had a terminal
winter range polygon that was disjunct from polygons of other seasonal ranges in AK
analyses ofradiofix data in 1982-1983, a normal snow year, and in 1984-1985, a deep snow
year. Radio fix data from this sample of moose were used to determine size of terminal home
range size. I used radiofix and date data from this sample of moose (i.e., migratory moose) to
establish date intervals that were used to select radiofix data (i.e., terminal winter home range
radiofixes) from moose without disjunct winter home ranges (i.e., nonmigratory moose). I
used these data in analyses of terminal winter home range size in nonmigratory moose. Six
6
nonmigratory moose (i.e., moose without disjunct winter and nonwinter seasonal home range
polygons) were selected to provide data for analyses on size of terminal winter home range in
1982-1983 and 1984-1985. Radiofix data collected from 8 migratory moose (and 16
nonmigratory moose) in another deep snow winter, 1989-1990, were analyzed for information
on terminal winter range. As in the 1982-1983 and 1984-1985 data, AK analyses were
applied to the 1989-1990 data to identify the terminal winter home range radiofixes for use in
analyzing size ofterminal home range in 1989-1990.
I used nucleoli and nuclei to describe measures of midpoints in life seasonal home ranges
within life home ranges and to quantify spatial relationships among the seasonal home ranges
within life home ranges. A nucleolus was described by X,Y coordinates, where X and Y
coordinates were the mean of the X's and mean of the Y's of radiofixes in a seasonal home
range in a calendar. A nuclei was described by X, Y coordinates, where the X and Y
coordinates were the mean of the X's and mean of the Y's of nucleoli n calendar years within
a given season. I used distance between nuclei of seasonal home ranges (i.e., distance between
centers of seasonal home ranges) to quantify distance between seasonal home ranges and
movements of moose between seasonal home ranges. Distance between seasonal home ranges
was the mean of distance values across calendar years within a given season. Annual
movement of moose was the sum of distances between chronologically consecutive seasonal
home ranges in a calendar year (e.g., calving home range through calving home range the
following calendar year). To determine relative contribution of seasonal movements (i.e.,
between chronologically consecutive seasonal ranges) to annual movements, I analyzed
radiofix data collected in 4 consecutive calendar years, 1981-1985. In these analyses, I first
determined the distance between nuclei of chronologically consecutive seasonal ranges in
each calendar year and then summed these values within each calendar year. Percent
composition of movements between seasonal ranges in annual movements was the mean of
the calendar year values across the 4 calendar years.
I determined central points in life seasonal home ranges-to plot for showing graphically the
spatial relationships among seasonal ranges in a life home range and to quantify relationship
between rut season home ranges versus management event home ranges and other seasonal
ranges. Central points in life seasonal home ranges were center points in discrete utilization
distributions (polygons) identified in adaptive kernel analyses (98% points; bandwidth= 0.55
times optimum bandwidth) of life seasonal home range radiofix data. Central points were
described by X,Y coordinates, where X andY were the mean of the X's and mean of the Y's
of the radiofixes in a life seasonal home range. Central points were identified in utilization
distributions with 22 radiofixes. The central point in the utilization distribution with the
greatest number of radiofixes was the primary centroid; the central point in other utilization
distributions was a satellite centroid. Biological seasons studied were calving ( 10 May-31
May), summer (13 Jul-15 Aug), rut (15 Sep-5 Oct), post-rut (11 Oct-7 Nov), winter (19 Jan-
31 Mar). Management event seasons studied were hunt (20 August-30 September) and survey
(7 Nov-21 Dec). Hunt season was the calendar period of open hunting season. Survey season
was the calendar period moose managers conduct aerial surveys to determine moose
population status. To study spatial relationships 'between biological season home ranges and
management season home ranges, I compared distances between centroids of biological
7
season home ranges and centroids of hunt and survey home ranges. To study spatial
relationships among all seasonal home ranges (biological and management seasons), I
assumed the rut seasonal range was the focal point in the life and annual home range of moose
and compared distance between the rut range centroid versus centroids of each other seasonal
home range.
To study size of seasonal home ranges, I used area and greatest width of 100% MCP of life
seasonal home ranges as measures of the size of seasonal home ranges.
In this study, the term migratory identified moose with life home range radiofix data that were
multimodally distributed; the term nonmigratory identified moose with life home range
radiofix data that was not multimodally distributed.
I used ArcView (1992), a geographic information system software, to manipulate radiofix
data and to produce figures showing location of moose radio fixes in the study area.
I used data on location of capture and location ofradiofixes in summer (7 May-30 Sep) and in
winter (1 Jan-31 Mar) from 210 moose captured and radiocollared in 21 geographical areas to
represent summer and winter home ranges and seasonal distribution of moose grouped by
geographic area.
RESULTS
TRAIN MOOSE-KILLS
Numbers ofmoose killed in collisions with trains in Subunit 14B in winter during 1980-1991
varied greatly among years (Fig 1A), ranging from 3 in 1985-1986 to 351 moose in 1989-
1990. With few exceptions, extreme highs and lows in number of moose-kills were correlated
with yearly fluctuations in snowpack depth (Fig 1B); notable exceptions were in low number
of moose-kills in 1980-1981, 1983-1984, and 1990-1991, years with relatively deep
accumulations of snow.
SNOWPACK DEPTH
During 1980-91, mean maximum annual snowpack depth at Talkeetna was 102 em.
Maximum annual snowpack depth varied greatly among years (Fig 1B). Snowpack depth
generally increased from October through February and decreased afterwards. However, in
some years, differences in chronology and amplitude of snowfall resulted in large deviations
from the general trend in annual snow accumulation (e.g., in 1980-1985) (Fig 2). Notable
deviations from the normal trend in annual snow accumulation were a low accumulation in
1981-1982 (46 em) and 1985-1986 (28 em); an early accumulation in 1982-1983 (41 em by
31 October); a late accumulation in 1983-1984 (<31 em through December; and a deep
accumulation in 1984-1985 (157 em) and 1989-1990 (226 em).
8
AERIAL SURVEYS OF UNMARKED MOOSE
WCA
We conducted 35 surveys in 4 sections of Susitna River floodplain between Portage Creek
and Cook Inlet in October through April in 1981-1985 (Appendix A). Survey data gathered in
1984-1985 were recompiled by 6 subsections of the floodplain (Appendix B). Numbers of
moose in 2 sections of the floodplain varied widely within a year (Oct-Apr) and among years
1981-1985 (Fig 3A-B). Normally numbers of moose were highest in December through
February and lower in October through November and March through April. Magnitude and
chronology of highs and lows in numbers of moose varied in relationship with amplitude and
timing of sn0w accumulation (Fig 3C). Numbers of moose were lowest in a low snow year,
1981-1982; numbers were higher than normal in early January in a normal snow year with
early snow, 1982-1983. Moose numbers were lower in December through January in a
normal snow year with late snow, 1983-1984, and highest in a deep snow year, 1984-1985.
We conducted 49 aerial surveys in 14 old homesteads, located near the Susitna River
floodplain and the Parks Highway in winter in November through April in 1981-1985
(Appendix C). In a deep snow winter, 1984-1985, numbers of moose in old homesteads
increased from 43 in early December to 379 in February (Fig 4). In a normal snow winter,
1983-1984, the highest number of moose was 231 in March. Difference in chronology and
amplitude in peak numbers of moose in 1983-1984 versus 1984-1985 was correlated with
chronology and amplitude of accumulations of snow (Fig 3C). In 1983-1984 numbers of
moose peaked after increases in snow accumulation in December through January. In 1984-
1985, with larger increases in snowpack depth in December and February, numbers of moose
increased in January and peaked in February. Fluctuations in numbers of moose in 2
homesteads located about 2 km apart on opposite sides (west-east) of the Susitna River near
Montana provide evidence that in early winter moose moved across the Susitna River from
Subunit 16A to Subunit 14B (Fig 5). In each year during 1981-1985, numbers of moose were
at peak levels earlier in winter in Montana west than in Montana east. In each year, numbers
of moose in Montana east peaked after a decrease in numbers of moose in Montana west.
Twelve aerial surveys were conducted in lowland floodplain WCA in Alexander Creek,
Deshka River, Moose Creek, and Yentna River in November thorough April in 1984-1985
(Fig 6). Moose Creek and Deshka River were surveyed on 5 March 1984, and Alexander
Creek was surveyed on 18 February 1987. In Deshka River, number of moose decreased from
mid-December through April (Appendix D). Number of moose in Alexander Creek and
Moose Creek increased to peak levels in January and late February, respectively. In Alexander
Creek numbers of moose remained relatively high through mid April.
Percent calf moose observed on aerial surveys in WCA varied greatly in winter (Nov-Apr),
among winters, and among areas within a winter. In 1982-1983 percent calf moose in Susitna
River floodplain remained relatively high through February, decreasing to 20% in March and
April. In 1984-1985 percent calf moose in floodplains of Alexander Creek, Deshka River, and
Moose Creek was less than 13% in March through April (Fig 7). In the Susitna River
floodplain, percent calves was less north ofYentna River than south ofYentna River in 1984-
9
1985 (Fig 8). In 1984-1985 in all areas surveyed except south of Yentna River (Fig 8),
percent calfmoose in late March was less than 6 percent in 1984-1985. Data gathered in mid
to late March in 1982-1985 and 1990 show that percent calf moose varied in relation to
snowpack depth among years and within a year among areas (Table 1 ). Decrease in percent
calf moose was less precipitous in a normal snow year, 1982-1983 than in a deep snow year,
1984--1985; percent calf moose in March was more than 2 times higher in 1982-1983 than in
1984-1985 (Fig 7). Trends in percent calf moose in old homesteads were similar in 1983-
1~84 and 1984--1985 (Fig 8).
PCA
We conducted 42 aerial surveys in 7 timberline PCA in LSRV in Southcentral Alaska in
October through April in 1985-91 (Appendix E). Trends in numbers of moose in PCA were
fundamentally similar among years with numbers of moose highest in October through early
December and lower in mid December through April (Fig 9). However, numbers of moose
varied widely by date among years. In 1988-1989 and 1989-90, numbers of moose in PCA
peaked in early winter and then decreased precipitously, whereas, in 1985-1986, numbers of
moose peaked later in winter and remained relatively high through March in 1986.
Chronology and magnitude of highs and lows in numbers of moose varied in a negative
relationship with timing and amplitude of snowpack depth (Fig 1 OD). Snowpack depth
generally increased from October through February and decreased afterwards. Notable
exceptions to the general trend in snow accumulation were a low accumulation in 1985-1986,
a relatively early (December) accumulation in 1988-1991, and a deep accumulation in 1989-
1990, and to a lesser extent among post-rut areas (Fig 1 0). Number of moose in PCA tracked
trends in snow accumulation with numbers of moose highest through winter in 1985-1986
and lower in early winter (November through December) in 1988-91. In 1985 numbers of
moose increased in October through mid November, whereas in 1988 and 1989 number of
moose peaked in October and began to decrease before mid November (Fig 11 ). In 1987-
1988 and 1989-1990 numbers of moose decreased less precipitously in Brownie and than in
Bald or Willow (Fig 12). In 1990-1991, rate of decrease in moose numbers was similar
among Bald, Willow, and Brownie PCA.
CAPTURE, RADIOCOLLARING, AND TELEMETRY MONITORING OF RADIOCOLLARED MOOSE
We darted 204 moose with tranquilizers, captured, and fitted them with visual and
radiotransmitting neck collars during April 1980 through April 1990. Due to transmitter
failure and moose deaths from capture problems, radiofix data from 187 of the 204
radiocollared moose were telemetry monitored with aircraft for information on distribution,
movements, and home range. Of the 187 moose monitored, 118 were captured in WCA, 48
were captured in PCA, and 21 were captured in L WR (Table 2). Number of radiocollared
moose monitored in a calendar year ranged from 39 to 112 moose (Fig 13A). Number of years
individual moose were monitored ranged from less than 1 to more than 10 calendar years
(Fig 13B). Individual moose were radiotracked for radiofix locations 11 to 36 times a calendar
year (Fig 14A). Of 9838 moose radiofix locations, number of radiofixes in a month ranged
from 528 in October to 1220 in May (Fig 14B). Number of radiofixes of individual moose
ranged from less than 15 radiofixes to 202 radiofixes (Fig 14C).
10
DISTRIBUTION, MOVEMENTS, AND HOME RANGE OF RADIOCOLLARED MOOSE
Elevation in Winter
In Bald, Willow, and Brownie PCA, moose were in higher elevation in 1985-1986 than in
1986-1991 (Fig 15A). In 1986-1991 radiocollared moose were in higher elevation in
Brownie than in Willow or in Bald. In all years, winter elevation of moose in Brownie was
higher than 400 m. Winter elevation of moose in Bald was higher than 200 m in 1 of 6 years
(i.e., 1985-1986). Except for 1985-1986, winter elevation of moose in Willow was
intermediate to Bald (lower) and Brownie (higher). In all areas, winter elevation of moose was
highest in the year with lowest snow (i.e., 1985-1986) (Fig 6B). In all but 1 year (1987-
1988), yearly changes in moose winter elevation in Willow were negatively correlated with
changes in snow pack depth.
Elevation in Winter Versus Elevation in Autumn
In 1986-1989 moose in Brownie PCA were in· higher elevation in winter than in autumn
(Table 3). In years with deepest accumulation of snow, 1989-1991 (Fig 11), there was no
difference in moose elevation in winter versus in autumn. In Moss-Bald during 1986-1991,
no collared moose were in higher elevation in winter, in contrast to autumn. In Sunshine-
Wolverine and Witna-Willow, collared moose showed preference for lower elevation in
winter than in autumn.
Nearness to the Parks Highway in Winter
There were area effects in data on proximity of moose to the Parks Highway in winter (Table
4). Of 85 moose winter radiofixes in Wolverine, Brownie, Moss, and Bald PCA, none was .::;2
km away from the Parks Highway. In 1986-91, Fourteen of 82 (17.1 %) winter radiofixes in
Sunshine, Witna, and Willow PCA were ::::;2 km away from the Parks Highway; in the deep
snow winters of 1990 and 1991, 4 of 36 (11.1 %) winter radio fixes were ::::;2 km from the Parks
Highway. In 1986-1988, low and normal snow winters, 17.7 percent of 130 winter radiofixes
were ::::;2 km from the Parks Highway.
Nearness to the Parks Highway in Winter Versus Autumn
There were area effects in the data on nearness of moose to the Parks Highway in autumn
versus in winter (Table 5). In 1986-1991, in Sunshine-Wolverine, 4 of 19 (21.1%) moose-
year radiofixes were nearer to the Parks Highway in autumn than in winter. ln. Brownie and
Moss-Bald, 1 of 47 (2.1%) moose-year radiofixes were nearer to the Parks Highway in
autumn than in winter. In Willow-Witna, 56.9% of 51 moose-year radio-fixes were nearer to
the Parks Highway in autumn than in winter.
Dispersal from WCA in the Susitna River floodplain in Subunit 16A to Subunits 14A, 14B, or
PCA in those Subunits
Moose radiocollared in the Susitna River floodplain WCA in Subunit 16A were more
frequently radiotracked and located in Subunits 16A or 16B than in Subunits 14A or 14B.
Collared moose were radiotracked to Subunits 14A and 14B, or timberline PCA in those
subunits in each of the following seasons: calving, summer, autumn (hunt) and early winter
11
(post-rut) (Table 6). Among the 4 seasons, collared moose were most frequently radiolocated
in Subunits 14A or 14B, or PCA in those subunits in the post-rut season; 35.1% were in post-
rut areas in at least 1 year. Thirty-five of 40 (87.5%) moose monitored were not radiolocated
in the PCA during either of the 4 seasons (Table 7). Five of 40 (12.5%) moose were
radiolocated in the PCA in at least 1 of the 4 seasons. One moose was radiotracked in the
PCA in each season.
Radiocollared moose that were not radiotracked in the PCA were an average of 23.4 km,
26.6 km, 28.0 km and 28.5 km away from the PCA in post-rut, calving, hunt, and summer
seasons, respectively (Table 8). Maximum distances collared moose were away from the PCA
ranged from·39.6 km to 45.6 km among the 4 seasons. Two of32 (6.3%) collared moose were
not radio-located outside the PCA.
Destination by Subunit of Radiocollared Moose that Dispersed from WCA in the Susitna River
Floodplain in Subunits 16A and 16B
Moose radiocollared in WCA in the Susitna River floodplain between Talkeetna River and
Yentna River stayed in Subunit 16A or dispersed to Subunits 16B, 14A, 14B, or 13E (Fig
16A). Collared moose were radiotracked in Subunits 16A and 14A in each month. Dispersal.
ofmoose from Subunit 16A was highest in February with 46% of the moose-year radiofixes
in other subunits. Dispersal of moose from Subunit 16A was lowest in June with 82% of the
moose-year radiofixes in Subunit 16A. Moose radiocollared in WCA in the Susitna River
floodplain between Yentna River and Cook Inlet in Subunit 16B stayed in 16B or dispersed to
Subunits 16A or 14A (Fig 16B). Collared moose were radiolocated in Subunit 14A each
month. No moose were radio-located in Subunit 16A in winter, October through March.
Dispersal rate of moose to Subunits 16A or 14A was not greater than 19% in any month.
Annual Movements of Individuals
During the calendar year 1 June through 31 May the following year, 32 moose (25 females
and 7 males) captured and radiocollared in WCA in the Susitna River floodplain were
radiotracked for radiofix location 26, 35, 24, 24, and 23 times in 1980-1985, respectively.
Distance between chronologically consecutive radiofixes varied widely within individuals
within calendar years, within individuals among calendar years, and within calendar years
among individuals (Fig 17 A-AF; Table 9). In 7 moose, distance between consecutive
radio fixes was never greater then 10 km; in 12 moose distance between at least 1 pair of
consecutive radiofixes was greater than 25 km. Distance between consecutive radiofixes was
generally greatest in early winter, in mid-October through January, and in late winter (spring),
in April through May. In winter (i.e., early winter through spring), radiofixes were generally a
short distance apart. Moose movements in early winter though spring were correlated with
accumulation of snow which actuates migration of moose to WCA, limits movements of
moose in \VCA, and induces moose to leave WCA in spring. Precise distance and chronology
of moose long distance movements was correlated generally with magnitude and timing of
snow accumulation, which varied greatly among years. In 1981-1982, a low snow winter, all
moose did not show short distance winter movements bracketed by long distance movements
(e.g., M3110, F3240, F3260, M3270, F3552). In 1982-1983, a year snow accumulated in
12
early winter, 11 moose showed long distance movements in late October, whereas in 1983-
1984 those moose showed long distance after October. Radiofix data from 1 7 moose showed
retatively long distance movements in summer in July through August. Data from 2 female
moose (F3220, F3230) that did not show normal winter movement patterns showed longest
movements between April through October or November. Radiofix data from 16 moose did
not show long distance migratory movements in either early or late winter.
Spring Season Movements of Females with Neonates, Males, and Females without Neonates
During 16 April through 1 July, radiocollared moose were radiotracked for radio-fix locations
9, 8, and 10 times in 1981-1983, respectively. In May through mid June, with 1 exception,
distance between chronologically consecutive radio-fixes was less for females with neonates
than for males or females without neonates (Fig 18). In each year, distance between
consecutive radio-fixes in late April through June decreased in early May, increased in late
May, decreased in early June, and increased in late June. In 1982 and 1983 distance between
consecutive radio-fixes decreased from >8 km in April through early May to <4 km during
mid to late May. In all years, the distance between consecutive radio-fixes for females with
neonates was lowest in early to mid May and highest in late June. In males and females
without neonates,. distances between radio-fixes were less during 11-21 May than before or
after that time. In 1981 and 1983 distance between radio-fixes decreased after 10 June for
males and for females without neonates.
Spring Season Home Range Size in Females and Males
Radiofix data from 33, 43, and 37 radiocollared moose telemetry monitored with aircraft in
May-June in 1981-1983, respectively, showed that in each year home range size was smaller
for females than for males (Table 1 0). In each year, the smallest and largest home range was
in females. Frequency distributions of area and greatest width values of sizes of home ranges
were skewed more toward lower values in females than in males (Fig 19). In 1981-1983 more
than 51% of female home ranges were less than 10 km2 ; less than 23% ofmale home ranges
were less than 10 km2
• In each year, more than 64% of female home ranges were less than <10
km in greatest width; in 2 of the years less than 17% of male home ranges were less than 10
km in greatest width.
Autumn Through Early-Winter Movements and Home Range Size in Females and Males
In 1981, 32 (25 females, 7 males) radiocollared moose were radiotracked for radio-fix
location 13 times in during 17 August -14 December. Except during 17-24 August and 9-17
November, distance between chronologically consecutive radio-fixes was greater in males
than in females (Fig 20A). The distance between consecutive radio-fixes for females differed
little during late August through late September, increased gradually during 28 September
through mid-November, and then increased by nearly 100% during mid-November through
early December. Distance between radio-fixes for males increased by 3 times during late
August through mid September, was relatively stable during mid-September through mid-
October, and then increased to high points in mid October through early November and in late
November through early December. For females and males, distance between consecutive
radio-fixes decreased in 9-17 November and 2-14 December. For females, the total of
13
distances between radio-fixes was similar in pre-rut versus rut seasons (Fig 20B). For males,
total distance moved within seasons increased during the pre-and post-rut season. In each
season, home range area was more than 2 times larger for males than for females (Fig 20C;
Appendix F). Home range area for females in pre-rut and in rut seasons was less than 5 km2
•
For females and males, home range area was more the 2 times larger in post-rut than in pre-rut
or rut seasons. In females, home range greatest width was 4.1 km and 4.5 km in pre-rut and
rut seasons, respectively (Fig 21; Appendix G).
Winter Movements of Females and Males
In 1981-1985, 24-32 female and 3-8 male moose adults were radiotracked for radio-fix
locations 4-13 times in December through April. Trends in distance between chronologically
consecutive radio-fixes were generally similar among sexes, highly variable by date within
years, and varied among years (Fig 22). Winter chronological distance data reveal that a series
of short distances between radio-fixes were usually bracketed by long distances between
radio-fixes; the short distances represented movements in WCA and the long distances
represented migratory movements to and from WCA. Within year and among year differences
in chronology and size of long and small distances could be explained by differences in
chronology and amplitude of snow accumulation (Fig 23). In 1981-1982, a low snow winter,
2 peaks occurred in distance between radio-fixes in January through February. In 1982-1983,
with a deep accumulation of snow in early winter, there was a high peak in distance between
radio-fixes in December. In 1983-1984, with deep accumulation of snow in late winter, there
was a noticeable peak in distance between radio-fixes in February. In 1984-1985, with a very
deep accumulation of snow in early winter and in late winter, there was a peak in distance
between radio-fixes in early winter, in December-January followed by a general decrease
through winter. In all years, except 1984-1985, there was a large increase in distance between
radio-fixes in April. Though not supported by data in Fig 22, I presume there was a peak in
distance between radio-fixes after late April in 1984-1985.
Chronology of Seasonal Movements between Winter Range and Nonwinter Range
In 1980-1991, first and last dates of radiocollared moose in winter range were from
17 November to 19 January (average = 21 December) and from 4-29 April (average = 14
April), respectively (Fig 24; Appendix H). The range among last dates (25 days) in winter
range was less than the range among first dates in winter range ( 63 days). Exceptionally late
last dates in winter range were in 1985 and 1990, years with deep snow in winter. Earliest first
dates in winter range were in 1982-1983, 1989-1990, and 1990-1991, years with deep snow
in early winter. Late first dates in winter range were in 1980-1981, 1985-1986, and 1983-
1984, years with low snow in early winter. First date and last date in nonwinter range were
from 24 April to 10 May (average= 1 May) and from 3 November to 31 December (average=
28 Nov), respectively (Fig 25; Appendix I). The range among first dates in nonwinter range
(11 days) was less than the range among last dates in nonwinter range (58 days). Latest first
dates in nonwinter range were in 1985 and 1989, years with deep accumulations of snow.
Early last dates in nonwinter range were in 1982-1983 and 1989-1990, years with deep snow
in early winter; late last dates were in 1980, 1983, and 1985, years with low snow in early
winter.
14
Length of Time in Winter and Nonwinter Season Home Ranges
In 1980-90, radiocollared moose were in winter range and in nonwinter range an average of
110 days (range= 92-146 days) and 206 days (range::;: 183-237 days), respectively (Fig 26;
Appendix J). Number of days in winter range was lowest in 1980-1981, 1985-1986, and
1986--1987, years with low snow in early winter. Number of days in winter range was highest
in 1982-1983, 1984-1985, and 1989-1990, years with deep snow in early winter. Length of
time moose were in nonwinter range was influenced by accumulation of snow in late winter
and in early winter in the following year. Moose were in nonwinter range longer in 1980-
1985, years with low snow winters, than in 1988-1990, years with deep snow winters. In
consecutive winter to nonwinter seasons, the ratio, number of days in winter range:number of
days in nonwinter range, was >2 times greater in 1989-90 (0.95) than in 1980-1981 (0.41).
Size of Winter (Nov-Apr) and Late Winter (Jan-Apr) Seasonal Home Ranges in Females and
Males
In November through April, female (n = 24-62) and male (n = 3-7) moose adults were
radiotracked for radio-fix loc~tion 14-15, 9-11, 10-12, 9-13, and 5-10 times a year in 1981-
1985 and 1989-1990, respectively. In females, home range area was largest in 1983-1984, a
year with low snow in early winter, and smallest in 1989-1990, a year with deep snow in
early and late winter (Fig 27). In males, home range area was largest in 1982-1983, a year
with normal snow accumulation, and smallest in 1989-1990, a year with deep snow
accumulation (Fig 28). In 3 of 5 years, winter home range area was larger in females than in
males (Appendix K). Except for males in 1983-1984, moose home range area was larger in
November through April than in January through April. In January through April, moose
home range area was smaller in 1984-1985 and 1989-1990, years with deepest snow, than in
the other years. In males and females, home range area in January through April was largest in
1983-1984, a year with low snow in early winter and normal snow in late winter. For females
and males, home range greatest width was smaller in years with deepest snow, 1984-1985 and
1989-1990, than in years with less snow (Fig 29; Fig 30). Except for males in 1983-1984,
moose home range greatest width was larger in November through April than in January
through April (Appendix L). Within sex categories, home range area and greatest width were
smaller in November through January in 1989-90 than in January through April in 3 other
years.
Seventeen radiocollared female moose adults were telemetry monitored each winter,
November through April, in 1981-1985. Home range data on these 17 moose show that
winter home range size (area and greatest width) was ranked larger (e.g., more" L" values)
versus smaller (e.g., less "S" values) in 1981-1982 than in the rest of the years (Table 11;
Table 12). Late winter (LW) home ranges in 1984-1985 were ranked smaller (e.g., more "S"
values) versus larger (e.g., less "L" values) than in the rest of the years. L W home range size
(area and greatest width) was smallest in 1984-1985 and greatly smaller in 1982-1983 than in
the other years (Fig 31 ). L W home range size in 1982 and in 1984, years with low snow or
late snow, was greater than all-winter (AW) home range size in years with deeper snow in
early winter. Within years, the ratio home range size in L W:home range size in A W was
largest in 1981-1982, a year with low snow, and smallest in 1984-1985, a year with early and
15
deep snow (Fig 32). Percent difference in size of L W and AL home ranges was significantly
greater in 1983-1984, a year with accumulation of snow in late winter, than in 1982-1983 and
1984-1985, years with early accumulations of snow.
Size of Terminal Winter Home Range in Migratory and Nonmigratory Females
Mean size of terminal winter home range of migratory and nonmigratory moose telemetry
monitored in 1982-1983, 1984-1985, and 1989-1990 ranged from 5.1 to 21.8 km2 in area and
from 4.3 to 10.5 km in greatest width (Table 13; Fig 33; Appendix M). Smallest terminal
home ranges were 0.3 km2 in area and 0.9 km in greatest width; largest terminal home ranges
were 71.4 km2 in area and 18.5 km in greatest width. Twenty-five of 45 (55%) home ranges
were less than 7.6 km2 ; 13 (28%) home ranges were less than 4 km2, and 4 (8% )were less
than 2 km2 • Twenty-eight of 45 (62%) home ranges were less than 6.9 km, 16 home ranges
were less than 5 km, and 8 home ranges were less than 2.6 km. In migratory moose, home
range size (i.e., area and greatest width) was not smaller in 1984-1985, a deep snow winter,
than in 1982-1983, a normal snow winter, whereas for nonmigratory moose range size was
larger in 1982-1983 than in 1984-1985. In 1989-1990, a deep snow winter, home range size
was larger in migratory moose than for nonmigratory moose. Home range size was larger in
moose sampled in 1982-1983 than in moose sampled in either 1984-1985 or 1989-1990
(Fig 34).
Annual and Life Home Range: Configuration, Year-to-Year Uniformity, and Size
Radio-fix data collected in 4 consecutive calendar years, 7 May through 6 May the following
year, in 1981-1985, show that location and configuration of annual home ranges in
nonmigratory (Figs 35-37) and migratory (Figs 38-40) moose were generally similar among
years (Table 14). However, radio-fix data collected during 1985-1988 provided evidence that
migratory moose home range location and configuration differed greatly among years with
different accumulations of snow (Figs 41-43). Differences in location of winter radio-fixes
(Fig 44-46) and in winter home range size (Table 15) show that yearly differences in annual
home range location and size were a consequence of moose being nonphilopatric to a terminal
winter home range in a low snow year, 1985-1986, or migrating to a different terminal winter
home range in deep snow years, 1986-1988.
Despite yearly consistency in general location and configuration of moose annual home
ranges, large year-to-year differences in size were not uncommon (Table 15). In a sample of 6
migratory and 6 nonmigratory moose, monitored in 4 consecutive years, the mean of the
maximum percent difference (largest-smallest/largest home range) between home range size
in any 2 of the 4 calendar years was 54.4% (range= 13.5-74.8%) in nonmigratory moose and
44.6% (range= 28.8-62.8%) in migratory moose.
In migratory and nonmigratory moose, there were large differences in estimates of life home
range size obtained with 1-versus 2-calendar years of data (Fig 47; Table 16). Mean percent
difference between life home range size estimated with 2-versus 3-calendar years of data was
6.4% (range = 0.6-10.4%) in nonmigratory moose and 8.4% (range = 0.4-18.7%) in
migratory moose. There was little difference between life home range size estimates based on
16
3-versus 4-calendar years of data. Difference between life home range estimates based on 4-
versus 8+-calendar years of data was greater then difference in estimates based on 3-versus 4-
calendar years of data. Outlier radio-fixes that were not included.in 98% MCP calculations of
life range size were most frequently in winter months (Nov-Feb) versus nonwinter months
(Apr-Oct) (Fig 48). There were no outlier radio-fixes in August.
Calculated with 98% MCP methods, life home range size ranged from 23-1108 km2 for
females and from 19-1098 km2 for males (Fig 49). Calculated with AK methods, life home
range size ranged from 29-1464 km2 for females and from 32-2214 km2 for males (Fig 50). In
MCP analyses, mean life home range size was 241 km2 in females and 277 km2 in males
(Fig 51; Appendix N). In AK analyses, mean home range size was 304 km2 for females and
405 km2 for males. In both AK andMCP analyses, life home range of moose with a unimodal
distribution of radio-fixes (i.e., nonmigratory moose) was larger for males than for females. In
both AK and MCP analyses, life home range of moose with a multimodal distribution of
radio-fixes (i.e., migratory moose) was larger for females than for males.
Relationship between Life, Life Season, and Life Management Season Home Ranges in
Nonmigratory and Migratory Moose
Biological and management season life home ranges were larger for migratory moose than for
nonmigratory moose (Fig 52; Table 17). Of the seasonal life home ranges in nonmigratory
moose, rut range was smallest and winter range largest; in migratory moose post-rut range
was smallest and winter range was largest. In migratory and nonmigratory moose, the second
largest seasonal home range was rut home range. Life season home ranges were more than 6
times larger in migratory moose than in nonmigratory moose. Hunt and survey season life
home ranges were 4.9 and 5.4 times, respectively, larger in migratory moose versus
nonmigratory moose.
Spatial Relationship among the Seasonal Home Ranges in an Annual Home Range
Graphical plots of centroids of biological and management season life home ranges and life
home range radiofix locations show location of centroids of seasonal home ranges in the life
home range of 5 migratory and 5 nonmigratory radiocollared female moose adults (Fig 53). In
moose with multiple core-use areas, normally a winter season centroid was spatially separated
from centroids of other seasons. In several moose, calving and survey season centroids were
not closely associated with centroids in other seasons. In moose with life ranges without
multiple core-use areas, winter season home range centroids were usually on the periphery of
centroids of other seasonal home ranges.
Distances between centroids of chronologically consecutive seasonal home ranges differed
greatly among migratory and nonmigratory moose and among moose within migratory and
nonmigratory categories (Fig 54). In nonmigratory moose, the distance between post-rut and
winter seasonal range centroids was greater than distance between other consecutive seasonal
home ranges (Appendix Q). For one migratory moose, rut-to-post-rut, post-rut-to-winter, and
winter-to-calving distances were >40 km, >5 kin, and >40 km, respectively; in the other
migratory moose, the rut-to-post-rut distance was less than 7 km and the post-rut-to-winter
17
distance was greater than 10 km. In nonmigratory moose, distance between each consecutive
seasonal range was less than 4 km. For migratory and nonmigratory moose, post-rut-to-winter
and winter-to-calving distances were greater than the distance between any other pair of
chronologically consecutive seasonal ranges in a calendar year. In migratory and
nonmigratory moose, post-rut-to-winter range and winter-to-calving range distances were
each greater than 20% and combined more than 50% of the distance between consecutive
seasonal ranges in a calendar year (Fig 55).
Distance from the rut seasonal home range centroid to centroids of each other biological and
management season home range was greater in migratory than in nonmigratory moose
(Fig 56; Appendix 0). In migratory and nonmigratory moose, the distance between rut home
range and winter home range was greater than the distance between rut home range and any
other biological or management season home range.
Data from 5 of 6 moose (i.e., excepting 153220) studied show a general relationship between
the distance between hunt range centroids and centroids of other seasonal ranges (Fig 57).
Closest to the hunt range centroid was the rut seasonal range centroid; distance from the hunt
range centroid to rut, post-rut, and survey seasonal range centroids were greater, increasing
from rut to post-rut to winter seasonal range centroid. Hunt range centroids were closer to
summer range centroids than to calving range centroids. Distance between the survey seasonal
home range centroid and centroids of other seasonal ranges was greater in migratory moose
than in nonmigratory moose (Fig 58). In nonmigratory moose no season range centroid was
more than 5 km from the survey range centroid. In migratory moose, distance between the
survey range centroid and centroids of many of the other seasonal ranges was more than 10
km. In one migratory moose the hunt range centroid was 56.8 km from the survey range
centroid. In nonmigratory moose, hunt range centroids were less than 3 km from survey range
centroids. In migratory moose, hunt range centroids were 6.8 km to 56.8 km from survey
range centroids. In nonmigratory moose, all seasonal range centroids were less than 3.6 km
from centroids of the hunt range. In migratory moose, the survey range centroid was 6. 7 km to
60.5 km from centroids of other season ranges.
Winter and Summer Seasonal Range of Moose Grouped According to Geographic Area and
Season of Capture
Characteristics of summer and winter ranges of moose greatly differed among groups of
moose captured in different geographic areas in LSRV. In moose captured in' Susitna River
floodplain (SRF) WCA between Chase and Portage Creek, the perimeters of winter range and
summer range were mostly within 5 km of the SRF and the location and breadth of winter and
summer ranges were similar (Fig 59A).
Summer range of moose captured in SRF WCA between Kashwitna River and Talkeetna
River extended 10 km east and 20 km west of the SRF (Fig 59B). Summer season radio fixes
that were farthest from the SRF were mainly in low snow years that accommodated early
migration of moose from the WCA winter range to spring-summer range, resulting in winter
season radiofixes being located in a summer range.
18
Summer range of moose captured in SRF WCA between Willow Creek and Kashwitna River
was remote and mainly west of the SRF (Fig 59C). Radio fixes in summer and winter seasons
were as far as 30 km from the SRF.
Summer range and winter range of moose captured in SRF WCA between Y entna River and
Willow Creek were mainly west of the SRF (Fig 59D). Winter season and summer season
radiofixes were located about 20 km west of the SRF. Winter and summer season radiofixes
were farther than 20 km from the SRF. Winter season radio fixes that were far to the east of
the SRF were probably from captured moose that were intercepted (at capture on the SRF)
while migrating across the SRF to a winter season range far east of the SRF.
Summer range of moose captured in SRF WCA between Cook Inlet and Y entna River was
mainly extended west of the SRF; radiofixes were as far as 25 km from SRF (Fig 59E).
Winter season radiofixes were mainly within 3 km ofSRF.
Summer range of moose captured in the Coleman old homestead on the west bank of SRF
opposite Montana were mainly west of the SRF (Fig 59F); some summer season radiofixes
were 20 km from the SRF. Winter season radiofixes were mainly within 3 km of the SRF.
Winter season radio fixes of one moose were 30 km south of the capture site.
Summer season and winter season radiofixes of moose captured in SRF WCA between
Talkeetna River and Chase were 40 km east, 15 km south, and 40 km north of the SRF
(Fig 59G). Winter season radiofixes extend farther west from the SRF than summer season
radiofixes. Summer season radiofixes were mainly west and less than 10 km from SRF.
Summer range of moose captured in SRF WCA between Cook Inlet and Portage Creek was
mainly west of SRF; summer range east of the SRF was mainly between Sheep Creek and
Montana Creek North Fork and in Talkeetna River (Fig 59H). There was little evidence of
summer range between Sheep Creek and Little Susitna River. Winter season radiofixes were
east and west of SRF except between Kashwitna River and Little Susitna River. Winter
season radiofixes far to the west of SRF were probably from migratory moose that migrated
earlier than normal from winter range in a low snow winter. Winter season radiofixes far west
of SRF were probably from captured moose intercepted at capture while migrating across SRF
to winter range far east of SRF.
Summer range of moose captured in the Talkeetna Mountains PCA on Bald Mountain was
mainly between Willow Creek and Little Susitna River (i.e., near the PCA). A moose
radiolocated on Susitna River and near Hiline Lake was a 2-year-old male. Winter season
radiofixes overlapped summer range with an extension south of Little Susitna River and into
residential areas of Palmer and Wasilla (Fig 591). Summer season radiofixes near Little -
Susitna River were mainly from migratory moose that delayed migrations in early winter or in
late winter because oflow snow or deep snow, respectively.
Summer range of moose captured in the Talkeetna Mountains PCA on Moss Mountain was
mainly between Purchase Creek and Little Susitna River; winter range extended south of
Little Susitna River near Wasilla. Summer season radiofixes near Little Susitna River were
19
probably from moose that delayed autumn-winter or winter-spring migrations because of low
or deep snow, respectively.
Summer range of moose captured in the Talkeetna Mountains PCA on Willow Mountain was
mainly near the PCA, north across Little Willow Creek to Kashwitna River, or east of the
PCA and across SRF. Summer season radio fixes were also located south across Willow Creek
to Little Susitna River (Fig 59K). Summer season radiofixes east of SRF were mostly in early
summer before parturition. Summer season radiofixes south of Willow Creek were mainly
from moose intercepted while migrating to or from winter range south of Little Susitna River.
Winter range extended north and east of the PCA to Kashwitna River and the highway and
railway corridor near Sheep Creek and Kashwitna River, southwest to Willow Creek, and
south across Little Susitna River to residential areas in Wasilla and Palmer.
Summer range of moose captured in the Talkeetna Mountains PCA on Witna Mountain
extended east across SRF with most radiofixes between the PCA and SRF (Fig 59L).
Radio fixes east of SRF were in early summer. Winter season radio fixes were east of the PCA
along Kashwitna River and Sheep Creek near the Parks Highway and the Alaska Railway.
Summer range of moose captured in the Talkeetna Mountains PCA near Brownie Mountain
was mainly near the PCA or east of the PCA along Kashwitna River and North Fork
Kashwitna River (Fig 59M). Summer season radiofixes were east of the PCA in lower
elevation near Little Willow Creek and in SRF near Sheep Creek and north of Kashwitna
River near Sheep Creek. Winter season radiofixes were located near the PCA or in higher
elevations along Kashwitna River and North Fork Kashwitna River. No winter season
radio fixes were in lower elevations east of the PCA.
Summer range of moose captured in the Talkeetna Mountains PCA on Wolverine Mountain
was mostly outside of the PCA. Summer season radiofixes mainly extended west from the
PCA between North Fork Kashwitna-Kashwitna River .and Sheep Creek and east from the
PCA up Sheep Creek drainage (Fig 59N). Summer season radiofixes were also on Sheep
River east of Talkeetna River north of North Fork Montana Creek and west of SRF near
Rabideus Creek. Winter season radiofixes were within the summer season range except for
radiofixes near North Fork Montana Creek and Rabideus Creek. Winter season radiofixes
were in the PCA.
Summer range of moose captured in the Talkeetna Mountains PCA on Sunshine Mountain
mainly extended west of the PCA between Sheep Creek and Montana Creek to SRF
(Fig 590). Several summer season radiofixes were between the South and the North Fork of
Montana Creek. Winter season radiofixes overlapped the summer season range and extended
east in the drainages of the North and South Fork ofMontana Creek.
Summer range of moose captured in timberline PCA in the western foothills of the Talkeetna
Mountains between Little Susitna River and South Fork Montana Creek was mainly east of
the SRF between Little Susitna River and Sou~h Fork Montana Creek (Fig 59P). Summer
season radiofixes west of SRF were near Deshka River and Trapper Creek, Hiline Lake, and
Rabideus Creek. Other summer season radiofixes were near North Fork Montana Creek and
20
Sheep River east of Talkeetna River. Main differences between summer season and winter
season ranges were that nonwinter radiofixes were not west of SRF and many winter season
radio fixes were south of Little Susitna River near Knik, Wasilla, and Palmer.
Summer range of moose captured in L WR between Willow Creek and Kashwitna River was
mainly bordered on the south and north by Willow Creek and North Fork Kashwitna River,
respectively (Fig 59Q). The eastern boundary of the summer range was roughly the 1000 m
elevation contour and the western boundary was a north-south line about 10 km east of the
SRF. Other summer season radiofixes were in the Kashwitna River drainage to SRF and west
of SRF near Kahiltna River and Y entna River. Except for summer season radio fixes east of
the SRF and winter season radiofixes along the Kashwitna River upstream from North Fork
Kashwitna River, winter range was similar to the summer range.
There was little difference in summer and winter range of moose captured in a personal use
wood cutting area near Shrock Road (Fig 59R). Summer and winter season radiofixes were
located near the wood cutting site and east near Nancy Lake.
Summer range of moose captured in Alexander Creek floodplain WCA extended mainly west
from the capture sites to West Fork Coal Creek and Beluga River; summer season radiofixes
were also in the SRF near Bell Island and east of Yentna River near Fish Creek (Fig 59S).
Discounting a single radiofix east of SRF near Little Susitna River and one near Talachulitna
River, winter season radiofixes were mainly within 5 km of Alexander Creek and 3 km of
Sucker Creek.
Winter range of moose captured in Skwentna River floodplain near Skwentna was mainly
within 4 km of capture sites in the Skwentna River floodplain (Fig 59T); winter season
radiofixes were also south of old Skwentna near Sevenmile Lake. Summer season radiofixes
were south of Skwentna to the headwaters of Clear Creek, near Trinity Lakes in the
watersheds of Saturday Creek and Talachulitna Creek, north through Skwentna to the northern
side ofYenlo Hills.
Winter range of moose captured in Skwentna River floodplain near Old Skwentna was mainly
northwest and southeast of the Skwentna River floodplain within 10 km of their capture sites
(Fig 59U). Winter season radiofixes were also in the Skwentna River floodplain east to
Skwentna. Summer season radio fixes generally overlapped the summer range.
Winter range of moose captured in Y entna River floodplain between Lake Creek and
McDougall was mainly within 5 km of the floodplain between McDougal and Skwentna
(Fig 59V). Winter season radiofixes were also along Lake Creek and north of Skwentna to the
southeastern foothills of Y enlo Hills. Summer season home range included winter season
range and extended to the Kahiltna River and then north for about 10 km between Y entna and
Kahiltna Rivers. Summer season radio fixes were located about 10 km northwest of Skwentna
and 35 km southwest of McDougall near Talachulitna River on the southeastern slopes of
Beluga Mountain.
21
Winter range of moose captured in floodplains of the Yentna and Skwentna Rivers near Old
Skwentna, Skwentna, and McDougall was mainly within 10 km of the Skwentna River-
Yentna River floodplain between Old Skwentna and McDougall (Fig 59W). Summer range of
these moose extended southwest to Talachulitna Creek near Trinity Lakes, northwest to Shell
Hills, north to the north slope of Y enlo Hills, northeast to the Kahiltna River and southeast to
the confluence of Moose Creek and Y entna River.
Winter range of moose captured in the Parks Highways and Alaska Railway transportation
corridor between Pittman and Sheep Creek extended from Wasilla to Susitna Station on
Susitna River to the mouth of Deshka River to Spink Creek to Willow Mountain (Fig 59X).
Summer Ran-ge of these moose extended from the mouth of Little Susitna River to si.tsitna
Station to Lockwood Lake to Tokositna River near Ruth Creek to Willow Mountain. The
moose radio-located on Tokositna River was a 2-year-old male.
DISCUSSION
This study documents home range and movement patterns of adult moose in lower Susitna
River Valley (LSRV) in Southcentral Alaska. Data presented show that movements and home
ranges of adult moose in lower Susitna River Valley (LSRV) were affected by experience,
weather, area, season, year, age, sex, and maternal status. My findings provide a foundation
for managers to more effectively study and survey moose, address moose-land use conflicts,
and manage hunter harvest of moose in LSRV.
My studies documented timely and recurring concentration of moose during the post-rut and
late winter periods. In winter large numbers of moose aggregate on floodplains of lower
Susitna River, Skwentna River, Alexander Creek, and Moose Creek. Moose in winter
concentration areas were distributed over a greatly expanded and different area in summer and
autumn seasons. These findings show that managers must be knowledgeable about yearly
distribution of migratory populations to effectively incorporate winter season surveys and
autumn season hunts in a management program. Concentration of moose in late winter in
lowland drainages (i.e., winter concentration areas) is well documented (Edwards and Ritcey
1956, Knowlton 1960, Sandegren et al. 1985, Van Ballenberghe 1973, Modafferi 1988b).
However, less reported and probably not of less importance is the movement and
concentration of moose in the post-rut and early winter seasons in timberline habitats (i.e.,
post-rut concentration areas). Peek et al. (1976) noted differences between early winter habitat
and late winter habitat of moose in Minnesota. Thompson et al. (1981) documented recurring
use of specific areas in early winter by large numbers of moose. I identified moose post-rut
concentration areas near timberline in the western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains in
LSRV, and I documented seasonal concentration of moose in these areas. Radiofix data
indicated that moose in these areas in the post-rut season were distributed over a much
broader area in the remainder of the year. These data indicate that managers must be
knowledgeable about yearly distribution of moose to effectively incorporate early winter
surveys and autumn hunts in a regional management program. Managers must preserve the
integrity of habitats in post-rut and winter concentration areas.
22
I found that chronology and amplitude of snowfall and accumulation of snow have profound
influences on migratory behavior of moose. Moose migrated in early winter (17 November) if
snow accumulations were deep in early winter. Moose migrations were delayed if normal
accumulation of snow was in late winter (16 January). In a low snow winter, moose that
migrated in a normal snow winter did not migrate. My observations support findings in
previous studies (Coady 1974, Sandegren et al. 1985, Van Ballenberghe 1977). If migratory
behaviors of moose offspring are affected by those of their dam (Sandegren et al. 1988), and
year-to-year migratory patterns of moose adults are affected by snow conditions, then snow
conditions in a neonate's first winter can affect migratory behavior of the neonate and entire
year-classes of neonates. This rationale can explain the extreme differences in migratory
behaviors of moose captured side by side in the same WCA or PCA. If moose migratory
behaviors are learned by experience, how does one explain snow-related migratory-
nonmigratory behavior of an individual moose?
The fact that I have frequently observed yearling moose near a dam through their second
winter leads me to speculate that with exposure to consecutive low snow and deep snow
winters or deep snow and low snow winters, a yearling could experience a migratory behavior
in the deep snow winter and nonmigratory behavior in the low .snow winter in its first two
years of life, thereby learning snow-related migratory and nonmigratory behaviors. I further
speculate that moose with consistent migratory or nonmigratory behavior, experienced either
consecutive deep snow winters or consecutive low snow winters, respectively, in their first 2
winters. Differences in migratory behavior of same sex moose captured side by side in
lowland WCA or in timberline PCA can be explained by differences in the migratory behavior
of their dams and/or differing snow conditions in their first two years oflife.
Although migrations and winter distribution of moose may be influenced by snowpack depth
and a variety of other factors, such as forage availability, plant phenology, local geography,
learned behavior, elevation, canopy cover, social pressures, etc., and river drainage length and
direction of flow may indicate maximum -distance and direction that moose migrate from
WCA (Sandegren and Sweanor 1988), moose managers must be extremely cautious in
presuming movement patterns of moose without conducting appropriate field studies. In
LSRV winter season moose hunts implemented to harvest moose that were not accessible to
hunters in autumn mainly impacted moose from another local moose population. Prior to my
studies, managers of moose in LSRV made incorrect inferences about the direction of
migrations of moose in the western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains and the direction and
distance of migrations of moose in the low relief region west of the Susitna River floodplain.
Moose in the Talkeetna Mountains migrated perpendicular to prominent river drainages,
whereas moose in low relief areas west of the Susitna River migrated perpendicular to river
drainages and migrated greater distances than presupposed.
In a review of studies in North America, LeResche (1974) reported that moose tend to return
to the same seasonal home ranges year after year. In contrast, Houston (1968) noted that in
some populations winter severity could influence return of moose to traditional winter home
ranges. My studies support both of these assertions. Year-to-year philopatry to spatially
separated summer and winter home ranges was common in moose radiotracked in LSRV. I
23
confirmed strong traditional movements in several radiocollared moose monitored in 5+
consecutive years. Radio-fix data from moose that migrated a long distance between summer
and winter home ranges showed traditional use of certain sites located between summer and
winter home ranges. Several migratory moose showed year-after-year philopatry to 3 spatially
separated, distinct seasonal ranges. My data indicate that to effectively manage migratory
populations, managers must have knowledge about moose traditional movements to
implement harvests, surveys, and habitat management in the appropriate season and location.
Many studies demonstrated that movements and home ranges of moose were attuned to a
variety of environmental factors (Phillips et al. 1973; Van Ballenberghe 1974; Sandegren et
al. 1982; Cederlund and Sand 1994). Moose in LSRV exhibited appreciable plasticity in their
seasonal movements and home range size to utilize different, spatially separated habitats in
different seasons and in different weather conditions. By altering the timing, rate, and extent
of seasonal movements and size of seasonal home ranges, moose optimized interactions with
other moose and use of different habitats and environments. Such movement behaviors enable
moose to optimally exploit a patchy environment under highly variable weather conditions.
Learned migratory behavior linked with absolute philopatry to seasonal ranges may limit
dispersal, impede moose from colonization of new areas, and restrict expansion of moose
range. However, of the many studies that document expansion of moose range through
dispersal (Houston 1968; Mercer and Kitchen 1968; Peek 1974; Pulliainen 1974; Coady
1980), most indicated that dispersal was more common in yearling and 2-year-old moose
(Peek 1974; Lynch 1976; Houston 1978). Two of the longest movements I documented for
moose in LSRV were in 2-year-old males. One male captured in Bald Mountain PCA in
December was radio located in September near Hiline Lake, a distance of 100 km. A male
captured near Nancy Lake in April was radiotracked in the following January to Coffee Creek,
a distance of 110 km. Except for one female with a calving range about 85 km from the winter
ranges, seasonal home ranges of other moose I studied were normally less than 60 km apart.
Movement patterns of adult female moose in LSRV were consistent year after year; I had no
evidence of dispersal movements.
Seasonal movements and size and configuration of home range of moose have been widely
studied (Goddard 1970; Mould 1979; Lynch and Morgantini 1984; Courtois and Crete 1988;
Leptich and Gilbert 1989; Cederlund and Sand 1994). Specific objectives of these
investigations varied widely, ranging from providing information on ecology or behavior to
studying management implications of movements or spatial distribution. Analytical methods
used to assess, quantify, and present the data varied widely among studies. In analyzing
radiofix data for information on seasonal movements and configuration of home range of
moose, I utilized methodologies similar to those used in the previous studies, and I developed
new techniques to more accurately describe seasonal movements and size and configuration of
home ranges of radiocollared moose. Techniques that I developed used measurements of
linear distance between centers of seasonal home ranges to describe seasonal and annual
movements, spatial relationships among seasonal home ranges, and size and configuration of
annual home ranges.
24
LITERATURE CITED
ARNESON PD. 1981. Big game studies. Volume II. Moose. Ann. Prog. Rep. Susitna
Hydroelectric Proj. Alaska Dep. Fish and Game. Juneau. 64pp.
BALLARD WB, JS WHITMAN, AND DJ REED. 1991. Population dynamics of moose in south-
central Alaska. Wild!. Monogr. 114. 49pp.
GEDERLUND G. AND H OKARMA. 1988. Home range and habitat use of adult female moose. J
Wild!. Manage. 52:336-343.
---AND H SAND. 1994. Home-range size in relation to age and sex in moose. J. Mammal.
75:1005-1012.
COADY JW. 1974. The influence of snow on the behaviour of moose. Nat. Can 101:417-436.
COURTOIS R. AND M CRETE. 1988. Space utilization by female moose in southwestern
Quebec. A/ces 24.
EDWARDS RY AND RW RITCEY. 1956. The migrations of a moose herd J. Mammal. 37:486-
494.
FRANZMANN AW, PD ARNESON, RE LERESCHE, AND JL DAVIS. 1974. Developing and
testing new techniques of moose management. Alaska Dep. Fish and Game. Fed. Aid.
Wildl. Rest. Final Rep., Grants W-17-2, W-17-3, W-17-4, W-17-5, and W-17-6. 54pp.
GoDDARD J. 1970. Movements of moose in a heavily hunted area Ontario. J Wild/. Manage.
34:439-445.
KIE JG, JA BALDWIN, AND CJ EVANS. 1996. Calhome. a program for estimating animal home
ranges. Wild/. Soc. Bulletin 24:342-344.
KNowLTON FF. 1960. Food Habits, movements, and populations of moose in the Graveley
mountains, Montana. J Wild!. Manage. 24:162-170.
LEPTICH DJ AND JR GILBERT. 1989. Summer home-range and habitat use by moose in
northern Maine. J Wild/. Manage. 53:880-885.
LERESCHE RL. 1974. Moose migrations in North America. Can Nat. (Quebec). 101:393-415.
LYNCH GM. 1975. Best timing of moose surveys in Alberta. N. Amer. Moose Conf. and
Workshop. 11:141-153.
MODAFFERI RD. 1982. Big game studies. Vol. II. Moose-Downstream. Final Phase I Rep.
Susitna Hydroelectric Proj. Alaska Dep. Fish and Game. Juneau. 114pp.
---. 1983. Big game studies. Vol. II. Moose-Downstream. Proj. Rep. Phase II Susitna
Hydroelectric Proj. Alaska Dep. Fish and Game. Juneau. 114pp.
25
---. 1984. Big game studies. Vol. II. Moose-Downstream. Proj. Rep. Phase II Susitna
Hydroelectric Proj. Alaska Dep. Fish and Game. Juneau. 116pp.
---. 1987. Lower Susitna Valley moose population identity and movement study. Alaska
Dep. Fish and Game. Fed. Aid. Wildl. Rest. Prog. Rep. Grants W-22-5. Job 1.38R.
Juneau. 17pp
---. 1988a. Lower Susitna Valley moose population identity and movement study. Alaska
Dep. Fish and Game. Fed. Aid. Wildl. Rest. Prog. Rep. Grants W-22-5 and Job 1.38R.
Juneau. 60pp.
---. 1988b. Big game studies. Vol. I. Moose-Downstream. Final Rep. Susitna
Hydroelectric Proj. Alaska Dep. Fish and Game. Juneau. 211pp.
---. 1990. Lower Susitna Valley moose population identity and movement study. Alaska
Dep. Fish and Game. Fed. Aid. Wildl. Rest. Prog. Rep. Grants W-23-2 Job lB. 1.38.
Juneau. 46pp.
---. 1991. Train moose-kill in Alaska: Characteristics and relationship with snowpack
depth and moose distribution in lower Susitna Valley. Alces 27:193-207.
---. 1992. Lower Susitna Valley moose population identity and movement study. Alaska
Dep. Fish and Game. Fed. Aid. Wildl. Rest. Prog. Rep. Grants W-23-2 Job lB. 1.38.
Juneau. 39pp.
PHILLIPS RL, WE BERG, AND DB SINIFF. 1973. moose movement patterns and range use in
northwestern Minnesota. J Wild!. Manage. 266-278.
SANDEGREN F, R BERGSTROM, G CEDERLUND, AND E DANSIE. 1982. Spring migration of
females moose in Central Sweden. Alces 18:210-234.
---, R BERGSTROM, AND PY SWEANOR. 1985. Seasonal moose migration related to snow
in Sweden. Alces 21: 321-338.
SWEANOR PY AND F SANDEGREN. 1988. Migratory behavior of related moose. Holarctic Ecol.
11:190-193.
VAN BALLENBERGHE V. 1977. Migratory behavior of moose in southcentral Alaska. XIII Int.
Congr. Game Biol. Atlanta, Georgia. 103-109.
VIERECK LA ANDEL LITILE, JR. 1972. Alaska Trees and Shrubs. US Dept. Agric. Forest
Serv. Handbook No.410. 265pp.
26
PREPARED BY:
Ronald D Modafferi
Wildlife Biologist III
SUBMITTED BY:
Charles C Schwartz
Research Coordinator
APPROVED BY:
Wayne L Regelin, Director
Division of Wildlife Conservation
Steven R Peterson, Senior Staff Biologist
Division of Wildlife Conservation
27
40 0 (A) NO. TRAIN KILLS
Q 300 w
...1
...1
S2
w
(I) 200
0
0 :e
0 z 100
0
-250. :e
(,) -~ 200 a.
Ill
Q
~ 150
< a.
~
0 100 z
(I)
:::E
:::1 :e 50
)(
< :e 0
(B) SNOWPACK DEPTH
-N ... .... .. .., • :f • • • • a ..;. ,;, .... .. • Gil .., .., Gil ..,
0 0 0 0 • • -... --..
YEAR
3151
... • 0 0 -• • • 0 0 .. ,:.. .0 cit a .., .., • .., 0
Gt 0 Gt at Gt ... .. .. .. ...
Figure 1 Moose killed in collisions with trains in Unit 14B (A) and snow pack depth in
Talkeetna (B) in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, 1980-1991. Snow pack
depth was maximum depth of snow in Oct-Apr.
28
200
i
(,) 150 .....
:X: ,_
f:; 100
Q
::
0 50 z en
0
200
i
(,) 150 .....
:z:: ,_
f:; 100
Q
::
0 50 z en
0
200
.....
:E B 150
:X: ....
f:; 100
Q
::
0 50 z en
0
200
.....
:E
(,) 150 .....
:X: ,_
f:; 100
Q
::
0 50 z en
0
200
i
(,) ISO ......
:X: ,_
f:; 100
Q
::
0 50 z en
0
(A) 1980-81
(B) 1981-82
(C) 1982-83
(D) 1983-84
{E) 1984-85
1 OCT 1 NOV 1 DEC 1 ~AN 1 FEll 1MAFt 1 APFt
DATE
Figure 2 Maximum snow pack depth in Talkeetna in 1 0-day intervals, Oct-Apr from 1980-
1985
29
1100
500
Ill 400
en
0
~ 300
ci z zoo
100
0
140
IZO
100
Ill en
0 eo
0
:E
ci 110
z
40
20
0
...... 200
:E
0 .....
J: ...
Q. 150
Ill
0
~
0
<C
Q. 100
3:
0 z
1/)
:E 50
:::')
:E x
<C
:E 0
(A) WCA-A
C) 111&1•82 _...,._
111&2•81
····-£)····
v. 11183·84
. ···-El····
·o _IJ··· ... EJ
.0 ... G·-·-o-···.Q : ·. : e·
q:1 : • , ...
'b• ... d , .. , ....
; ' •"~,"· •' ' .... ' , ' b • O······· .. []
0
1 OCT 1 NOV 1 OIC 1 JAil 1FO
(B) WCA-B
0
0
1 OCT 1 NOV 1 DEC 1 JAN 1 F1!8
(C) SNOWPACK DEPTH
OCT NOV DEC .JAN FE8
DATE
\
\
1 MAR 1 APR
1 MAR 1 APR
APR
•
I MAY
1881·82 _...,._
11182·83
····-£)····
11113•84
·····EJ····
111&4·85
--41-1
1 MAY
HIIIHI21 _.,._l
1!1112·113
····0····
1 1183•114
~
MAY
Figure 3 Moose in winter concentration areas (WCA) in Susitna River floodplain (A-B) and
snow pack depth in Talkeetna (C) in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, Oct-
Apr from 1981-1985. WCA were (A) between Yentna River and Talkeetna River and {B)
between Talkeetna River and Portage Creek. Snow pack depth was monthly maximum depth
of snow.
30
w w
0
400
300
0 200 :E
d z
100
1 NOV 1 DEC
~···~
1 JAN 1FE8 1MAII
DATE OF SURVEY
111e:t-84 ---H184·811 .........
. ·•······· ...
1 APR
Figure 4 Moose in old homesteads (n=14) located near the Susitna River floodplain and the
Parks Highway between Talkeetna and Willow in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral
Alaska in Nov-Apr 1983-1984, a normal snow winter, and in 1984-1985, a deep snow
winter.
31
w
"' 0
10
10
~ 40
0 z
w
"' 0
20
10
10
~ 40
0 z
w
"' 0
20
10
10
~ 40
0 z
w
"' 0
20
80
10
~ 40
0 z
20
(A) 1981-82
.•....
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
...
t oe:c , JAil
·····
• .... •••
•
'MAll
DATE OF SURVEY
•
1 APIIt 1MAY
Figure 5 Moose in 2 old homesteads located about 2 km apart on opposite sides (west-east) of
the Susitna River near Montana Creek in Nov-Apr in 1981-1985 (A-D)
32
Ul
In
0
300
250
200
~ 150
0 z
100
50
0
y/ ,
1 NOV 1 DEC 1 JAN
f.
1 FEB
DATE
*
·.I"···~ *
':il
AlfXANOER CREEK ........
DESHKA RIVER -MOOSE CREEK
--~--
r;, * * .. ,
1 MAR 1 APR 1MAY
Figure 6 Moose in 3 lowland floodplain winter concentration areas located in Units 16A and
16B in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, 29 Nov-16 Apr 1985
33
fl) w >
....1
<t
(..)
40
30
1-20 z w
(..) a: w
Q.
10
0
1 NOV 1 DEC I ..IAN 1 FEB
DATE
ALEXANDER CREEK ( 1984·85!
1MAII
····I•···
DE$HI<A RIVER I 1 984·85) _..,_
MOOSE CREEK ( 1!<84·85) -.r..--
SUSITNA RIVER ( 1982·63! -----
1 API! 1 MAY
Figure 7 Percent calf moose in lowland floodplain winter concentration areas in a deep snow
winter (1984-1985) and a normal snow winter (1982-1983) in lower Susitna River Valley in
Southcentral Alaska. In 1982-1983 data were from the Susitna River floodplain between
Y entna River and Montana Creek. In 1984-1985 data were from Alexander Creek, Deshka
River, and Moose Creek. Maximum snow pack depth in Talkeetna during Nov-Apr was
81 em in 1982-1983 and 157 em in 1984-1985
34
40 (A) SUSITNA RIVER FLOODPLAIN; 1984-85
w
(I) 30
0
0
::E
II.
...I
<1 20 ... z w
(,)
a:
~ 10
0
.···
...
40 (B) OLD HOMESTEADS
w
(I) 30
0
0
::E
II.
...I
<1 20 ... z w
(,)
a:
~ 10
0
1 NOV 1 DEC 1 JAN 1 FEB
DATE OF SURVEY
NORTH OF VENTNA RIVER -SOUTH OF VENTNA RIVER ····•····
... ····•··· ...
1 APR
··•···· ...
••
1883·84 -----1084·86
·····•····
1MAV
Figure 8 Percent calf moose in (A) 2 sections of the Susitna River floodplain and (B) old
homesteads in winter, Nov-Apr from 1983-1985. The section ofthe Susitna River floodplain
north of the Yentna River included separate areas near Kashwitna River, Caswell Creek, and
Delta Islands. The section of the Susitna River floodplain south of the Yentna River included
3 islands near Alexander Creek. Old homesteads (n=14) were located near the Susitna River
floodplain and the Parks Highway between Talkeetna and Willow. Maximum snow pack
depth was normal (94 em) in 1983-1984 and deep (157 em) in 1984-1985. In March 1985
snow pack depth was > 100 em north of the Yentna River, <1 00 em south of the Yentna River,
and > 1 00 em near the old homesteads.
35
1.400
1,200-~. , .. , ...
\ · ..
1,000 8 ... , ·· .. w ... ··.·. tn \ .. __ .....,.......;._
0 '. \ ... 0 800 \ · ..
::E \ ... . \ ·.
0 eoo , ·~ z \ .
\
400. \
200.
0 I
OCT·NOY 1 OEC 1 JAN 1 FEB 1 MAR 1 APR
DATE
1!185-811 ---1!188•117
·····•····
1!1117·1111
.. .. i] ....
1!1118·1111
.... ,fl. ....
18110·110 _ .... _
1 MAV
Figure 9 Moose in 7 timberline post-rut concentration areas in Units 14A and 14B in the
western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains in the lower Susitna River Valley in
Southcentral Alaska in years with low (1985-1986), normal (1986-1989), and early-deep
accumulations of snow.
36
5oo (A) PCA -WILLOW
400
Lll
~ 300
0 ::
0 200 z
100
I
I
1 OCT t NOV
·:. ·. :D.
e;
1:!. •
1vae·•• _ .... _
1111·87
·····•···
19117·88
·····El·· .
1118·81 .... .[,. ...
11111·10 -1110-11
····-0····
' ' ..
1 DEC 1 JAN t FEB 1 MAR 1 APR 1 MAV
ooo (B) PCA -BALD 111&·18 ---
400
Lll
~ 300
0 ::
ci zoo z
100
250
200
Lll
UJ 150
0
0 ::
0 100 z
50
-250 ::
~
J:
... 200
D.
Lll c
~ 150
< D.
== 0 100 z
"' ::
j
:: 50 x
< ::
I •
/' .. \ ..... -----------·· .. 0 · ..
.~ .... ·.
:\i
' • ' \
1111·17 ·····+····
1817-81
····£3····
1111·111 .... .[,. ....
1111-10 -1110·11
····-0··
\
\
1 OCT tNOV 1 DEC 1 JAN 1 FEB 1 MAR 1 APR 1 MAV
(C) PCA -BROWNIE
0 1 ,
•I ,• ,
1 OCT 1 NOV
·~ ··EJ
.... -·.\.-_\~_-------4----..
. .
·El····n .. ~·······tu. ..
····.t. ..
1 DEC 1 JAN 1 FEB 1 MAR 1 APR
DATE
(D) SNOWPACK DEPTH
... 6 ..
... ·.·~·: •••• ,: ~···. "8
Zll. ····-••.•
. ··. *
OCT NOV DEC JAN ••• MAR APR
MONTH
1115·81 _ .... _
1181·87 ...........
1087·88
····£3··
1188-81
···-lJ.···
1181·10 -1180·11
····0··
•
1 MAY
MAV
Figure 10 Moose in 3 (A-C) post-rut concentration areas (PCA) in the western foothills of
Talkeetna Mountains and snow pack depth in Talkeetna (D) in lower Susitna River Valley in
Southcentral Alaska, Oct-Apr from 1985-1991. PCA were above timberline on Willow
Mountain (A), Bald Mountain (B), and Brownie Mountain (C) in Units 14A and 14B. Snow
pack depth was the monthly maximum depth of snow in Oct-Apr.
37
350
300
250
w
~ 200
0 :::
0 150
z
100
50
0
500
400
~ 300
0
0 :::
0 200 z
w en
0
100
0
400
300
~ 200
0 z
100
0
(A) 1985
; ,... ,. , ; ...
•
(B) 1988
(C) 1989
•
1 OCT
;t:·' , ,
. ,•' ·, ,
, •
, ,
, ,
, ,
, , ,
,. ,
150CT
, , ,
.. , .. ·, .. -·, .·,
.. o······
~ * , ------, , --·
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
'
.a
1 NOV 15 NOV
DATE
BALD ---WILLOW
·····>!>····
BROWNIE
···tl····
W~L:t~I~E
ALL OTHERS -
BALD ---WILLOW .........
BALD : ---·
WILLOW I ...
' ' MOSS !
'
1 OEC
Figure 11 Chronology of arrival and peak numbers of moose in 3 post-rut concentration areas
in Units 14A and 14B in the western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains in lower Susitna
River Valley in Southcentral Alaska during early Oct-mid Nov in 1985 (A), 1988 (B), and
1989 (C).
38
100
I.U
~ 80
0 :::
0 60 z
:.:: cs:
I.U
Q. 40 ... z
I.U
0 a: 20
I.U
Q.
0
100
I.U
~ 80
0 :::
0 60 z
:.::
"" I.U
Q. 40 ... z
I.U u a: 20
I.U
Q.
0
100
I.U
~ 80
0 :::
0 60 z
:.::
<1:
I.U
Q. 40 ... z
I.U
0 a: 20
I.U
Q.
0
(A) 1987-88
0
\
\
\
\
\
' ..... .. .. ... ..
BA~OMTN
.... ·El··"
WILLOWMTN
.... .0····
BROWNIEMTN _ .... _
... ... ...
' . ' : :·························~~
1 OCT 1 !COY 1 DEC 1 JAN
(8) 1988-89
IIIII
' \
' 0 \
. '
•.. \
.... •~-. ·. ...
0 .. t:l
1 FEB
1 OCT 1 NOV 1 DEC 1 JAN 1 FEB
(C) 1990-91
0
•' · ...
\ · ..
'·' '"' :. 'i::· .
IJ ..
, .... .... ... ...
'· ... ·., · .. ,
.:·~
1 MAR 1 APR 1 MAY
BALDMTN
·····El····
WILLOWMTN
BR~~:;·~TN I _ .... _ .
...
1 MAR 1 APR 1 MAY
BALDMTN ..... EJ ....
WILLOWMTN
... <i) ....
BROWNIE MTN -----
1 OCT 1 NOV , DEC 1 JAN 1 FEB 1 MAR 1 APR 1 MAY
DATE
Figure 12 Year and area differences in dispersal of moose from post-rut concentration areas
(PCA) in the western foothills of Talkeetna Mountains in Southcentral Alaska, Oct-Apr,
1987-1989 and 1990-1991. PCAs were above timberline on Willow Mountain (A), Bald
Mountain (B), and Brownie Mountain (C) in Units 14A and 14B.
39
Ill
(I)
0
120
100
80
0 80 ::E
0 z
40
20
0
(A) NUMBER MOOSE MONITORED PER YEAR
1118G-81 11182•83 11184·85 11188·87 11188·811 111110·111
CALENDAR YEAR
110 (B) NUMBER OF YEARS MOOSE WERE MONITORED
40
Ill
(I) so
0
0
::E
0 20 z
10
0
0·1 1·2 2·3 3·4 4·11 11·11 11·7 7·11 11·11 11·10 10·11
NO. YEARS
Figure 13 Moose monitored each calendar year in 1980-1991 (A) and number of calendar
years moose were monitored (B) for radiocollared moose studied in lower Susitna River
Valley in Southcentral Alaska, 1980-1991. Calendar year is 7 May through 6 May the
following year.
40
40
••o Ill
~ a zo
c a::
0 z 10
0
1,400
1,200
= 1,0110 ~ 0 eoo
a c 100 a::
0 z 400
200
0
..
40
10
0
, .... , , .. 1 .. 1 ,....... , ..... 7 , ......
CALENDAR YEAR
(8) RADIOFIXES PER MONTH
JM ,D MM APR MAY .IUN JUl. Ml8 liP OCT NOV IIIC
MONTH
(C) RADIOFIXES PER MOOSE
•11 , ... o ...... 7.... 101-120 ,. .. ,.. 11 .. ,.. ,. .. 210
NO. RADIOFIXES
Figure 14 Distribution of monitoring effort (radio-fixes) among calendar years (A), among
months (B), and among individual moose (C) for radiocollared moose studied in lower
Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, 1980-1991 ·
41
z
0
800
600
i= 400
c:s: > w
..J w
....
:iE
0 ...,
200
0
250
:::t: 200
1-a.. w
0
::.::: 150
0
c:s: a.
3:
0 100 z
f/)
:iE
;::)
~ 50
X
c:s:
:iE
0
(A) WINTER ELEVATION
-· .. _
··---------·-·
BROWNIE (N•7l ---WILLOW (N•14) --·--BALD IN•10) ............
-· ·-... -·.
& ................................................................................ ...
1985·86 1986·87 1987-88 1988·89
(B) SNOWPACK DEPTH
, •
, , , ,
1985·86
, ,
____ .......... _ ·--,
1986·87 1987·88
I
I
1988·89
CALENDAR YEAR
I
I
I
I
I
1989·90
I
I
• I ' '
1989·90
' ' '
1990·91
' '
1990·91
Figure 15 Minimum winter (20 Jan-20 Mar) elevation (A) ofradiocollared moose in 3 post-
rut concentration areas (PCA) in the western foothills of Talkeetna Mountains and snow pack
depth (B) in Talkeetna, lower 'susitna River Valley, Southcentral Alaska, 1985-1991. PCAs
were above timberline on Brownie Mountain, Willow Mountain, and Bald Mountain m
Units 14A and 14B. Snow pack depth was maximum depth of snow during Oct-Apr.
42
100
(I) 80
a: < LLI >
LLI 60 (I)
0
0
:E
t-40 z
LLI
0 a:
LLI
D. 20
0
100
(I) 80
a:
ct
LLI >
LLI
(I) 60
0
0
:E
1-40 z
LLI
0 a:
U.l
ll. 20
0
(A) SUSITNA RIVER; GMS 1 6A
I GMS 16A I • I GMS*16B
GMS 14A I~~~~~ I ~ GM013E
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
(B) SUSITNA RIVER; GMS 1 68
*--... '*-------*-
'*-
-,.,_---*-
GMS 16B
--+--
GMS 16A •
GMS 14A I--·--i
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
MONTH
Figure 16 Destination G~e Management Subunit (GMS) of radiocollared moose adults that
dispersed from winter concentration areas in the Susitna River floodplain in GMSs 16B (A)
and 16A (B), lower Susitna River Valley, Southcentral Alaska, Apr 1980-Jun 1985
43
35
Moose ID: 0200 (A) 1981-82
30
35 (B) 1982-83
30
35 (C) 1983-84
30
35 (D) 1984-85
30
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
Figure 17 Chronological plots (A-AF) of the distance between consecutive radio-fixes in
radiocollared moose (25 females, 7 males) telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna
River Valley, Southcentral Alaska, 1 Jun-31 May 1981-1985. Distance is kilometer to
previous radio-fix.
44
Figure 17 Continued
35
30
25
i
!:11::
...... 20 w
(.,) z
Cl: 15
1-en
0
10
5
0
35
30
25 ,....
:E
!:11::
...... 20 w
(.,) z
Cl: 15
1-en
0
......
:E
!:11::
10
5
0
35
30
25
.._ 20
w
(.,) z
ct 15
l-en
0
10
0
(A) 1982-83 Moose ID: 2036
(B) 1983-84
(C) 1984-85
1 .JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAV
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
45
Figure 1 7 Continued
20
..... 15
~
~ .....
w
~ 10
<(
l-en
0
5
0
20
..... 15
~
~ .....
w
~ 10
<(
l-en
0
5
(A) 1981-82
(B) 1982-83
20 (C) 1983-84
15
w
~ 10
<(
l-en
c
5
0
I JUL I SEP
Moose ID: 2045
I NOV I JAN I MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
46
Figure 17 Continued
25
20
......
:E
.: 15
w
0 z
<(
... 10 rn
Ci
0
25
20
......
:E
.: 15
w
0 z
<(
... 10 rn
Q
25
20
......
:E
.: 15
w
0 z
<(
... 10 rn
0
(A) 1982-83 Moose ID: 2135
(B) 1983-84
(C) 1984-85
1 JUL 1SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
47
Figure 1 7 Continued
w
0 z <
25
20
... 10
!!! a
.......
::?!
5
0
25
20
~ 15
w
0 z <
... 10
!!! a
.......
::?!
0
25
20
~ 15
w
0 z <
... 10
!!! a
5
0
(A) 1982-83 Moose ID: 2156
(B) 1983-84
(C) 19 84-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
48
Figure 17 Continued
25
20
.......
:iE
~ 15
ILl
0 z
ct
1-10 en
0
5
0
25
20
.......
:iE
~ 15
ILl
0 z
ct
1-10 en
0
ILl
0 z
ct
5
25
20
1-10 en
c
5
0
(A) 1982-83 Moose ID: 2166
(B) 1983-84
(C) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
49.
Figure 1 7 Continued
25
20
.....
:E
~ 15
Ul
(.) z
ct
1-10
1/)
0
25
20
'i
~ 15
Ul
(.) z
ct
1-10
!!! c
.....
:E
0
25
20
~ 15
Ul
(.)
z ct
1-10
!!! c
(A) 1982-83 Moose ID: 2175
(B) 1983-84
(C) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
50
Figure 17 Continued
20
15
Ill
0 10 z < I-
f/)
Q
0
20
15 ......
:E
::.::: ......
Ill
0 z 10
c:(
1-
fl)
Q
5
0
20
15 .......
:E
::.::: ......
Ill
0 z 10
c:(
1-
fl)
c
5
20
15
Ill
0 10 z
c:(
I-
f/)
Q
0
(A) 1981-82 Moose ID: 2210
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAV
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
51
Figure 1 7 Continued
30
25
Ul
0 15 z
<t
l-en 0 10
0
30
25
·~ 20
lie: ......
Ul
~ 15
<t
l-en 0 10
0
Moose ID: 2280
(A) 1981-82
(B) 1982-83
1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
52,
Figure 17 Continued
25
20
.......
:E
~ 15
LLI
0 z
ct
1-10
1/)
Ci
5
0
25
20
.......
:E =. 15
LLI
0 z
ct
1-10
1/)
a
5
0
25
20
....... ::
~ 15
LLI
0 z
ct
1-10
1/)
Ci
0
(A) 1982-83 Moose ID: 2296
(B) 1983-84
(C) 1984-85
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
53
Figure 17 Continued
70
60
50 .....
:E :.::
...... 40
UJ
0 z
~ 30
UJ a
20
10
0
70
60
50 .....
:E :.::
...... 40
UJ
0 z
~ 30
UJ a
~0
10
70
60
50 .....
:E :.::
...... 40
UJ
0 z
~ 30
UJ a
20
10
0
Moose ID: 2306
(A) 1982-83
(B) 1983-84
(C) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
54
Figure 17 Continued
30
11.1
~ 20
c:( ,...
rn
Q
10
0
40
30
11.1
~ 20
c:( ,...
rn
Q
to
0
40
30
11.1
~ 20
c:( ,...
rn
Q
10
Moose ID: 3100
(A) 1981-82
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
1 JAN I MAR 1MAV
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
Figure 17 Continued
20 (A) 1981-82
w
~ 10
<1:
I-
ll)
0
5
0
20
.... 15
:lE
~ ._
w
~ 10
<1:
1-
!!! c
0
(B) 1982-83
20 (C)1983-84
.... 15
:lE
~ ._
w
~ 10
<1:
I-
ll)
c
20 (D)1984-85
.... 15
:lE
~ ._
w
~ 10
<1:
I-
ll)
0
0
1 ~UL 1 SEP
Moose ID: 3110
1 NOV 1 ~AN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
56·
Figure 17 Continued
Moose ID: 3130
25 (A) 1981-82
20
.....
~
~ 15 ....,
Ill
0 z
~
1-10
f/)
Q
5
0
25 (B) 1982-83
20
.....
~
~ 15
Ill
0 z
~
1-10
f/)
Q
5
0
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
57
Figure 1 7 Continued
...... :: :..:
25
20
...., 15
1&1
0 z
'¢
.... 10 en
0
...... :: :..:
5
0
25
20
...., 15
1&1
0 z
'¢
.... 10 en
0
0
25
20
...... :: :..:
...., 15
1&1
0 z
'¢
.... 10 en
0
5
0
25
20
...... :: :..:
...., 15
1&1
0 z
'¢
.... 10 en
0
5
0
(A) 1981-82 Moose ID: 3140
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
58
Figure 1 7 Continued
......
:E
!ll::
25
20
....... 15
w
0 z
;: 10
II)
Ci
5
25
20
......
:E
:15
w
0 z
;: 10
!!? a
......
:E
!ll::
0
25
20
....... 15
w
0 z
;: 10
II)
Ci
......
:E
!ll::
25
20
....... 15
w
0 z
;: 10
II)
Ci
5
(A) 1981-82
Moose ID: 3192
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
59
Figure 1 7 Continued
Moose ID: 3220
80 (A) 1980-81
i 60
~ ......
w
0 40 z
~
1-
!!! 20 a
0
80 (B) 1981-82
..... :E 60
~ ......
w
0 40 z
~
1-
!!! 20 a
0
eo (C) 1982-83
i &0
~ ......
w
0 40 z
~
1-
!!! 20 a
0
80 (D) 1983-84
..... :E eo
::.::: .....
w
0 40 z
~
1-
!!! 20 a
0
80 (E) 1984-85
....... :E 60
~ .......
w
0 40 z
~
1-
!!! 20 a
0
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1MAV
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
60
Figure 1 7 Continued
40
w
0 20 z
<t
I-
_(I) 10 Ci
0
40
i 30
~
w
0 20 z
<t
1-
~ 10 0
0
(A) 1980-81
(B) 1981-82
4o (C) 1982-83
w
0 20 z
<t
1-
~ 10 0
0
40 (D) 1983-84
w
0 20 z
<t
1-
~ 10
0
0
4o (E) 1984-85
w
0 20 z <t
1-
~ 10 0
0
Moose ID: 3230
61;
Figure 1 7 Continued
20
15
w
0 10 z <t
t-en
0
5
0
(A) 1981-82
20 (B) 1982-83
15
w
0 10 z
<t t-en
c
5
0
20 (C) 1983-84
'i
~
w
15
0 10 z
<t
t-en
0
20 (D) 1984-85
15
w
0 10 z
<t t-en
c
5
0
1 JUL 1 SEP
Moose ID: 3240
1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
62
Figure 17 Continued Moose ID: 3252
3o (A) 1981-82
25
.....
:E 20 ::.:: .....,
Lll
~ 15
C(
1-
~ 10 Q
5
0
3o (B) 1982-83
25
.....
:E 20 ::.:: .....,
Lll
~ 15
C(
I-
I/)
Q 10
0
3o (C) 1983-84
25
.....
:E 20 ::.:: .....,
Lll
~ 15
C(
I-
I/)
Q 10
5
0
30
25
.....
:E 20 ::.:: .....,
Lll
~ 15
C(
1-
~ 10 Q
0
(D) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
63.
Figure 1 7 Continued
30
25
w
0 15 z
<t
... 10 en
Q
0
30
25
"" ::E
~ 20 .....
w
0 15 z
<t
... 10 en
Q
5
0
30
25
"" ::E
~ 20 .....
w
0 15 z
<t
... 10
!:!!
Q
0
30
25
"" ::!:
~ 20 .....
w
0 15 z
<t
... 10
(/)
Q
5
0
30
25
"" ::E
~ 20 .....
w
0 15 z
<t
... 10
!:!!
Q
0
Moose ID: 3260
(A) 1980-81
(B) 1981-82
(C) 1982-83
(D) 1983-84
(E) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
64
Figure 17 Continued
40
w
0 20 z
<1:
I-
!!! 10 c
0
w
0 20 z
<1:
I-
!!! 10 c
40
i 30
:.:: .....
w
0 20 z
<1:
1-
!!! 10 c
0
40
......
:: 30
:.:: .....
w
0 20 z
<1:
1-
1/)
c 10
0
40
i 30
:.:: .....
w
0 20 z
<1:
1-
!!! 10 c
Moose ID: 3270
(A) 1980-81
(B) 1981-82
(C) 1982-83
(D) 1983-84
(E) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
65.
Figure 17 Continued 30 (A) 1981-82
25
LLI
~ 15
c:t
l-en Ci 10
5
0
30
25
,...
:iE 20
~ .....
LLI
~ 15
c:t
l-en Ci 10
5
0
30
25
LLI
~ 15
c:t
1-
!!! c 10
5
0
(B) 1982-83
30 (D) 1984-85
25
,...
:iE 20
~ .....
LLI
~ 15
c:t
l-en Ci 10
1 JUL 1 SEP
Moose ID: 3291
1 NOV 1 JAN
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
66
Figure 17 Continued
25
20
......
:E
~ ...... 15
11.1
0 z
;: 10
en a
5
0
25
20
......
:E
~ 15
11.1
0 z
;: 10
!!! c
......
:E
~
5
0
25
20
...... 15
11.1
0 z
;: 10
en
c
......
:E
~
0
25
20
...... 15
11.1
0 z
;: 10
en a
5
0
Moose ID: 3300
(A) 1981-82
(8) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
1 .JUt 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
67
Figure 1 7 Continued
i
~
w
20
15
(J 10 z
<t
1-
1/J
Q
5
0
20
15
i ::.:: .....
w
0 10 z
<t
1-
1/J
Q
5
0
20
15
w
(J 10 z
<t
1-
1/J
Q
0
20
15
w
0 10 z
<t ...
!!! c
5
Moose ID: 3310
(A)19B0-81
(B) 1981-82
(C) 1982-83
(D) 1983-84
1 JUL 1 SI!P 1 NOV 1 JAN 1MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
68
Figure 1 7 Continued
...... ::
~
w
40
30
0 20 z
<1:
I-
ll)
Q
w
10
0
40
30
0 20 z
<1:
I-
ll)
Q
10
(A) 1980-81
(B) 1981-82
4o (C) 1982-83
30
w
0 20 z
<1:
1-
!!!
Q
10
0
1 JUL 1 SEP
Moose ID: 3320
1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAV
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
69
Figure 17 Continued 25
20
i
.:. 15
w
0 z i:! 10
1/)
Q
0
25
20
i
!It! ..... 15
w
0 z i:! 10
1/)
0
25
20
.....
~
.:. 15
w
0 z
;: 10
1/)
0
5
0
25
20
......
~
.:. 15
w
0 z i:! 10
1/)
0
5
0
(A) 1981-82 Moose ID: 3340
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
70
Figure 1 7 Continued
40
30
w
0 20 z
<( ...
~ c
10
0
40
30
w
0 20 z
<( ...
(/)
0
10
0
40
30
w
0 20 z
<( ...
~ c
......
:iE
~
w
10
0
40
30
0 20 z
<( ...
(/)
0
10
0
Moose ID: 3430
(A) 1981-82
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAV
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
71
Figure 17 Continued
20
w
~ 10
c:t
I-
ll)
Q
0
{A) 1981-82
20 {B) 1982-83
...... 15
:E
~ ...,
w
~ 10
c:t
I-
ll)
Q
5
20 {C) 1983-84
...... 15
:E
~ ...,
w
~ 10
c:t
I-
ll)
0
5
20
...... 15
:E
~
w
~ 10
c:t
I-
ll)
Q
0
{D) 1984-85
1 JUL 1 SEP
Moose ID: 3552
1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
72
Figure17 Continued 40 (A)1981-82
30
i ::.:: ......
w
~ 20
~
1-
CI) c
10
0
.... 30
::!E ::.:: ......
1.1.1
0 z 20
~
1-
CI) c
10
0
40
...... 30 :: ::.::
w
0 z 20
~
1-
CI) c
to
0
40
....... 30
::!E ::.:: ......
1.1.1
0 z 20
~
1-
CI) c
10
0
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
1 .Jl/L 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 .JAN 1 MAR
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
73
Moose ID: 3582
1 MAV
Figure 1 7 Continued
20
Ill
0 10 z
<C
I-
f/) a
5
0
20
15
Ill
0 10 z
<C
I-
f/) a
0
20
15
Ill
~HI
<C
I-
f/)
a
5
0
20
15
Ill
0 10 z
<C
I-
f/) a
0
Moose ID: 3692
(A) 1981-82
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
(D) 1984-85
1 JUl 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN !MAR 1 MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
74
Figure 17 Continued
25
20
i = 15
w
0 z
ct
..... 10
C/)
0
5
0
25
20
......
:E = 15
w
0 z
ct
..... 10
C/)
0
0
25
20
......
:E
~ 15 ....
w
0 z
ct
..... 10
C/)
0
Moose ID: 3813
(A) 1981-82
(B) 1982-83
(C) 1983-84
1 JUL 1 SEP 1 NOV 1 JAN 1 MAR 1MAY
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
75
w
0 z
10
8
;: 4
(/) c
w
0 z
0
10
8
;: 4
(/) c
0
10
8
......
:E ::.:::
w
0 z
;: 4
(/)
0
(A) 28 APRIL-1 JULY, 1981
MALES •·
FEMALES WITHOUT NEONATES __.._
.. ••
, .. ~----.. --•,,
,' ',
FEMALES WITH NEONATES
•
--•-·
•
~-...
,' ....
' -. ' '
(B) 16 APRIL-29 JUNE, 1982
... ... .. ····;··· -
(C) 20 APRIL-28 JUNE, 1983
•
MALES
····•····
FEMALES WITHOUT NEONATES __.._
FEMALES WITH NEONATES
-._
--·-·
. . ... ·
--··
MALES ..
•
FEMALES WITHOUT NEONATES __.._
FEMALES WITH NEONATES --·-·
•
·---11.. _____ _ -·-. ---··
1MAV 11MAV 21MAV 31MAV 10JUN 20JUN 30JUN
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
Figure 18 Chronological plots of the distance between consecutive radio-ftXes in
radiocollared moose males, females without neonates, and females with neonates monitored
with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, Apr-Jul from 1981-1983.
Distance is kilometer to previous radio-fix. N=27 females, 7 males in 1981; 35 females, 11
males in 1982; and 33 females, 6 males in 1983.
76
N
::::E
llll::
0
100
:" eo .,
Ill
" z
C eo a:
Ill
::::E
0 :::c 40
IL
0 ... z
Ill zo 0 a:
Ill
A.
0
100
-eo ....
~
" :::c eo ...
i .,
Ill
(:J 40 z c a:
Ill
::::E zo 0 :::c
"#.
0
(A) AREA OF MCP
(B) GREATEST WIDTH (GW) OF MCP
1181 1HZ
YEAR
11es
· Figure 19 Home range size in radiocollared adult moose female§ and males monitored with
aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, 1 May-30 Jun, 1981-1983. (A)
Area (km2) of 100% minimum convex polygon. (B) Greatest width (GW) of minimum
convex polygon; where GW=distance between·the 2 radio-fixes with greatest Wand where
W=square root of((Xt-Xzi+<Yt-Yzi) and X,Y=coordinates of radio-fixes. Number of radio-
fixes equals 6 in 1981, 7 in 1982, and 6 in 1983. Number of moose equals 27 females, 7 males
in 1981; 35 females, 11 males in 1982; and 33 females, 6 males in 1983.
77
8 -
1 (A) MOVEMENTS: BETWEEN RADIO-FIXES
/
"
. . .
·---··· ,.,· ..........
••
• .. ' . t I . .
' ' . ' . . ' . . .
' ' ' . • •
. .
\ .
o ~--~-r--~-r--~-r--~~--~-r--r
M_I_I_U_fl_U_I~~~·-U-I_U_
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
10 (8) MOVEMENTS; WITIIH SUSONS
~o---u, 11e;) MM.P(IIo7l
r
•
11 (C) SEASONAL HOME RANGE
SEASON
Figure 20 Chronological plots of the distance between consecutive radio-fixes (A), sum of
distances between radio-fixes in a season (B),· and size of seasonal home ranges (C) among
radiocollared adult moose females and males telemetry monitored with aircmft in lower
Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, in pre-rut, rut, and post-rut seasons, 17 Aug-
14 Dec 1981. Home range size equals area (km2) of 100% minimum convex polygon. Seasons
were pre-rut (17 Aug-14 Sep), rut (14 Sep--15 Oct), and post-rut (15 Oct-14 Dec).
78
~ ~--~-~-------------------------
i 15
c
::1: + 1-
0
~
1-10 en
Ill
1-+ c:c
Ill a: + CJ
Ill + CJ 5 z -+-·-t-c:c a:
Ill
~
0
::1:
0
FEMALES MALES FEMALES MALES FEMALES MALES
PRERUT RUT POSTRUT
SEASON
. Figure 21 Pre-rut, rut, and post-rut home range size (greatest width) in radiocollared adult·
moose females and males telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in
Southcentral Alaska in 1981. Greatest width equals distance between 2 radio-fixes with
greatest W; where W=square root of ((X1-X2 )2+(Y 1-Y 2)2) and X, Y=coordinates of radio-
fixes. Number of radio-fixes equals 5 in each season. Seasons were pre-rut ( 17 Aug-14 Sep ),
rut (14 Sep-15 Oct), and post-rut (15 Oct-14 Dec).
79
X 1c
ii:
I
0 12 0
"' a: 10
0 = 0 > •
Lll g: 0
0
1-..
Lll
(,.)
~ 2
1-
0 0 0
X 14
ii:
I Ou 0
"' a: 10
0 = 0 > •
Lll g: 0
0
1-4
Lll
(,.)
~ 2
1-
0 0 0
X 14
ii:
I
Ou 0
"' a: 10
0 = 0 • > Lll a:
IL.
0
1-..
Lll
(,.)
~ 2
1-
0 0 0
X 14
ii:
I
0 1Z
i5
"' a: 10
Ill = 0 > •
Lll a:
IL.
0
1-..
Lll
(,.)
~ I
I-
III
i5 0
(A) 2 DEC-29 APR, 1881-82
••
1 DIC 11'111
. .
1MM
(B) 10 NOV-20 APR, 1982-83
10EC 1 JAil 11'0 1MM
(C) 25 NOV-24APR, 1983-84
:
1 DEC 1 JAN
. .
11'1!:11
(D) 19 NOV-25 APR, 1984-85
• . .
.
'
Ul'tll
1 OEC 1 1'!1 1 MM 1APII
DATE OF RADIO-FIX
!MAY
1MA'I
1MAV
Figure 22 Chronological plots of the distance between consecutive radio-fixes in adult moose
females and males monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral
Alaska in December through Aprill981-1985. N:d:smallest number of moose monitored.
80
ZIO
.... zoo
2 u ..,
i!= A. tiD
Ill a
:1&: u c 100
A. :;=
0 z
• 10
0
~~~OCToeB--~
~OCToeB•APM. .
1H1 .. Z 1112•81 1...... 1lM-II 1...... 1H.IO
YEAR
Figure 23 Maximum snow pack depth (em) in winter (Oct-Apr) and in late winter (Jan-Apr)
· in Talkeetna in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska in 1981-1986 and 1989-
1990.
81
1MAY
1 APR
1MAR
LLI
1-1 FEB cs:
• • -~·······•·····································•···················································A • • • • •
0 • •
1 JAN ..........•................. ! ........................... 111 ........•........•..................... 8 • 1 DEC • •
1 NOV
FIRST ON WINTER RANGE LAST ON WINTER RANGE • •
a8D·81 1982·83 11184·86 111811·87 aee-1111 111110·111
YEAR
Figure 24 First and last dates radiocollared moose adults were in terminal winter range in
lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, 1 October 1980-31 November 1990.
Dotted lines mark means of (A) last dates in winter range and (B) first dates in winter range.
82
1 MAR
1 JAN
1 NOV
~ 1 SEP
~
Q
1 AUG
1 JUN
1 APR
FIRST ON NON• WINTER RANGE LAST ON NON•WINTER RANGE • •
• •
........... !!I .................. ~········•·······················································•· A • • • •
.............................................. ~ ........................................ ~·-8
1880 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1988 1987 1888 1989 1990
YEAR
Figure 25 First and last dates radiocollared moose adults were in nonwinter range in lower
Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska, 1 October 1980-31 November 1990. Dotted
lines mark means of (A) last dates in winter range and (B) first dates in winter range.
83
300
250
200
Cl)
> < Q
0 150
z
100
50
ON WINTER RANGE ON NON-WINTER RANGE • ••
• • • •
···············w·····································•····· .. ·•· ................................ A • •
• • • • .............................................................................................. a
• • •
1!181 1!182 1!183 1!184 1!185 1!1811 1!187 1!188 1!1811 1!1!10
YEAR
Figure 26 Days radiocollared moose adults were in terminal winter range and nonwinter
range in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska during 1 October 1980 through
31 November 1990. Dotted line marks means of (A) number of days moose were in terminal
winter range and (B) number of days moose were in nonwinter range.
84
t ..
tiO -..
::E :~~~:too -Ill
~ 10
Ill
" ~ 10
a: ..
::E •o
0 :z:
10
0
t ..
tiO -"! tiO -Ill
~· ..
= i ..
Ill ::E ..
0 :z:
10
(A) NOYEMBER-APRL
t + + +
-+-
(8) JANUARY-APRL
0 ~-r----~--~--~~--~--~---
'" (C) INOWPACK DEPTH
ZIO
!
-zoo
~
Ill.
Ill
OtiO
~
:IE
)(too
c
:IE
••
tNt .. l tNa-el tN.... t...... tNHI t .....
YEAR
Figure 27 Home range area in winter (Nov-Apr) (A), and in late winter (Jan-Apr) (B) in
radiocollared adult female moose and maximum snow pack depth in Talkeetna (C), in lower
Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska in 1981-1986 and 1989-1990. In November
through April1981-1982, 24 moose were monitored 15 times; in 1982-1983, 33 moose were
monitored 10-11 times; in 1983-1984, 31 moose were monitored 12 times; in 1984-1985, 30
moose were monitored 9-13 times; and in 1989-1990, 62 moose were monitored 5-10 times.
In January through April in 1981-1982, 25 moose were monitored 6-9 times; in 1982-1983,
33 moose were monitored 7 times; in 1983-1984, 35 moose were monitored 8 times; in 1984-
1985, 32 moose were monitored 7-8 times; in 1985-1986, 15 moose were monitored 6 times;
and in 1989-1990; 61 moose were monitored 4-6 times. Area equals square kilometers of
100% of minimum convex polygon of radio-fixes.
85
•00 (A) NOVEMBER-APRIL
+
-t-
•oo (B) JANUARY-APRIL
.... .. ~-
111 ;
:,v aoo
z = I ~·-
...
IM
i -zoo
~ :;
CtM
~ ! too
i
10
+ +
(C) SNOWPACK DEPTH
+
-+-
-+-
~ ~
....... ....... ·-....... ....... .. .....
YEAR
Figure 28 Home range area in winter (Nov-Apr), and in 1ate winter (Jan-Apr) (B), in
radiocollared adult male moose and maximum snow pack depth in Talkeetna (C), in lower
Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska in 1981-1986 and 1989-1990. II\ November
through April: 1981-1982, 7 moose were monitored 15 times; 1982-1983, 6 moose were
monitored 10 times; in 1983-1984, 4 moose were monitored 10-12 times; in 1984-1985, 3
moose were monitored 13 times; and in 1989-1 ~90, 9 moose were. monitored 5-8 times. In
January through April: in 1981-1982, 7 moose were monitored 9 times; in 1982-1983, 6 moose
were monitored 7 times; in 1983-1984, 6 moose were monitored 8 times; in 1984-1985, 5
moose were monitored 8 times; in 1985-1986, 17 moose were monitored 6 times; and in 1989-
1990, 9 moose were monitored 4-6 items. Area equals square kilometer of 100% convex
polygon of radio-fixes.
86
(8) .IANUARY•APRIL
+ +
+
+
-I-
oL-~--~----r---~--~----r--
-(C) SNOWPACK DEPTH
•••
! --% t-
CL
Ill
Q 110
~~-; ..
Figure 29 Home range greatest width in winter (Nov-Apr) (A), and in late winter (Jan-April)
(B), in radiocollared adult female moose and maximum snow pack depth in Talkeetna (C), in
lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska in 1981-1986 and 1989-1990. In' November
through April: in 1981-1982,24 moose were monitored 15 times; in 1982-1983,33 moose were
monitored 10-11 times; in 1983-1984, 31 mo.ose were monitored 12 times; in 1984-1985, 30
moose were monitored 9-13 times; and in 1989-1990,62 moo.se were monitored 5-10 times. In
January through April: in 1981-1982, 25 moose were monitored 6-9 times; in 1982-1983, 33
moose were monitored 7 times; in 1983-1984,35 moose were monitored 8 times; in 1984-1985,
32 moose were monitored 7-8 times; in 1985-1986, 15 moose were monitored 6 times; and in
1989-1990, 61 moose were monitored 4-6 times .. Greatest width equals distance between 2
radio-fixes with greatest W; where W:::osquare root of ((X1-XJ 2+(Y1-Y2)2) and X,Y=coordinates
of radio-fixes.
87
.. (A) NOVEMBIR-APRL -[E) :IE
lll: -:z: •
~ .. t ~ ... + • Ill ...
Coo .. a: + a + .. a z
=11 I
0 :z:
•
•• (8) .IANUARY-APRL -[E) :IE
lll: -:z: • ~ ..
+ ~ ... + • .. ...
Coo
Ill a: a + .. a z
=11 + Ill
:IE +-0 :z:
•
111 (C) SNOWPACK DEPTH
...
i u -zoo :z: ...
IL
Ill
Q til
~
:IE iC 100 ; ..
....... ....... ....... ....... , .. _ ···-
YEAR
Figure 30 Home range greatest width in winter, Nov-April, and in late winter Jan-Apr, in
radiocollared adult male moose and maximum snow pack depth in Talkeetna, in lower Susitna
River Valley, Southcentral Alaska, 1981-1986 and 1989-1990. In Nov-Apr: 1981-1982, 7
moose were monitored 15 times; in 1982-1983, 6 moose were monitored 10 times; in 1983-
1984, 4 moose were monitored 10-12 times; in 1984-1985, 3 moose were monitored 13 times;
and in 1989-1990, 9 moose were monitored 5-8 times. In Jan-Apr: in 1981-1982, 7 moose
were monitored 9. times; in 1982-1983, 6 moose were monitored 7 times; in 1983-1984, 6
moose were monitored 8 times; in 1984-1985, 5 moose were monitored 8 times; in 1985-1986,
17 moose were monitored 6 times; and in 1989-1990, 9 moose were monitored 4-6 times.
Greatest width equals distance between 2 radio-fixes with greatest W; where W=square root of
((X1-XJ2+(Y1-Y2}2} and X,Y=coordinates of radio-fixes.
88
120 (A) AREA + •1SE
MEAN 100
-1SE .....
N
:t
lll:!
tt t
._
80 c:f:
Ill a:
c:f:
Ill 110 t CJ z
c:f: a: 40
Ill
:t
0 :a:
20 +
0
30 (B) GREATEST WIDTH .....
:t + •1SE lll:!
+t
MEAN ._ 25
+t
·1SE :a:
1-
Q
§ 20 t t 1-en
Ill
1-
c:f: 1!5
Ill a:
CJ
Ill 10 + CJ z
c:f: a: --+-Ill 5
:t
0 :a:
0
AW LW AW LW AW LW AW LW
1981-82 11182-83 1983-84 1984-85
SEASON/YEAR
Figure 31 Home range area (A) and greatest width (B) in Nov-Apr (all winter, A W) and in mid-
January through April (late winter, L W), in 17 radiocollared adult female moose telemetry
monitored in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska in 1981-1985. (A) Area equals
square kilometer of 100% minimum convex polygon. (B) Greatest width equals greatest distance
between 2 radiofixes with greatest W; where W=square root of ((X 1-X2)2+(Y,-Y1)2) and
X, Y =coordinates of radio-fixes.
89
100 -1: :::: VlmTH MCP I Ill
N ;;
Ill eo
" z cc
IIC _, eo cc ......
Ill
N ;;
Ill 40
" z cc
IIC
~ 20 _, ....
#.
0
11e1·82 11e2·eS 1HJ-e4 1t1U•el
YEAR
Figure 32 Indices ofNov-April (all winter, AW) home range size to mid-January through April
(late winter, L W) home range size in 17 radiocollared mo~se female adults telemetry monitored
in lower Susitna River Valley Southcentral Alaska during 1981-1985. Indices were based on
measurements of area equals square kilometer of 100% minimum convex polygon and greatest
width equals greatest distance between 2 radiofixes with greatest W; where W=square root of
((X1-X2)
2+(Y1-Y2)
2
) and X,Y=coordinates of radio-fixes.
90
40
"" N
== 30 ::.:: .....
< w a: < w 20
CJ z < a:
w
== 10 0 :z::
0
20
i 15 ::.:: .....
:z::
t-o
~ 10
1-
(1)
w
1-< w ffi 5
0
(A) AREA
+ + + + +
(B) GREATEST WIDTH
+ +
SAMPLE-YEAR
Figure 33 Terminal wiriter home range size (area [A]); greatest width (B) in migratory and
nonmigratory radiocollared adult female moose monitored in lower Susitna River Valley in
Southcentral Alaska in 1982-1983, 1984-1985, and 1989-1990. Area equals square kilometer of
100% minimum convex polygon. Greatest width equals greatest distance (km) between 2
radiofixes with greatest W; where W=square root of ((X 1-X 2)2+(Y 1-Y2)2) and X,Y=coordinates of
radiofixes. Sample A was migratory moose, n=6; sample. B was nonmigratory moose, n=6;
sample C was migratory moose, n=8; sampleD was nonmigratory moose, n=16. Maximum snow
pack depth at Talkeetna was normal (81 em) in 1982-1983, deep (157 em) in 1984-1985, and
extremely deep (226 em) in 1989-1990.
91
Figure 34 Tenninal winter home range size (area [A] and greatest width [B]) in migratory and
nonmigratory radiocollared adult female moose monitored in lower Susitna River Valley in
Southcentral Alaska in 1982-1983, 1984-1985 and 1989-1990. Area equals square kilometer of.
100% minimum convex polygon. N=ll in 1982-1983; 11 in 1984-1985; and 24 in 1989-1990.
Maximum snow pack depth was nonnal (81 em) in 1982-1983, deep (157 em) in 1984-1985,
and extremely deep (226 ern) in 1989-1990.
92
A B
c D
Figure 35 Graphical plots of radiofix locations in 3 nonmigratory moose (153340, 153552, and
153692, respectively) monitored in 4 consecutive calendar years, 1981-1985, (A-D,
respectively) in lower Susitna River Valley, in Southcentral Alaska. Calendar years equals
7 May-6 May the following year. Nonmigratory equals in adaptive kernel home range analysis
utilization distribution of radio-fixes was unimodal.
93
Figure 35 Continued
A B
D
94
Figure 35 Continued
A B
c D
95
Figure 36 Graphical plots of radio-fix locations in 3 migratory moose (153220, 1S3252, and .
153582, respectively) that were philopatric to winter and nonwinter season home ranges, in
lower Susitna River Valley, in Southcentral Alaska, during 4 consecutive calendar years, 1981-
1985 (A-D, respectively). Migratory equals in adaptive kernel home range analysis utilization
distribution of radio-fixes was multimodal. Calendar year equals 7 May through 6 May the
following year. Philopatric equals utilization distributions of radio-fixes in winter and nonwinter
seasons were sympatric among calendar years.
96
Figure 36 Continued
97
Figure 36 Continued
D
98
A
Figure 37 Graphical plots of radio-fix locations in 3 migratory moose (152210, 152960, and
153640, respectively) that were nonphilopatric to winter season (23 Dec-6 May, the following
year) home range in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Al~ska in winter-summer and
summer-winter seasons in consecutive years in 1985-1987. Winter-summer season equals 23
Dec-30 Sep 1985-1986 (A); summer-winter season equals 7 May-6 May the following year, in
1986-1987 (B) and 1987-1988 (C). Migratory equals in adaptive kernel home range analysis
utilization distribution of radio-fixes was multimodal. Nonphilopatric equals utilization
distributions of winter season radio-fixes were not sympatric among calendar years.
Figure 3 7 Continued
A B
-0
0
Figure 3 7 Continued
_.
0 _.
........
0
N
Figure 38 Graphical plots of winter season radio-fix locations in 3 migratory moose (152210,
152960, and 153640, respectively) that were nonphiJopatric to terminal winter home range in
lower Susitna River Valley, in Southcentral Alaska, during 3 consecutive years, 1985-1987 (A-
C, respectively). Winter season equals 25 Dec-6 · May, the following year.
Migratory=multimodal utilization distribution in adaptive kernel home range analysis.
Nonphilopatric=utilization distributions ofradiofixes in winter season were not sympatric among
calendar years.
........
0 w
Figure 38 Continued
Figure 38 Continued
A
Ill
(I)
0
20
111
~ 10
0 z
Ill
(I)
0
0
20
111
~ 10
0 z
0
(A) FEMALES
(B) MALES
0 0 0 0 0
'!' , .. • 0
0 c. c. -N • .. c. •
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ·0 .. 0 .. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -N N .., • .. .. ... • .. 0 -N N c. c. c. c. c. c. c. c. c. c. -- - -0 .. 0 .. 0 0 0 0 0 0 c. c. c. - -
N N ., • .. .. ... • 0 0 0 .. 0 ---
LIFE RANGE SIZE (KM2 )
Figure 39 Histograms of life home range size in radiocollared (A) female (n=106) and (B) male
(n=36) moose adults telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River valley in
Southcentral Alaska during April1980 through January 1991. Home range size equals area {km2)
of 98% minimum convex polygon. ·
105
16
= 10 0
0
:E
0 z
6
0
(A) FEMALES
16 (B) MALES
= 10 0
0
:E
ci z
6
0
0
~
0 0 0 0 -.·oo • 0
0 0 0 -0 N .. 00 •
0
00 -0
0 ..
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0
N N ... .. 00 00 .... • 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 -N "N ... ., 00 00 ....
LIFE RANGE SIZE (KM2 )
0
0 • 0
0 •
lij1C2NTROIJ
~ •1 CENTROID
lij 1 CENTROID
~ •1 ceNTROID
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 -N N ----. 0 0 0
0 0 0 • 0 ---
Figure 40 Histograms of life home range size in radiocollared (A) female (n=106) and (B) male
(n=36) moose adults telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River valley in
Southcentral Alaska during Apr 198~Jan 1991. Home range size equals area (km2} 98%
adaptive kernel. Bandwidth used in adaptive keni'el analysis was bandwidth with lowest LSCV
between optimum bandwidth and 0.55 times the optimum bandwidth. Number of centroids
equals number of discrete polygons with >2 radio-fixes.
106
-N
::E
500
400
:w:: 300 -c:c w a:
c:c 200 a.
0
::E
100
0
1100
500
N-400
::E
:w:: -c:c 300 w a: c:c
:w:: 200 c:c
100
0
(A) MINIMUM CONVEX POL VGON
+ +
(B) ADAPTIVE KERNEL
+
+
+ •1SE
MEAN
·1SE
+ •1SE
MEAN
·1SE
+ +
F M F M F M
1 UD > 1 UD ALL
SEX/NO. UTILIZATION DISTRIBUTIONS
Figure 41 Life home range size in radiocollared female (F) and male (M) moose adults telemetry
monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River valley in Southcentral Alaska during Apr 1980-
Jan 1991. Home range size calculated with minimum convex polygon (A) and adaptive kernel
methods. Number utilization distributions (UD) was. determined in adaptive kernel analyses ..
Number of males with 1 and > 1 UD was 23 and 13 moose, respectively; number females with 1
and >IUD was 106 and 36 moose, respectively. Bandwidth used in adaptive kernel analysis was
bandwidth with lowest LSCV between optimum bandwidth and 0.55 times the optimum
bandwidth.
107
en w
N c;;
w
CJ
1.5
z 1
< a:
IL
0
0
i= < 0.5
a:
en w
N c;;
w
CJ
0
1.5
z 1 < a:
IL
0
0
i= < 0.5
a:
0
(A) NON-MIGRATORY MOOSE
150200 152380 153300 153340 153582 153882
A • e * 6 0
•
·····································!····················· .. !·······················!··········
!!! *
0 •
(B) MIGRATORY MOOSE
• 153170 153182 153220 153252 153280 153582
A • e * 6 0
6 .
···········~························t·······················!·······················ci··········
~ 0 • ! ! •
1:2 2:3 3:4
NO. CALENDAR YEARS OF DATA IN RATIO
Figure 42 Relationship between number of radio-fixes and home range size (A) nonmigratory
(n=6) and (B) migratory (n=6) radiocollared female moose adults monitored with aircraft in
lower Susitna River valley in Southcentral Alaska, 1980-1991. Home range size was 98%
minimum convex polygon. Ratio of home range sizes in: 1 :2 was ratio of home range size in
calendar year (CY) 1:home range size in CYs 1:f"2; 2:3=was ratio of home range size in CYs
1+2:home range size in CYs 1+2+3; and etc. Calendar year equals 7 May-6 May the following
year. Nonmigratory (migratory) moose=moose with unimodal (multimodal) distribution of radio-
fixes. Least number of radio-fixes irrwas 36 in CY 1, 58 in CYs (1+2), 85 in CYs (1+2+3), 108
in CYSs (1+2+3+4), and 140 in CY (1+2+3+4+) ..
108
I
..... 114
'# ...... • 1114 )(
ii:
0
Cia c a:
a:
!!!z _, ... :::»
0
0
.JAJt I'D -AP11 MAY .M1 JUL AUII 18' OCT NOY DIC
MONTH
Figure 43 Frequency by month of outlier radio-fixes in 98% minimum convex polygons of life
home range of nonmigratory (n=6) and migratory (n=6) radiocollared moose adults monitored
with aircraft in lower Susitna River valley in Southcentral Alaska in 1980-1991. Numbers above
bars= number of radio-fixes.
109
-:= &.825 MOOSE 152036 CALVING
0 0· •
0 SUMMER
0 A
0 6.82 ~ RUT 0
0 • • .... POSTRUT
)( 6.815 0
> WINTER -0
II) FALL HUNT 11.1 6.81 •· b. t-
4 0 SURVEY
z * 2i &.8011 * a:
0
0
(.) &.8
> 2&0 270 280 2110 300 310
X COORDINATES (X x 1 0 0 0 M)
Figure 44 (A-L). Graphical examples of spatial relationships among seasonal home range
centroids (top) and life home range radio-fixes (bottom) in 6 migratory (A-E) and 6
nonmigratory (F-J) radiocollared female moose adults monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna
River valley in Southcentral Alaska in 1981-1991. Migratory equals moose with multimodal
utilization distribution of radio-fixes in adaptive kernel analysis of life home ranges. Seasonal
home ranges were=calving, summer, rut, post-rut, winter, hunt, and survey. Marks (top) show
location of centroids of seasonal ranges. Marks with dots were secondary centroids.
110
Figure 44 Continued (B)
...... ::E 15.811
0
0
0
0
0 6.885
0 ....
)(
~ 15.88
(I)
11.1 ... z cr i5 6.875
a:
0
0
0 > 6.87
MOOSE 153140
cfb.. •
,JI
0·
•• 0
*•
CALVING •
SUMMER ...
RUT •
POST RUT
0
WINTER
0
FALL HUNT
6.
SURVEY
*
322 324 326 328 330 332 334 336 338 340
X COORDINATES (X x 1 0 0 0 M)
111
Figure 44 Continued (C)
-CALVING • == 6.91
0 MOOSE 153220
0 SUMMER
0 6.9 *• ...
[)o ·lfl•
RUT • 0
0
0 6.89 .... POSTRUT
0
WINTER
0
)( 6.88 > -~-•·
FALL HUNT
£::,.
(I) 6.87 Lll
SURVEY
*
...
4 6.86 ~
Q a: 6.86
0
0
0 6.84
> 310 320 330 340 360 380 370 380
X COORDINATES (X x 1 0 0 0 M)
112
Figure 44 Continued (D)
-~ 6.81111
0 MOOSE 153230 CALVING
0 11.894 0
0
0 6.892
0
• ~· SUMMER
A ~ RUT -• )( 11.89 POSTRUT
> 11.8811 -U)
LLI 11.8811 ... cr
0
0 WINTER *• 0
FALL HUNT
6.
~ 11.884 SURVEV
•Q
a: 11.882 0
* • A
0
0 11.88
> 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 3110
X COORDINATES (X x 1000 M)
113
Figure 44 Continued (E)
-== 6.8ll
0
0
0
0 6.88
0
0 .,..
)( 6.87
> -0
Ul 6.88
1-
ct z
Q 6.85
a:
0
0
(J 6.84
>
MOOSE 153252
0•
0
*"o·
*•
•. <
lit.•
305 310 315 320 326 330 33-6 340
X COORDINATES (X x 1000 M)
114
CALVING • SUMMER
lit.
RUT • POSTRUT
0
WINTER
0
346
HUNT
/::,.
SURVEY
*
Figure 44 Continued (F)
i 5.878
0
0
0 0 8.876
0
0 -)( 6.874
> -en
"" 6.872 1-
~ z
Q a: 5.87
0
0
0 > 5.868
305
MOOSE 153291 CALVING •
0 SUMMER
A
RUT
·6 ... • POSTRUT 0 0
WINTER .... 0
HUNT
6
* SURVEY
*
0·
310 315 320 325 330 335 340
X COORDINATES (X x 1000 M)
115
Figure 44 Continued (G)
6.1174 -:2
0 6.972
0
0
,... 6.97
X
z:s 6.968 ,
1.1.1
.... 6.966
<( z
Q 15.964 a:
0 8 &.962
)(
6.9&
MOOSE 150200
0·
•• •· . ¥11'0
• 0 •·
CALVING •
SUMMER •
RUT •
POSTRUT
0
WINTER
0
FALL HUNT t:.
SURVEY
*
362 364 31SIS 368 370 372 374 376 378 380
Y COORDINATES (Y x 1000000 M)
116
Figure 44 Continued (H)
-:E 6.!165
0
0
0
0 6.954
0
0 -)( 6.953
> -(I)
LLI 6.!162
t-
ct
~ c 6.961
a:
0
0
(J 6.95
> 347
MOOSE 15221068
•
0 6 0·
* ..
0
••
348 349 350 351 352 353
X COORDINATES (X x 1 0 0 0 M)
117
354
CALVING •
SUMMER
lt.
RUT •
POSTRUT
0
WINTER
0
FALL HUNT
6
SURVEY
*
Figure 44 Continued (I)
-:IE 6.1133
0
0
0
0
0 6.1132
0 ...
l(
> 6.1131 -Cl) w
1-
<C z 6.113
0 a:
0
0
(.) 6.9211
> 338
MOOSE 153240
[),
•
•
* [),•
0 •
0
••
339 340 341 342
X COORDINATES (X x 1000 M)
118
CALVING •
SUMMER •
RUT •
POSTRUT
0
WINTER
0
FALL~UNT
343
SURVEY
*
Figure 44 Continued (J)
i 5.848
0
0
0 5.847
0
0
0
-5.945
)(
~ 5.945
(I)
Ill ... <C 5.944 z
Q
~ 5.943
0
0 > 5.942
340
MOOSE 153300
0 •
*
0
•
• •
•
•·
•·
341 342 343 344 345 345 347
X COORDINATES (X x 1 0 0 0 M)
119
CALVING • SUMMER
A
RUT • PO STRUT
0
WINTER
0
HUNT
{:j,
SURVEY
*
348
Figure 44 Continued (K)
-:E tU506
0 g 6.815
0
0
0 &.85g&
)( 5.869
> .....
: 8.8585
l-ea: 3: 6.858
Q a: 0 8.8675
0 u > 8.857
MOOSE 153552
•
0
*
CALVING •
SUMMER
(). •
RUT •
POST RUT • 0
WINTER
0
H~T
SURVEY
*
0
333.2 333.4 333.8 333.8 ·334 334.2 334.4 334.8
X COORDINATES (X x 1000 M)
120
Figure 44 Continued (L)
i 8.8545
0
0
0 11.854
0
0
0
.... 11.8535
)(
> -8.853
(I)
1.1.1 ... < 8.8525 z
Q
~ 6.852
0
0 > 11.8515
327
MOOSE 153692 .....
0
.... *
328 3211 330 331
X COORDINATES (X x 1000 M)
121
332
CALVING • SUMMER ...
RUT • POSTRUT
0
WINTER
0
HUNT
~
SURVEY
*
60
50
i40
~ -w
0 30 z
<C .....
0 s 20
10
0
8
II
......
:E
~ -w
04 z
<C .....
0 s
2
0
(A) MIGRATORY MOOSE
• ..
.
' '
•······· -..... ··· ···~ ......•. ·;.~
.
'
...•
(B) NON-MIGRATORY MOOSE
... ~········· .. ······•···················
163220 .........
153230 --·--~
153300 .........
153552 --·--153692
--lor--
CALVING SUMMER RUT POSTRUT SURVEY WINTER
SEASON
Figure 45 Distance between centroids of hunt home range (hunting season) centroids ·and
centroids of other seasonal home ranges in (A) migratory (n=3) and (B) nonmigratory (n=3)
radiocollared adult female moose monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in 1981-
1985. Migratory (nonmigratory) equals moose with multimodal (unimodal) utilization
distribution of radio-fixes in adaptive kernel analysis oflife home ranges. Distance values=mean
of 4 calendar years, 7-31 May the following year, 1981-1985.
122
70
110
!50 .....
:::E c 40
Ul
0 z c:r: 30 ...
U)
Q
20
10
8
Ul 04 z
c:r: ...
U)
Q
2
0
0
(A) MIGRATORY MOOSE
······································• ..
•• · ..
·.
. ..
153220 ····•····
153230 --·--
1532!52 _____.,___
.. --------.. --------.. ------~-.,_~
(B) NON-MIGRATORY MOOSE
1!53300
····•····
153552 --·--1!53802 _____.,___
. .•. :.:-.::.::.: "J--........ "": ."": .-. ,.,.., ... ---·-· ~·:· ............ •·. ~; •. ~ ......... ·•
CALVING SUMMER HUNT RUT POSTRUT WINTER
SEASON
Figure 46 Distance between centroids of survey home range (survey season) and centroids of
other seasonal home ranges in (A) migratory (n=3) and (B) nonmigratory (n=3) radiocollared
adult female moose monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in 1981-1985.
Migratory (nonmigratory) equals moose with multimodal (unimodal) utilization distribution of
radio-fixes in adaptive kernel analysis of life home ranges. Distance values=mean of 4 calendar
years, 7-31 May the following year, 1981-1985.
123
so (A) MIGRATORY MOOSE
40
......
:t 0 30
1.11
(.) z
<C
,_ 20 en
Q
10
0
.... . --. -:-'.;.·. -.. -. . ' ' '
' ••
.·~
8 (B) NON-MIGRATORY MOOSE
-:t
~ ....,
1.11
(.)4 z
<C ,_
~
Q
2
0
.•...
·-----------.. ·---._
CALVING TO SUMMER TO
RUT SUMMER
----... -
RUT TO
POSTRUT
SEASON
153220 ····•····
153230 ·-··-
1532!12
~
•
•
153300 ····•····
153552 ··•-·
153&92 _....__
...............
POSTRUT TO
WINTER
WINTER TO
CALVING
Figure 47 Distance between centroids of consecutive seasonal home ranges in life home ranges
in (A) migratory (n=3) and (B) nonmigratory (n=3) radiocollared adult female moose monitored
with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in 1981-1985. Centroids were center points of radio-
fixes in primary polygons in adaptive kernel analyses of seasonal home ranges in a calendar year.
Migratory (nonmigratory) equals moose with multimodal (unimodal) utilization distribution of
radio-fixes in adaptive kernel analysis of life home ranges. Distance values=mean of values in 4
calendar years (7-31 May the following year) in 1981-1985.
124
eo
40
1-so z
Ill
CJ a:
Ill
Q. 20
10
0
CALVING TQ SUMMER TO
~R RUT
RUT TO
PO STRUT
SEASON
l}j MIGRATORY
~ NON-MIGRATORY
POSTRUT TO WINTER TO
WINTER CALVING
Figure 48 Percent seasonal movement composition in movements in a calendar year in 3
migratory (A) and 3 nonmigratory (B) radiocollared moose monitored with aircraft in lower
Susitna River Valley in 1981-1985. Seasonal movements were movements between
chronologically consecutive seasonal home ranges in a calendar year. Seasonal home ranges
were calving, summer rut, postrut, winter, and calving the following calendar year. Percent is a
mean calculated across 4 consecutive calendar years, 7-31 May the following year, 1981-1985.
125
200
+ •1SE
MEAN
·1SE
150 -N
:E
t :.:: -~ 100
a: <
a.
t 0
t :E
t 50 +
+ + + +
0
N M N M N M N M N M N M N M
CALVING SUMMER RUT PO STRUT WINTER HUNT SURVEY
HOME RANGE
Figure 49 Size of life, life-seasonal, seasonal, and management event home ranges in 6
nonmigratory (N) and 6 migratory (M) radiocollared female. moose adults telemetry monitored
with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska in 1980-1991. Size was area
square kilometer of 100% minimum convex polygon.
126
40
30 -:E
~ -Ul
0 20 z cc ....
(I)
Q
10
0
__ t +
N M
CALVING
N M
SUMMER
N M
PO STRUT
N M
WINTER
HOME RANGE
N M
HUNT
+ •1SE
MEAN
-1SE
N M
SURVEY
Figure 50 Distance (km) between rut seasonal home range centroids and centroids of other
seasonal home ranges in 6 nonmigratory (N) and 6 migratory (M) radiocollared female moose
adults telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in Southcentral Alaska in
1980-1991. Centroids were center points of radio-fixes in primary polygons in adaptive kernel
analyses of life seasonal home ranges.
127
........
N
00
Figure 51 Graphic plots (A through X) showing location of capture (A) and locations of winter
(1 Jan-31 Mar) and summer (7 May-30 Sep) radio-fixes of female and male moose adults
radiocollared and telemetry monitored with aircraft in the lower Susitna River Valley in
Southcentral Alaska in 1980-1991. Moose radio-fix data in plots were grouped according to the
geographic area in which moose were captured.
.......
N
\0
Figure 51 Continued (B)
...... w
0
Figure 51 Continued (C)
.......
VJ .......
Figure 51 Continued (D)
......
w
N
Figure 51 Continued (E)
c
Figure 51 Continued (F)
Figure 51 Continued (G)
Figure 51 Continued (H)
B
Figure 51 Continued (I)
A B c
Figure 51 Continued (J)
A B c
.......
\.;J
00
Figure 51 Continued (K)
A B c
Figure 51 Continued (L)
c
.......
~
0
Figure 51 Continued (M)
A B c
Figure 51 Continued (N)
A B c
Figure 51 Continued (0)
Figure 51 Continued (P)
B
Figure 51 Continued (Q)
......
t
Figure 51 Continued (R)
..................... ________________________________ __
Figure 51 Continued (S)
A B
1111
Figure 51 Continued (T)
c
........
~
00
Figure 51 Continued (U)
A
Figure 51 Continued (V)
B
Figure 51 Continued (W)
.......
VI .......
Figure 51 Continued (X)
c
.......
Vl
N
Table 1. Sno}VPack depth in Talkeetna and percent calf moose in winter concentration areas in lower Susitna River Valley, in March, 1982~85 and 1990.
(D:\gmul6srv\calftabl.doc)
Snowpack No. Percent
Year Date depth (em) Winter concentration area Location moose calves
1982 24 March 46 Susitna River floodplain Y entna River to Montana Creek 166 20.5
Montana Creek to Talkeetna River 25 36.0
Talkeetna River to Portage Creek 25 20.0
1983 23 March 81 Susitna River floodplain Y entna River to Montana Creek 377 16.2
Montana Creek to Talkeetna River 55 27.3
Talkeetna River to Portage Creek 17 6.0
1984 23 March 94 Susitna River floodplain Talkeetna River to Portage Creek 15 27.0
1985 21 March 157 Susitna River floodplain Talkeetna River to Portage Creek 47 10.6
Rabideux Creek to Talkeetna River 53 5.7
Deshka River Islands 31 6.5
Alexander Creek floodplain Susitna River to Alexander Lake 142 5.6
Moose Creek floodplain Deshka to headwater 70 1.4
Deshka River Susitna River to headwater 29 0.0
1990 15 March 226 Susitna River floodplain Montana Creek to Kashwitna River 64 2.4
Talkeetna to Portage Creek 50 4.0
69 Wasilla, Palmer, and vicinity Fairview Loop 300 17.0
Little Susitna River; Shrock/Pittman Road 92 16.3
........
VI w
Table 2. Information on location and date of capture, sex, and figures that show capture locations (A), and winter (B) and summer (C) radiofix locations of
female and male moose adults that were radiocollared and telemetry monitored for radiofix locations in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska
during 1980-91. Winter was I January through 31 March; summer was 7 May through 30 September.
No. moose
Location a Date Captured Females Fig. 59
WCA; SRF; Talkeetna River to Portage Creek March 1981 ll 9 A
WCA; SRF, Kashwitna River to Talkeetna River April 1980, March 1981 17 ll B
WCA; SRF, Willow Creek to Kashwitna River March 1981 7 7 c
WCA; SRF, Yentna River to Willow Creek March 1981 9 6 D
WCA; SRF, Cook Inlet to Yentna River Febmary-March 1982 11 6 E
WCA, Coleman homestead, west of Susitna River at Montana January-Febmary 1984 7 4 F
WCA; SRF, Talkeetna River to Chase January 1985 12 9 G
WCA; all SRF and Coleman homestead; Figs. FA-G March 1980-January 1985 74 52 H
PCA, Bald Mountain December 1985 10 5 I
PCA, Moss Mountain December 1985 2 1 J
PCA, Willow Mountain December 1985, 1988; Febmary 1986 19 10 K
PCA, Witna Mountain January 1986 2 2 L
PCA, Brownie Mountain January 1986 7 4 M
PCA, Wolverine Mountain Febmary 1986 5 3 N
PCA, Sunshine Mountain January-Febmary 1986 3 0 0
PCA, all TPR; Figs. FI -0 December 1985-December 1988 48 25 p
L WR, Kashwitna Corridor Forest January 1987, Febmary 1989 12 12 Q
L WR, Shrock Road, personal-use wood cutting area Febmary-March 1988 3 3 R
WCA, Alexander Creek floodplain, Susitna River to Alexander Lake March 1987 19 15 s
WCA, Skwentna River floodplain, Skwentna Febmary 1988, March 1989 6 4 T
WCA, Skwentna River floodplain, Old Skwentna Febmary 1988, March 1989 9 5 u
WCA, Yentna River floodplain, Lake Creek to McDougall Febmary 1988 10 7 v
WCA; Skwentna River and Yentna River floodplains; Figs. FT-V Febmary 1988; March 1989 25 16 w
L \YR. Transportation corridor, Pittman to Sheep Creek Aprill990 6 3 X
• WCA=winter concentration area; SRF=Susitna River floodplain; PCA=timberline postrut concentration area; L WR=lowland winter range.
Table 3. Autunm (20 August through 30 September) versus winter (20 January through 20 March)
elevation of telemetry monitored moose adults radio-collared in alpine postrut concentration areas (PCA)
in the western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains in GMSs 14A and 14B in south-central Alaska,
1986-91. Elevation used in comparisons = lowest elevation in each season.
Calendar year•
1986-87 1987-88 1988-89
--
PCA Lb He L H L
Sunshine-Wolverine 4 2 4 0 3
Brownie 1 6 2 4 0
Witna-Willow 8 4 6 4 7
Moss-Bald 6 0 5 0 4
All 19 12 17 8 14
• Calendar year-= 16 May through 15 May the following year.
bL=No. moose at lower elevation in winter than in autunm.
c H=No. moose at higher elevation in winter than in autunm.
d 1 moose was at the same elevation in autunm and in winter.
154
H
1
5
5d
0
11
1989-90
L H
3 0
2 2
5 4
4 0
14 6
1990-91 1986-91
--
L H L H
1 1 15 4
2 2 7 19
3 2 29 19
4 0 23 0
10 5 74 42
Table 4. Nearness ~2 krn)of telemetry monitored radio collared moose adults to the Parks Highway in
Game Management Subunit (GMS) 14B in winter (1 January through 28 February), lower Susitna River
valley, south-central Alaska, 1986-91. Nearness=distance between Parks Highway and radiofix nearest to
the Parks Highway. Monitored moose were captured and radio-collared in 7 timberline postrut
concentration areas (PCA) in GMS 14A and 14B above 500 m elevation in the western foothills of the
Talkeetna Mountains.
Year
GMS PCA 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1986-91
-- -- --------
< >b < > < > < > < > < > < >
14B Sunshine 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 1 2 9
Wolverine 0 6 0 4 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 1 0 18
Brownie 0 6 0 7 0 6 0 5 0 4 0 4 0 32
Witna 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 6 2
Willow 13 2 9 0 14 11 2 6 0 4 6 57
All 2 28 4 21 25 3 20 3 14 10 14 118
14A Moss 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Bald 0 10 0 5 0 5 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 32
All 0 12 0 6 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 35
All 2 40 4 27 29 3 24 3 18 14 14 153
• No. moose radiotracked 1 time 9 krn from the Parks Highway.
b No. moose not radiotracked 1 time ::;:2 krn away from the Parks Highway.
155
Table 5. Nearness of telemetry monitored moose adults to the Parks Highway in GMS 14B in autumn
(20 August through 30 September) versus in winter (20 January through 20 March) in lower Susitna River
Valley in south-central Alaska, 1986-91. Nearness=comparison ofradiofixes nearest to highway in each
season. Monitored moose were captured and radio collared timberline postrut concentration areas (PCA)
in Game Management Subunits 14 A and 14B in the western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains
Alaska, 1986-91.
Calendar year•
1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1986-91
PCA N" F" N F N F N F N F N F
Sunshine-Wolverine 5 3 1 3 0 3 1 1 4 15
Brownie 6 0 6 0 5 0 3 0 4 0 24 0
Willow-Witna 7 5 8 3 7 7 4 5 3 2 29 22
Moss-Bald 5 1 5 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 22 1
All 19 11 20 6 17 10 11 8 12 3 79 38
• Calendar year=l6 May through 15 May the following year.
bN=No. moose radiotracked I time nearer to Parks Highway in autumn than in winter.
c F= No. moose not radio-tracked 1 time nearer to Parks Highway in autumn than in winter.
156
Table 6. Dispersal of telemetry monitored radiocollared moose adults from a winter concentration area
(WCA) in Game Management Subunit (GMS) 16A to GMS 14A and GMS 14B orpostrut concentration
areas (PCA) in those GMS in 4 seasons, lower Susitna River Valley, south-central Alaska, 1980-90.
Monitored moose were radiocollared in winter in WCA in the Susitna River floodplain between
Talkeetna River and Yentna River.
%in GMS 14A or l4B" %in postrut area in GMS 14A or 14Bb
No. one every >75%of one every >75%of
Seasonc moose-seasons yeard year e the years year year the years
Calving 40 25.0 5.0 7.5 5.0 2.5 2.5
Summer 38 18.4 7.9 7.9 7.9 2.6 2.6
Autumn 37 16.2 13.5 13.5 8.1 8.1 8.1
Early winter 37 35.1 13.5 13.5 16.2 8.1 8.1
"Moose not radiotracked to GMS 14A or GMS l4B were radiotracked to GMS 16A, 16B, or 13E.
b Postrut area=the portion of GMS 14A or l4B east of UTM X=354,000.0. The postrut area is mainly
above timberline (Le., 500 m elevation).
c Calving=7 May through 15 June; summer= I July through 15 August; autumn=20 August through 30
September, the hunting season; early winter= I November through 15 December, postrut period.
dOne year=moose radiotracked to area at least 1 time.
• Every year= moose radiotracked to area at least 1 time each year monitored. Moose were telemetry
monitored in 1-9 years.
157
Table 7. Movement ofradiocollared moose adults from winter concentration areas (WCA) in GMS 16A
to postrut concentration areas (PCA) in GMS 14A and 14B in 4 seasons during 1980-90. The WCA was
in the Susitna River floodplain between the Talkeetna River and the Yentna River. The PCA was in the
western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains east ofUTM X=354,000.0, mainly above timberline, above
500 m in elevation.
Season"
No. %
moose moose Calving Summer Hunt Po strut
29 72.5 Nb N N
3 7.5 N N N
1 2.5 N N
2 5.0 N
1 2.5 N N N
2 5.0 N R R
1 2.5 R R R
1 2.5 R N N
• Calving=7 May through 15 June: summer=l July through 15 August; hunt=20 August through 30
September; postrut=7 November through 21-December.
b N=moose not radio-located in PCA; R =moose radio-located in PCA at least 1 time; -=moose not
monitored in that season.
158
N
R
R
R
R
Table 8. Nearness (km) of moose adults radio-collared in winter concentration areas (WCA) in GMS
16A to timberline postrut concentration areas (PCA) in remote portions of Game Managment Subunits
(GMS)14A and 14B during 4 seasons in south-central Alaska, 1980-90. The WCA was the Susitna River
floodplain between the Talkeetna River and the Yentna River. The PCA was in the western foothills of
the Talkeetna Mountains east ofUTM X=354,000.0. The PCA was mainly above timberline, above 500
m in elevation.
No. moose Nearness statistics for
moose not in PCA"
Seasonal Seasonal InPCA Not in
period periodb only PCAareac Mean SE Range
Calving Calving 0 38 26.6 1.6 0.1-44.5
Summer Summer 1 36 28.5 1.7 5.4-45.4
Autumn Autumn 0 36 28.0 1.9 0.1-45.6
Po strut Po strut 2 32 23.4 1.6 1.4-39.6
"Nearness=distance between moose radio-fixes and postrut area boundary. The mean was determined by
first calculating the mean of nearness values within seasons and years and then calculating the mean of
means within seasons across years.
b Calving=7 May through 15 June; summer=1 July through 15 August; autumn (hunt)=20 August through
30 September; Postrut=7 November through 21-December.
c Radiocollared moose no radiofixes located in PCA in any year.
159
Table 9. Classification of movements of radiocollared moose adults (24 F, 8 M) monitored in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1980-85.
Moose were captured for radiocollaring in the Susitna River floodplain, a lowland winter concentration area. (d:\ GMU16SRV\CALFTABL.DOC
Movements
Long distance Relatively long distance inb All relatively Correlated with accmulation of
Fig. Moose in early and short Different snow in early (E) and/or
No. I d. Sex Year" in late winter Winter Spring Summer Autumn distance among years late (L) winterc
A 0200 F 1981-85 X X X
B 2036 F 1982-85 X X X ElL
c 2045 M 1981-84 X E
D 2135 F 1982-85 X X ElL
....... E 2156 F 1982-85 X X X X X L
0\ F 2166 M 1982-85 X X X X 0
G 2175 F 1982-85 X X X X X
H 2210 F 1981-85 X
I 2280 M 1981-83 X X X
J 2296 F 1982-85 X X ElL
K 2306 F 1982-85 X X ElL
L 3100 F 1981-84 X X X ElL
M 3110 M 1981-85 X X X X X
N 3130 M 1981-83 X ElL
0 3140 F 1981-85 X
p 3192 F 1981-85 X X X X X
Q 3220 F 1980-85 X X X L
R 3230 F 1980-85 X X
s 3240 F 1981-82 X X
T 3252 F 1981-85 X X X X X ElL
u 3260 F 1980-85 X X X L
v 3270 M 1980-85 X X X X X
w 3291 F 1981-85 X ElL
......
0\ ......
Table 9. Continued.
Movements
Long distance Relatively long distance inb All relatively Correlated with accmulation of
Fig. Moose in early and short Different snow in early (E) and/or
No. I d. Sex Year" in late winter Winter Spring Summer Autumn distance Year-to-year late (L) winterc
X 3300 F 1981-85 X X X X
y 3310 M 1980-84 X X X X X
z 3320 M 1980-84 X X X
AA 3340 F 1981-85 X X X X
AB 3430 F 1981-85 X X ElL
AC 3552 F 1981-85 X X X X X X
AD 3582 F 1981-85 X X X X X ElL
AE 3692 F 1981-85 X X X
AF 3813 F 1981-84 X X X X
• Years moose were monitored, calendar year= 1 June through 31 May.
b Winter-January through April; Spring= May through June; Summer= July through August; Autumn=September.
c E=movement to winter range earlier in 1982-83 than in 1983-84, in 1982-83 snow accumulation was deep in early winter whereas in 1983-84 snow
accumulation was low in early winter and became deep in late winter; L=movement away from winter range later in 1984-85 than in other years, snow
accumulation was deep in late winter-early spring in 1984-85. (See Fig. .)
Table 10. Measurements of spring home range size in radiocollared female and male moose adults
telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska during 1 May
through June, 1981-83.
Area of MCP" (km2) Greatest widthb (km) of MCP
Sex Year N Mean SE Range Mean SE Range
Female 1981 26 38.5 27.0 1.2-709.9 11.8 2.8 3.0-69.6
1982 34 15.4 3.8 1.0-98.2 9.1 1.6 1.8-33.8
1983 31 20.6 5.8 1.5-167.1 9.2 1.4 2.5-33.2
Male 1981 7 44.2 17.7 10.0-146.3 17.8 4.5 6.7-42.8
1982 9 22.4 5.6 2.5-49.3 11.6 2.1 2.2-20.8
1983 6 38.2 9.5 8.6-76.0 14.8 2.8 4.4-24.0
"MCP=Minimum convex polygon; no. radiofixes= 6 in 1981, 7 in 1983, and 6 in 1983.
b Greatest width=distance between 2 radiofixes with greatest D; where D=square root of ((X1-X2/+
(Y1-Y2)2) and X,Y=coordinates ofradiofixes.
162
Table 11. All-winter (A W) and late-winter (L W) home range size (area, km2) in 17 radiocollared female
moose adults telemetry monitored with aircraft in 4 consecutive years in lower Susitna River Valley in
south-central Alaska in 1 November through 30 April, 1981-85.
Year"
Data 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85
AW LW AW LW AW LW AW LW
Moose No.: 19 28L 16 78 7 20 17L 16 38
22 122 97 54 37 374L 345L 298 98
23 124L 67L 116 26 117 48 63 8 15 8
26 162L 95L 131 71 113 53 828 118
37 19 9 13 s IOL 34L 78 31 7
42 24 19 40L 37L gS 28 16 3
45 688 36 150 58 142 134L 172L 33
56 170L 163L 95 8 68 106 75 145 8
57 56L 33L 21 8 lOS 27 21 26 15
59 103 44 58 18 167 106L 271L 48
62 58 33L 48 8 12 74 11 81L 98
63 13 13L 4s Is 13 1 26L 11
68 14 IlL ls Is 6 2 19L 4
73 25 21L 37L 6 7s 7 15 28
85 18 13 18 7 19L 15L 12 8 4s
88 178L 161L 728 3 136 85 145 28
90 11 11 12L 11L 78 58 8 7
Sum s values 0 9 5 3 3 4 9
Sum Lvalues 6 9 3 3 3 5 5 0
Mean 70.3 49.4 48.5 15.6 80.7 55.0 68.0 8.5
SD 14.7 12.2 11.6 4.4 22.9 20.6 18.0 1.9
Minimum 11.3 8.8 1.4 0.6 6.0 1.1 7.5 2.1
Maximum 178.2 162.6 149.7 71.4 374.0 344.7 270.8 33.3
"MCP =Minimum convex polygon. No. radio-fixes=l4-15 in 1981-82, 9-10 in 1982-83, and 10-12 in
1983-84, and 9-13 in 1984-85. All-winter=Novemberthrough April; late-winter=mid-Janaury through
April. s(L)=Smallest (largest) home range area within moose among years.
163
Table 12. All-winter (A W) and late-winter (L W) home range size (greatest width. km) in 17
radiocollared female moose adults telemetry monitored with aircraft in 4 consecutive years in lower
Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in I November through 30 April, 1981-85.
Year"
Data 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85
AW LW AW LW AW LW AW LW
Moose No.: 19 24L 15 10 10 18 18L 9s 7s
22 67L 66L 30 3 63 61 8S 5s
23 29 16 26 19L 3QL 14 18 8 8S
26 34L 34L 23 19 23 8 23 25 7s
37 6 5s 5s 5 12L 7L 11 5
42 8 6 17L 17L 6 4s 16 6
45 208 20 33 5s 39L 37L 35 16
56 28 28L 29L 6 27 25 268 6s
57 21L 21L 16 16 13 8 13 13 8S
59 34 32 21 8 21 36L 34L 38 5s
62 21 8 l7L 24 7 25L 7 25 6s
63 gL 8L 4s 3 8 2s 9 5
68 7L 7L 2s 2s 5 3 6 6
73 lQL gL 10 8 6s 5 9 3s
85 7 7 9L 6s 7s 7 8 7L
88 45 42 44 3s 46L 43L 43 8 3
90 6 6 9L 8L 4s 4s 7 6
Sums values 2 4 4 6 3 5 9
Sum L values 7 8 4 3 6 5 0 1
Mean 22.1 19.9 18.2 9.1 21.7 18.1 18.0 6.4
SD 4.0 4.0 2.9 1.5 4.1 4.1 2.9 0.7
Minimum 6.0 4.9 2.0 1.6 4.4 1.8 6.0 3.3
Maximum 66.8 66.0 43.9 20.7 63.2 61.4 43.0 15.7
"MCP =Minimum convex polygon. No. radio-fixes=l4-l5 in 1981-82,9-10 in 1982-83, and 10-12 in
1983-84, and 9-13 in 1984-85. All-winter-November through April; late-winter L W=mid-Janaury
through April. S(Ll=Smallest (largest) home range area within moose among years.
164
......
0\
VI
Table 13. Terminal winter home range size (area, km2 and greatest width, km) in migratory and non-migratory radio-collared moose adults in lower Susitna
River Valley in south-central Alaska, 1982-83, 1984-85 and 1989-90. Home range= I 00% minimum convex polygon (MCP). Area ws km2 of MCP. Greatest
width was the distance between 2 radiofixes with greatest W; where W=square root of ((X 1-Xi+(Y1-Y2)
2
) and X,Y=coordinates ofradiofixes.
1982-83b 1984-85c 1989-90
Measurement/Group a N Mean SE Range N Mean SE Range N Mean SE Range
Area
Migratory 5 5.1 1.9 1.4-11.7 5 8.4 2.8 2.4-18.1 8 14.1 4.3 0.3-39.0
Non-migratory 6 21.8 10.2 7.0-71.4 6 12.0 4.0 4.1-28.9 15 8.6 1.8 1.6-22.9
All II 14.2 6.0 1.4-71.4 II 10.4 2.5 2.4-28.9 23 10.5 1.9 0.3-39.0
Greatest width
Migratory 5 4.3 1.0 2.1-6.8 5 4.8 1.3 1.7-9.2 8 7.3 1.4 0.9-13.5
Non-migratory 6 10.5 2.2 4.9-18.5 6 8.8 1.7 5.0-15.9 15 6.3 1.0 2.3-16.4
All II 7.7 1.6 2.1-18.5 II 7.0 1.2 1.7-15.9 23 6.6 0.8 0.9-16.4
• Maximum snow accumulation was early and normal (81 em) in 1982-83, relatively late and deep (157 em) in 1984-85, and early and extremely deep (226
em) in 1989-90.
b Migratory moose were moose with winter home ranges that were disjunct from non-winter home ranges; non-migratory moose were moose with winter
home ranges that were not disjunct from non-winter home ranges. In migratory moose, dates of migratory movements were used to identify radiofixes used in
calculating terminal winter home range. Dates of migratory movements in migratory moose were used to delineate radio fixes used in calculating winter home
range MCP in non-migratory moose.
.......
0\
0\
Table 14. Year-to-year homogeneity of annual home range size (area, km2 and greatest width, km) in 3 migratory and 3 non-migratory radio collared moose
adults telemetry monitored in lower Susitna River Valley in 4 consecutive calendar years in 1981-85. Calendar year=7 May through 6 May the following
year.
Area (km2)" Greatest width (km)b
Moose No. 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 Mean 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 Mean
Non-migratory moosec
153340 37.1 35.4 47.3 39.3 39.7 11.2 10.3 12.4 10.6 11.1
153552 30.3 29.8 20.4 15.6 24.1 8.1 9.5 7.3 8.2 8.3
153692 19.4 18.5 10.2 10.0 14.5 6.1 8.6 4.4 7.9 6.8
Migratory moose
153220 508.9 706.1 559.6 503.0 569.4 68.7 76.2 63.4 68.8 69.3
153252 175.7 195.8 197.8 311.0 220.1 43.2 40.3 39.6 43.6 41.7
153582 234.0 186.5 151.6 233.7 201.5 45.2 45.0 46.1 43.0 44.8
• Area=area of 100% minimum convex polygon.
b Greatest width=distance between 2 radiofixes with greatest D; where D=square root of ((X1-X2)
2+(Y1-Y 2)2) and X,Y=coordinates ofradiofixes.
c Non-migratory=moose with radio fix data that were unimodal. see Figures 29-31; migratory=moose with radiofix data that were multimoda1, see Figures 32-
34.
Table 15. Comparison of home range size (area, km2 and greatest width, km) in 3 migratory
radiocollared female moose adults telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River valley, in
south-central Alaska in calendar periods in 23 December 1985 through 6 May 1988. Home range was
98% minimum convex polygon.
Area (km2)h Greatest width (km)"
Calendar Moose
Period" No. 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88
Calendar year
152210 97.1 521.1 327.7 16.3 43.9 44.0
152960 46.8 225.1 356.7 12.9 30.9 39.2
153640 155.1 317.9 379.1 24.5 50.8 49.6
Winter season
152210 94.4 328.5 42.7 16.3 43.9 40.2
152960 21·.7 62.9 54.92 12.9 28.0 39.2
153640 17.8 52.4 137.2 9.7 17.3 30.3
• Calendar year=23 December through 30 September the following year in 1985-86, 7 May thorugh
6 May the following year in 1986-88, see Figures 35-37. Winter season=23 December through 6 May the
following year, 1985-88, see Figures 38-40.
h Area was area of minimum convex polygon.
c Greatest width=distance between 2 radiofixes with greatest D; where D=square root of ((X1-X2l+
(Y 1-Y 2 )
2
) and X, Y =coordinates of radiofixes.
167
Table 16. Annual and cummulative-annual home range size (km2
) in 6 migratory and 6 non-migratory radiocollared female moose adults telemetry monitored
more than 4 consecutive calendar years in lower Susitna River valley in south-central Alaska in April 1980 through January 1991. Home range=98%
minimum convex polygon.
Calendar year" Calendar years combined All calendar year monitored
(No. radiofixes) (No. radiofixes) (No. radiofixes/no. years)
Moose 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 %0 1981-83 1981-84 1981-85 %D %0 1980-91
(36) (22-24) (26-27) (23-25) Mean 1:1 (58-60) (85-86) (108-111) 2:3 3:4 (140-204)
Non-migratory
150200 92.5 64.5 12.5 16.1 46.4 86.5 68.7 72.5 68.3 5.2 5.6 66.4 (163/11)
152360 29.2 14.4 I7.9 31.1 23.2 53.7 25.5 29.4 31.3 13.3 6.5 35.8 (140/8)
I53300 38.5 68.2 I8.0 23.4 37.0 63.7 82.8 83.3 77.4 0.6 7.0 72.8 (172111)
....... 153340 37. I 35.4 47.3 39.3 39.8 25.2 47.5 59.8 59.8 20.6 0.0 70.2 (154/9) 0\
00 153552 30.3 29.8 20.4 I5.6 24.0 48.5 42.2 47.1 44.5 10.4 5.5 45.0 (67/10)
153692 I9.4 18.5 10.2 10.0 14.5 48.5 25.4 27.9 27.4 9.0 1.8 50.0 (172/10)
Migratory
153170 66.8 76.4 39.2 50.1 58.1 48.7 87.0 95.8 97.7 9.2 2.0 115.6 (171/10)
I53192 77.4 28.8 30.5 51.8 47.1 62.8 50.0 50.2 55.0 0.4 9.6 88.8 (173/10)
153220 508.9 706.1 559.6 503.0 569.4 28.8 0 734.4 752.6 717.2 2.4 4.7 850.5 (197110)
153252 I75.7 195.8 197.8 311.0 200.1 43.5 191.1 229.0 255.5 16.6 11.6 334.1 (160/10)
153260 197.6 146.9 161.9 102.0 152. I 48.4 182.3 224.1 217.0 18.7 3.2 311.4 (204/11)
I53582 234.0 186.5 151.6 233.7 201.5 35.2 244.2 251.4 304.0 2.9 21.2 318.2 (174/10)
• Calendar year-6 May through 7 May the following year.
Table 17. Area (km2
) of life, life-seasonal, seasonal, and management event home ranges in 6 non-migratory and 6 migratory radiocollared moose telemetry
monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1980-91. Area==km2 of 100% MCP Migratory moose were moose with
winter home ranges that were disjunct from non-winter home ranges; non-migratory moose were moose with winter home ranges that were not disjunct from
non-winter home ranges. Life home range (HR)==all radiofixes (RF); calving HR==RF in 10 May through 31 May; summer HR=RF in 13 July through 15
August; rut HR=RF in 15 September through 5 October; post rut HR=RF in 11 October-7 November; winter HR=RF in 19 Janaury through 31 March; hunt
HR==RF in 20 August through 30 September; survey HR=RF in 7 November through 21 December; life-seasonal HR=RF in 6 seasonal periods.
Life-
Moose Life n seasonal n Calving n Summer n Rut n Po strut n Winter n Hunt n Survey n
Non-migratory
150200 286.9 163 75.9 85 14.5 18 4.6 17 2.8 8 3.1 6 60.6 36 5.3 16 16.1 16
153240 29.2 Ill 23.5 58 4.8 11 5.9 12 0.5 6 0.4 5 18.4 24 5.9 13 5.6 12
153300 90.5 172 60.5 91 14.1 17 19.5 19 3.2 11 8.6 6 29.4 38 5.1 20 46.1 17
153340 82.2 154 74.9 80 32.7 16 13.7 16 3.1 9 7.1 6 36.4 33 5.9 17 20.6 14
...... 153552 63.7 167 45.0 88 6.6 17 9.8 17 7.0 11 2.2 6 39.0 37 18.6 18 19.4 16
0\ 153692 70.6 172 70.2 91 10.8 17 14.3 17 2.5 11 3.5 7 65.5 39 8.8 18 7.1 18 \0
Mean 103.9 58.3 13.9 11.3 3.2 4.1 41.6 8.3 19.2
SE 37.6 8.4 4.1 2.3 0.9 1.3 7.4 2.1 6.0
Migratory .
153140 178.0 150 156.1 76 51.4 15 14.6 14 7.1 8 3.7 6 35.9 33 16.2 16 56.9 15
153211 348.1 121 260.9 66 69.7 16 21.8 8 8.4 8 8.6 6 62.5 28 11.8 11 46.5 11
153220 1202.0 197 795.1 103 442.4 17 175.4 20 157.5 14 7.6 9 144.0 43 167.5 23 24.0 22
153252 479.4 160 390.6 83 104.9 16 15 . .5 17 14.0 9 24.7 6 33.3 35 18.3 17 232.0 15
153291 336.3 150 321.5 78 68.7 15 17.2 16 14.3 9 17.3 6 163.9 32 19.6 17 108.2 13
153582 396.0 174 284.6 91 75.1 17 76.4 17 7.9 11 3.5 7 179.9 39 11.1 18 155.3 19
Mean 490.0 368.1 135.4 53.5 34.9 10.9 103.3 40.8 103.8
SE 148.0 91.0 61.8 26.2 24.6 3.4 27.3 25.4 32.1
Appendix A. Numbers of moose antlered adults, non-antlered adults, calves, and carcasses in winter
concentration areas in 4 sections of the Susitna River floodplain between Cook Inlet and Portage Creek in
lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1981-85. (d:\gmul6srv\surivsvs.doc)
No. moose"
Section of river Date With Without With With Lone
antlers antlers 1 calf 2 calves calves
Cook Inlet to Yentna River 9-Dec-81 22 35 27 4 0
4-Jan-82 1 43 24 1 1
2-Feb-82 1 54 17 1 0
2-Mar-82 0 68 15 3 0
23-Mar-82 0 25 8 0 0
12-Apr-82 ISC
29-0ct-82 16 25 20 2 2
-10-Nov-82 27 53 36 2 1
1-Dec-82 52 220 61 6 0
20-Dec-82 20 163 62 1 2
6-Jan-83 ISC
20-Jan-83 ISC
9-Feb-83 0 118 42 1 1
22-Feb-83 0 133 38 1 0
7-Mar-83 0 124 31 1
22-Mar-83 ISC
7-Apr-83 0 80 16 0 0
13-Apr-83 ISC
I4-Dec-83 IO 43 28 6 0
29-Dec-83 IO 52 29 3 0
19-Jan-84 13 122 67 7 0
3-Feb-84 7 I60 59 6 1
21-Feb-84 I 232 70 10 0
15-Mar-84 ISC
Y entna River to Montana Creek 9-Dec-81 10 55 32 5 3
4-Jan-82 10 87 42 3 1
2-Feb-82 0 68 32 0 2
I-Mar-82 0 165 35 I 0
24-Mar-82 0 100 30 2 0
12-Apr-82 0 24 12 3 1
29-0ct-82 7 18 13 3 0
15-Nov-82 37 87 46 5 1
1-Dec-82 22 101 67 11 2
20-Dec-82 15 204 104 10 3
6-Jan-83 6 160 73 11 4
20-Jan-83 1 146 77 8 4
7-Feb-83 1 107 63 4 5
22-Feb-83 0 146 77 8 4
8-Mar-83 0 161 46 2 1
22-Mar-83 0 158 56 2 1
7-Apr-83 0 82 22 1 1
170
Appendix A. Continued.
13-Apr-83 ISC
16-Dec-83 8 33 27 2 2
29-Dec-83 10 53 33 5 0
17-Jan-84 7 78 37 3 1
4-Feb-84 1 180 46 4 1
21-Feb-84 0 214 52 2 1
15-Mar-84 ISC
Montana Creek to Talkeetna River 10-Dec-81 3 4 3 1 0
28-Dec-82 2 8 4 0 1
6-Feb-82 0 2 1 0 0
1-Mar-82 0 10 2 1 0
24-Mar-82 0 9 5 2 0
12-Apr-82 0 12 3 0 0
6-Nov-82 0 2 1 0 0
18-Nov-82 0 8 10 0 0
6-Dec-82 10 16 9 0 2
21-Dec-82 5 28 20 4 1
5-Jan-83 3 43 19 3 1
24-Jan-83 0 40 8 2 0
9-Feb-83 0 25 8 1 0
23-Feb-83 0 28 16 1 2
8-Mar-83 0 38 10 1 1
23-Mar-83 0 26 13 1 0
8-Apr-83 0 21 4 0 1
17-Nov-83 0 3 2 2 2
9-Dec-83 1 7 1 1 1
29-Dec-83 0 17 9 2 0
13-Jan-84 6 14 8 2 1
8-Feb-84 0 52 26 1 0
28-Feb-84 0 40 5 0 0
15-Mar-84 ISC
Talkeetna River to Portage Creek 10-Dec-81 8 12 8 0 0
28-Dec-82 3 7 4 0 0
6-Feb-82 0 8 0 0 0
1-Mar-82 0 7 0 0 0
24-Mar-82 0 16 3 1 0
12-Apr-82 0 5 0 0
6-Nov-82 3 7 4 0 0
18-Nov-82 14 23 10 0 0
2-Dec-82 9 42 11 1 0
21-Dec-82 11 36 13 1 0
5-Jan-83 4 45 16 1 0
24-Jan-83 0 21 13 3 0
9-Feb-83 0 8 6 2 0
23-Feb-83 0 17 5 0 0
8-Mar-83 0 24 4 0 0
23-Mar-83 0 13 2 0 0
8-Apr-83 0 2 1 0 0
17-Nov-83 1 5 6 1 0
14-Dec-83 0 5 10 3 0
171
Appendix A. Continued.
5-Jan-84 IFR
13-Jan-84 0 9 6 2 0
8-Feb-84 2 46 20 0 0
1-Mar-84 0 35 3 0 0
15-Mar-84 0 9 0 2 0
27-Nov-84 0 7 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 1 3 3 0 0
24-Dec-84 6 23 2 1 0
7-Jan-85 13 54 19 2 0
18-Jan-85 5 99 14 0 0
29-Jan-85 3 71 14 1 0
13-Feb-85 0 36 3 0 0
2-Mar-85 0 37 5 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 37 5 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 49 6 0 0
17-Apr-85 0 28 2 0 0
Talkeetna River to Rabideux Creek 27-Nov-84 0 1 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 1 5 1 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 7 0 2 0
7-Jan-85 8 34 12 3 0
18-Jan-85 1 44 24 1 0
29-Jan-85 0 45 18 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 40 10 0 0
2-Mar-85 0 40 3 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 47 3 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 48 0 0
17-Apr-85 0 37 0 0 0
• ISC=insufficient snow cover to conduct aerial swvey; IFR=aerial swvey cancelled because of weather.
172
Appendix B. Numbers of moose antlered adults, non-antlered adults, calves, and carcasses in winter
concentration areas in 6 subsections of the Susitna River floodplain in Lower Susitna River Valley in
south-central Alaska in 1984-85. (d:\gmul6srv\rivswvs.doc)
No. moose
Date With Without With With Lone
Subsection a antlers antlers 1 calf 2 calves calves Carcasses
Kashwitna floodplain 28-Nov-84 1 3 3 0 0 0
11-Dec-84 2 3 2 0 0 0
8-Jan-85 0 13 7 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 15 5 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 25 3 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 29 3 0 0 0
17-Apr-85 0 27 1 0 0 4
Caswell floodplain 28-Nov-84 0 1 3 0 0 0
11-Dec-84 1 3 4 0 0 0
8-Jan-85 2 16 6 1 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 24 9 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 29 1 0 0 1
5-Apr-85 0 42 5 0 0 3
17-Apr-85 0 57 1 0 0 5
Delta Islands 28-Nov-84 4 9 7 0 0 0
11-Dec-84 0 5 2 0 0 0
8-Jan-85 1 17 6 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 10 3 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 14 2 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 3 0 0 0 0
17-Apr-85 0 3 0 0 0 1
Alexander Island 28-Nov-84 0 2 0 0 0
11-Dec-84 0 2 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 0 10 4 0 0
8-Jan-85 1 10 0 0
11-Feb-85 26 7 1 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 27 9 2 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 21 7 0 0 0
17-Apr-85 0 27 4 0 0 0
Beaver Island 28-Nov-84 1 7 0 0 0 0
11-Dec-84 0 5 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 1 12 5 1 0 0
8-Jan-85 0 12 1 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 9 0 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 25 7· 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 11 2 0 0 0
17-Apr-85 0 11 1 0 0 0
173
Appendix B. Continued.
Bell Island 28-Nov-84 0 3 4 I 0 0
11-Dec-84 2 11 6 3 0 0
28-Dec-84 2 27 12 1 1 0
8-Jan-85 4 37 18 3 0 0
1I-Feb-85 88 9 3 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 6I 12 I 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 43 8 0 I 0
I7-Apr-85 0 27 5 0 0 0
• Kashwitna floodplain, Caswell floodplain, and Delta Islands were located north of the Y entna River.
Alexander Island, Beaver Island, and Bell Island were located south of the Yentna River. In March, snow
depth was > 100 em in areas north of the Y entna River and <I 00 em in areas south of the Y entna River.
174
Appendix C. Number of moose antlered adults, non-antlered adults, calves, and carcasses in winter
concentration areas in old homesteads located near the Susitna River floodplain and the Parks Highway
between Talkeetna and Willow in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1984-85.
(d:\gmul6srv\rivsurvs.doc)
No. moose
Date With Without With With Lone
Old homestead" antlers antlers 1 calf 2 calves calves Carcasses
Talkeeetna cut-off 7-Jan-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
19-Jan-85 1 3 1 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 4 4 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 5 1 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 .o 5 0 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 6 0 0 0
2-Mar-85 0 15 4 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 4 1 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 6 1 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 13 4 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 5 1 0 0 0
Talkeetna west 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 0 2 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 1 3 1 0 0
7-Jan-85 2 13 3 2 0
18-Jan-85 0 7 2 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 7 2 2 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 12 3 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 12 0 0 0 0
1-Mar-85 0 13 2 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 16 2 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 14 1 1 1 0
5-Apr-85 0 7 2 0 0 0
Montana west 27-Nov-84 25 16 3 0 0
10-Dec-84 14 11 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 9 20 7 1 0 0
28-Dec-84 5 27 4 1 0 0
7-Jan-85 3 33 6 1 0 0
18-Jan-85 1 37 5 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 14 5 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 23 3 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 39 2 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 29 3 0 0 1
2-Mar-85 0 32 4 I 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 30 2 0 0 1
16-Mar-85 0 18 1 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 18 0 1 0 4
5-Apr-85 0 10 1 0 0 3
175
Appendix C. Continued.
Montana middle 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 1 4 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 3 7 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 3 6 4 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 1 13 4 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 1 26 5 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 31 2 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 43 4 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 27 5 0 0 0
2-Mar-85 0 31 4 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 20 2 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 27 3 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 37 1 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 35 2 0 0 0
Montana south 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 1 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 3 1 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 0 7 1 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 7 4 1 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 4 4 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 9 1 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 0 0 0 0
2-Mar-85 0 6 0 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 0 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 0 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 4 0 0 0 0
Montana north 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 1 0 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 0 2 0 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 4 0 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 4 0 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 1 0 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 5 1 0 0 0
2-Mar-85 0 13 0 1 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 3 0 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 0 2 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 0 2 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
176
Appendix C. Continued.
Montana east 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 2 3 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 1 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
19-Jan-85 0 0 1 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 2 0 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 2 0 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 6 0 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 2 1 0 0 0
2-Mar-85 0 6 0 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
Willow Creek 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
11-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 1 2 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 1 0 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 0 0 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 2 0 0 0 0
1-Mar-85 0 1 0 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 2 0 1 1 0
16-Mar-85 0 4 0 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 2 0 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 0 0 0 0
Goose Creek 11-Dec-8~ 2 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 3 0 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 0 5 1 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 7 0 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 6 5 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 9 1 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 3 0 0 0 0
2-Mar-85 0 5 3 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 3 0 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 8 0 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 7 0 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 0 0 0 0
177
Appendix C. Continued.
Chandalar east 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 0 0 1 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 7 0 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 6 1 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 4 1 0 0 0
1-Mar-85 0 7 3 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 4 1 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 2 0 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 4 0 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 1 0 0 0 0
Chandalar west 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
10-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 0 0 1 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 0 0 1 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 7 0 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 22 0 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 20 1 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 19 3 0 0 0
1-Mar-85 0 27 8 0 1 0
9-Mar-85 0 42 4 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 41 1 1 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 32 4 0 0 3
5-Apr-85 0 27 1 0 0 2
Kashwitna Lake 27-Nov-84 1 2 0 0 0
11-Dec-84 0 1 2 1 0 0
24-Dec-84 1 3 1 1 0 0
28-Dec-84 1 4 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 4 0 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 0 4 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 5 0 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 4 1 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 9 2 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 2 1 0 0 0
1-Mar-85 0 4 2 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 4 1 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 6 1 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 2 0 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 1 0 0 0 2
178
Appendix C. Continued.
Kashwitna bluffs 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
11-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 0 1 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 1 2 0 0 0 0
18-Jan-85 1 5 0 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 9 1 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 16 1 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 12 5 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 19 4 0 0 0
1-Mar-85 0 24 4 0 0 0
9-Mar-85 0 19 1 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 18 1 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 16 1 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 9 2 0 0 0
Kashwitna Lake east 27-Nov-84 0 0 0 1 0 0
11-Dec-84 0 0 1 0 0 0
24-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
28-Dec-84 0 0 0 0 0 0
7-Jan-85 0 0 0 1 0 0
18-Jan-85 0 0 1 0 0 0
29-Jan-85 0 1 1 0 0 0
11-Feb-85 0 2 1 0 0 0
13-Feb-85 0 3 1 0 0 0
22-Feb-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
1-Mar-85 0 0 0 0 1 0
9-Mar-85 0 1 0 0 0 0
16-Mar-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
21-Mar-85 0 2 0 0 0 0
5-Apr-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
179
Appendix D. Number of moose antlered adults, non-antlered adults, calfs, and carcasses in winter
concentration areas in floodplains lowland drainages of Alexander Creek, Deshka River, Moose Creek,
and Yentna River in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1984-85 and 1987.
(d:\gmul6srv\rivsurvs.doc)
No. moose
Date With Without With With Lone
Drainage a antlers antlers 1 calf 2 calves calves Carcasses
Alexander Creek 29-Nov-84 12 14 12 1 0 0
12-Dec-84 17 47 18 3 1 0
27-Dec-84 11 80 14 0 0 0
11-Jan-85 3 144 42 5 0 0
7-Feb-85 0 146 25 1 1 2
20-Feb-85 0 135 12 2 0 3
5-Mar-85 0 162 23 1 1 0
9-Mar-84 0 155 13 2 1 1
20-Mar-85 129 13 0 0 3
28-Mar-85 0 126 8 0 0 7
4-Apr-85 0 142 9 0 0 6
16-Apr-85 0 114 9 1 0 6
18-Feb-87 0 104 20 1 0 0
Deshka River 5-Mar-84 0 0 31 3 0 13
29-Nov-84 46 49 I9 3 0 0
I2-Dec-84 56 106 40 4 0 0
27-Dec-84 21 96 25 3 1 0
I1-Jan-85 5 113 26 2 0 0
7-Feb-85 0 110 17 0 0 0
20-Feb-85 0 117 17 0 0 4
5-Mar-85 I 73 8 0 0 4
9-Mar-84 0 58 3 0 0 2
20-Mar-85 0 35 1 0 0 1
28-Mar-85 0 29 0 0 0 2
4-Apr-85 0 17 I 0 0 9
16-Apr-85 0 10 1 0 0 6
Deshka Islands 20-Mar-85 0 0 34 5 0 0
28-Mar-85 0 0 27 2 0 3
4-Apr-85 0 0 23 4 0 I
180
Appendix D. Continued.
Moose Creek 5-Mar-84 0 0 41 7 1 0
29-Nov-84 5 10 8 0 0
12-Dec-84 11 32 17 1 1 0
27-Dec-84 13 43 22 5 0 0
11-Jan-85 8 98 16 0 0 0
7-Feb-85 0 100 22 0 0 0
20-Feb-85 0 143 19 0 0 1
5-Mar-85 0 141 14 0 0 0
9-Mar-84 0 129 13 1 0 2
20-Mar-85 0 97 8 1 1 3
28-Mar-85 0 68 1 0 0 13
4-Apr-85 0 57 5 0 0 10
16-Apr-85 0 38 3 0 0 18
Y entna River 22-Feb-85 0 0 123 9 1 9
• Deshka Islands were islands in the Susitna River at the mouth of Deshka River. Y entna River was the
Yentna River from the Susitna River to Skwentna.
181
Appendix E. Number of moose large antlered adults, small antlered adults, non-antlered adults, and calfs
in timberline postrut concentration areas (PCA) in Game Management Subunits 14A and 14B in the
western foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska,
October through April, 1985-91. (d:\gmu16srv\prutsvs.doc)
No. moose c
PC A" Dateb With antlersd Without antlers
With With With Lone
Large Small 0 calves 1 calf 2 calves calves
Bald Mountain 4-0ct-85 1 4 28 2 0 0
17-0ct-85 12 3 83 9 1 0
8-Nov-85 58 7 133 30 2 0
18-Nov-85 48 18 144 43 2 0
3-Dec-85 36 22 139 30 0
28-Feb-86 0 0 212 27 3 0
31-Mar-86 0 0 160 14 1 0
17-Apr-86 0 2 27 4 1 0
26-Nov-86 33 14 206 71 4 1
24-Dec-86 5 2 65 21 2 0
15-Jan-87 0 1 28 9 0 0
2-Mar-87 0 0 12 4 0 0
2-Nov-87 29 22 143 69 2 1
17-Nov-87 39 24 135 71 4 0
4-Dec-87 15 12 75 41 4 0
21-Dec-87 5 4 42 20 2 0
12-Jan-88 0 0 10 5 0 0
28-Jan-88 0 0 24 6 0
27-Mar-88 0 0 8 5 0 0
20-Apr-88 0 2 5 0 0
13-0ct-88 17 4 38 35 3 0
28-0ct-88 37 17 121 71 3
15-Nov-88 32 29 101 60 3 0
5-Dec-88 15 12 49 34 2 0
23-Dec-88 2 2 27 15 0 0
15-Jan-89 0 0 19 3 0 0
7-Feb-89 0 0 5 1 0 0
8-Mar-89 0 0 7 4 0 1
11-0ct-89 19 9 108 30 3 1
25-0ct-89 38 17 156 74 3 0
7-Nov-89 20 3 58 27 1 1
20-Nov-89 11 3 20 9 2 0
9-Dec-89 2 0 7 4 0 0
30-Dec-89 0 0 18 0 0 0
30-Jan-90 0 0 20 4 1 0
182
Appendix E. Continued.
28-Feb-90 0 0 18 4 0
15-Mar-90 0 0 13 3 0
15-0ct-90 39 8 136 77 4 I
30-0ct-90 35 11 120 60 4 0
19-Nov-90 34 10 105 35 1 0
14-Dec-90 0 2 22 15 0 0
25-Jan-91 0 10 2 0 0
Moss Mountain 4-0ct-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
17-0ct-85 4 0 8 2 1 0
8-Nov-85 5 2 16 4 2 0
18-Nov-85 3 4 27 8 0 0
3-Dec-85 5 1 29 8 1 0
28-Feb-86 0 0 17 8 0 0
31-Mar-86 0 0 18 4 0 0
17-Apr-86 0 0 5 5 0 0
26-Nov-86 8 2 22 3 0 0
24-Dec-86 6 2 31 3 0 0
15-Jan-87 0 0 11 0 0 0
2-Mar-87 0 0 5 2 0 0
2-Nov-87 5 1 19 8 0 0
17-Nov-87 2 3 17 4 0 0
4-Dec-87 0 0 11 6 0 0
21-Dec-87 1 4 5 0 0
12-Jan-88 0 0 4 0 0
28-Jan-88 .o 0 9 1 0 0
27-Mar-88 0 0 5 3 0 0
20-Apr-88 0 0 0 0 0 0
13-0ct-88 2 0 6 3 0 0
28-0ct-88 2 2 17 8 0 0
15-Nov-88 3 13 8 0 0
5-Dec-88 4 1 5 2 0
23-Dec-88 0 0 7 3 0 0
15-Jan-89 0 0 6 0 0 0
7-Feb-89 0 0 1 1 0 0
8-Mar-89 0 0 3 2 0 0
II-Oct-89 4 I6 3 0 0
25-0ct-89 5 26 6 0 0
7-Nov-89 2 2 I4 5 1 0
20-Nov-89 0 8 4 0 0
9-Dec-89 0 0 7 2 0 0
30-Dec-89 0 0 5 3 0 0
30-Jan-90 0 0 4 I I 0
28-Feb-90 0 0 9 0 I 0
15-Mar-90 0 0 I2 3 I 0
183
Appendix E. Continued.
15-0ct-90 4 17 8 0 0
30-0ct-90 5 3 19 5 0 0
19-Nov-90 2 I 8 4 0 0
14-Dec-90 I 0 8 6 0 0
25-Jan-91 0 0 10 5 1 0
Willow Mountain 4-0ct-85 1 0 2 1 0 0
17-0ct-85 13 0 83 26 0 0
8-Nov-85 56 5 158 20 2 0
18-Nov-85 59 22 160 12 1 0
3-Dec-85 53 17 184 27 I I
28-Feb-86 0 0 147 7 I 0
31-Mar-86 0 0 111 5 0 0
17-Apr-86 0 2 51 3 0 0
26-Nov-86 91 17 195 87 5 0
24-Dec-86 4 2 35 I 0 0
15-Jan-87 0 0 7 4 0 0
2-Mar-87 0 0 8 3 0 I
2-Nov-87 66 17 146 30 2 1
17-Nov-87 67 24 131 27 0 1
4-Dec-87 .n 19 123 25 0 0
21-Dec-87 18 7 107 9 0 0
12-Jan-88 0 0 48 6 0 0
28-Jan-88 0 0 45 3 0 1
27-Mar-88 0 0 28 6 0 0
20-Apr-88 0 1 2 0 0 0
13-0ct-88 36 6 109 20 1 0
28-0ct-88 72 42 213 62 1
15-Nov-88 61 29 163 37 0
5-Dec-88 24 1I 39 I4 0
23-Dec-88 5 4 47 16 0 0
I5-Jan-89 1 0 4I 5 0 I
7-Feb-89 0 0 19 8 0 I
8-Mar-89 0 0 15 7 0 0
1I-Oct-89 21 9 64 8 1 0
25-0ct-89 82 I8 191 40 0 1
7-Nov-89 43 I 70 9 I 0
20-Nov-89 8 2 27 5 0 0
9-Dec-89 2 0 26 3 0 0
30-Dec-89 0 0 6 2 0 I
30-Jan-90 0 0 20 4 0 0
28-Feb-90 0 0 44 2 0 0
I5-Mar-90 0 0 49 2 0 2
15-0ct-90 44 5 178 8 I 0
30-0ct-90 45 22 185 16 1 0
19-Nov-90 51 I2 120 12 0 0
I4-Dec-90 20 10 76 5 0 0
25-Jan-9I 0 0 13 2 0 0
184
Appendix E. Continued.
Witna Mountain 4-0ct-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
17-0ct-85 2 0 7 0 0 0
8-Nov-85 5 2 13 2 0 0
18-Nov-85 5 1 3 5 0 0
3-Dec-85 8 2 6 2 0 0
28-Feb-86 2 0 32 4 1 0
31-Mar-86 0 0 13 0 0 0
17-Apr-86 0 1 8 1 0 0
26-Nov-86 23 2 50 13 0 0
24-Dec-86 0 0 4 1 0 0
15-Jan-87 0 0 9 0 0 0
2-Mar-87 0 0 14 6 0 0
2-Nov-87. 19 5 29 3 1 0
17-Nov-87 18 6 21 8 0 0
4-Dec-87 13 3 22 2 0 0
21-Dec-87 6 2 25 0 0 0
12-Jan-88 1 0 16 0 0 0
28-Jan-88 0 0 13 1 0 0
27-Mar-88 0 0 8 0 0 0
20-Apr-88 0 0 0 0 0 0
13-0ct-88 IFR
28-0ct-88 27 4 34 5 0 0
15-Nov-88 20 5 50 8 0 0
5-Dec-88 9 3 6 1 0 0
23-Dec-88 4 0 11 1 0 0
15-Jan-89 2 1 13 2 0 0
7-Feb-89 0 5 0 0
8-Mar-89 0 0 9 2 0 0
11-0ct-89 2 0 14 0 0 0
25-0ct-89 17 3 36 6 0 0
7-Nov-89 13 11 3 0 0
20-Nov-89 6 2 15 2 0 0
9-Dec-89 2 0 7 2 0 0
30-Dec-89 1 0 13 0 0
30-Jan-90 0 0 23 0 0 0
28-Feb-90 0 0 19 0 0 0
15-Mar-90 0 0 10 0 0 0
15-0ct-90 2 2 9 3 0 0
30-0ct-90 4 29 1 0
19-Nov-90 10 4 14 0 0 0
14-Dec-90 5 2 8 0 0 0
25-Jan-91 0 0 6 0 0 0
185
Appendix E. Continued.
Brownie Mountain 4-0ct-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
17-0ct-85 4 0 15 3 0 0
8-Nov-85 37 0 67 3 0 0
18-Nov-85 39 2 58 13 0 0
3-Dec-85 32 7 63 5 0 0
28-Feb-86 0 95 4 0 0
31-Mar-86 0 0 78 9 0 0
17-Apr-86 0 18 27 2 0 0
26-Nov-86 36 4 119 19 0 0
24-Dec-86 15 3 33 5 0 0
15-Jan-87 1 1 31 4 0 0
2-Mar-87 0 0 28 1 0 0
2-Nov-87 35 5 63 17 0 0
17-Nov-87 35 10 67 14 0 0
4-Dec-87 41 17 70 12 1 0
21-Dec-87 33 5 74 16 2 0
12-Jan-88 4 4 59 6 0 0
28-Jan-88 0 0 65 6 0 0
27-Mar-88 0 0 26 1 0 0
20-Apr-88 0 0 0 0 0 0
13-0ct-88 IFR
28-0ct-88 31 12 88 13 0 0
15-Nov-88 32 13 101 28
5-Dec-88 31 6 85 14 0
23-Dec-88 19 2 37 3 0 0
15-Jan-89 2 45 6 0 0
7-Feb-89 0 40 4 0 0
8-Mar-89 0 0 21 2 0 0
11-0ct-89 IFR
25-0ct-89 12 4 101 21 1 0
7-Nov-89 23 2 54 14 2 0
20-Nov-89 8 17 1 0 0
9-Dec-89 4 1 20 2 0 0
30-Dec-89 0 0 17 2 0 0
30-Jan-90 0 0 13 0 0 0
28-Feb-90 0 0 8 0 0 0
15-Mar-90 0 0 15 0 0 0
15-0ct-90 9 1 42 8 0
30-0ct-90 12 7 86 7 2 0
19-Nov-90 11 0 38 7 0 0
14-Dec-90 2 0 11 2 0 0
25-Jan-91 0 0 7 2 0 0
186
Appendix E. Continued.
Wolverine Mountain 4-0ct-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
17-0ct-85 6 1 26 4 0 0
8-Nov-85 5 0 41 4 0 0
18-Nov-85 19 4 78 9 3 1
3-Dec-85 17 5 56 6 1 0
28-Feb-86 0 0 24 4 0 0
31-Mar-86 0 0 13 3 1 0
17-Apr-86 0 7 5 1 0 0
26-Nov-86 22 0 82 22 0 0
24-Dec-86 1 0 15 1 0 0
15-Jan-87 0 0 4 2 0 0
2-Mar-87 0 0 14 0 0 0
2-Nov-87 IFR
17-Nov-87 24 10 66 6 0 0
4-Dec-87 22 3 73 15 2 0
21-Dec-87 13 7 57 9 0 0
12-Jan-88 0 0 10 4 0 0
28-Jan-88 0 0 12 4 0 0
27-Mar-88 0 0 3 1 0 0
20-Apr-88 0 0 2 0 0 0
13-0ct-88 IFR
28-0ct-88 25 8 63 20 0 1
15-Nov-88 28 14 83 14 2 0
5-Dec-88 10 4 36 8 1 0
23-Dec-88 2 4 20 3 0 0
15-Jan-89 0 0 9 1 0 0
7-Feb-89 0 0 4 1 0 0
8-Mar-89 0 0 5 9 I 0
ll-Oct-89 IFR
25-0ct-89 22 3 80 14 2 0
7-Nov-89 17 56 9 0 0
20-Nov-89 6 0 11 2 1 0
9-Dec-89 2 0 16 2 0 0
30-Dec-89 0 0 6 2 0 0
30-Jan-90 0 0 6 1 0 0
28-Feb-90 0 0 7 1 0 0
15-Mar-90 0 0 22 5 0 0
15-0ct-90 7 2 48 4 0 0
30-0ct-90 8 2 47 2 0 0
19-Nov-90 5 5 22 2 0 1
14-Dec-90 8 3 15 4 0 0
25-Jan-91 0 0 4 1 0 0
187
Appendix E. Continued.
Sunshine Mountain 4-0ct-85 0 0 0 0 0 0
I7-0ct-85 0 0 0 I 0 0
8-Nov-85 7 3 9 I 0 0
I8-Nov-85 6 2 I6 I 0 0
3-Dec-85 9 2 20 4 0 0
28-Feb-86 0 0 46 2 0 0
3I-Mar-86 0 0 I9 I 0 0
I7-Apr-86 0 2 I2 0 0 0
26-Nov-86 2 0 10 3 0
24-Dec-86 6 I 35 7 0 0
I5-Jan-87 3 0 27 8 I I
2-Mar-87 0 0 11 4 0 0
2-Nov-87 IFR
I7-Nov-87 I4 6 6 6 0 0
4-Dec-87 I4 4 29 5 0 0
2I-Dec-87 13 7 33 9 0 0
I2-Jan-88 2 22 4 0 0
28-Jan-88 0 0 I9 5 0 0
27-Mar-88 0 0 7 2 0 0
20-Apr-88 0 0 2 0 0 0
13-0ct-88 IFR
28-0ct-88 10 6 22 10 2 0
I5-Nov-88 I7 6 I7 7 3 0
5-Dec-88 IO 7 25 7 2 0
23-Dec-88 13 4 24 5 3 0
I5-Jan-89 3 3 28 7 3 0
7-Feb-89 0 I 7 4 2 0
8-Mar-89 0 0 5 9 0
11-0ct-89 IFR
25-0ct-89 I2 3 35 7
7-Nov-89 IFR
20-Nov-89 7 2 I4 7 0 I
9-Dec-89 8 2 30 8 0 0
30-Dec-89 0 15 5 1
30-Jan-90 0 20 3 0
28-Feb-90 0 0 22 I 0 0
I5-Mar-90 0 0 22 5 0 0
I5-0ct-90 7 2 48 4 0 0
30-0ct-90 8 2 47 2 0 0
19-Nov-90 5 5 22 2 0 I
I4-Dec-90 8 3 15 4 0 0
25-Jan-91 0 0 4 1 0 0
188
Appendix E. Continued.
• PCA were above timberline, mainly above 650 m in elevation. Maximum elevation surveyed was about
1100 m to 1200 m. In most years, moose were distributed mainly between timberline and 930 m
elevation; few moose were above 1000 m elevation. In low snow years, moose were distributed between
timberline and 1050 m elevation. In deep snow years, moose were mainly in lower elevations in PCA or
forced out ofPCA. Bald Mountain=49 km 2
; Moss Mountain=27 km2
; Willow Mountain=119 km2
;
Witna Mountain=29 km2
; Brownie Mountain=48 km2
; Wolverine Mountain=48 km2
; Sunshine
Mountain=49 km2
. Location of areas shown in Appendix F.
b Aerial surveys were conducted when snow cover was sufficient to count moose.
c IFR=aerial survey cancelled because of weather.
d Small=pinnately compound antlers and <30 inch maximum spread; Large=Palmately compound antlers
and >30 inch maximum spread.
189
Appendix F. Size (area and greatest width (GW)) of spring season home ranges in female and male
moose adults radiocollared in winter concentration areas in the Susitna River floodplain in lower Susitna
River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1 May through 30 June in 1981-83. Home range=lOO%
minimum convex polygon (MCP). Area was km2 of MCP. GW=distance between 2 radiofixes with
greatest W; where W=square root of ((X1-X2/+(Y1-Y2)
2
) and X, Y=coordinates ofradiofixes. No.
radiofixes were 5 in each season.
Area GW
Sex Year N Mean SE Range Mean SE Range
Female 1981 26 38.5 27.0 1.2-709.9 ll.8 2.8 3.0-69.6
1982 34 15.4 3.8 1.0-98.2 9.1 1.6 1.8-33.8
1983 31 20.6 5.8 1.5-167.1 9.2 1.4 2.5-33.2
Male 1981 7 44.2 17.7 10.0-146.3 17.8 4.5 6.7-42.8
1982 9 22.4 5.6 2.5-49.3 11.6 2.1 2.2-20.8
1983 6 38.2 9.5 8.6-76.0 14.8 2.8 4.4-24.0
190
Appendix G. Size (area and greatest width (GW)) ofprerut, rut, and postrut season home ranges in
female and male moose adults radio collared in winter concentration areas in the Susitna River floodplain
in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 17 August through 15 October in 1981. Home
range=lOO% minimum convex polygon (MCP). Area was km2 ofMCP. GW=distance between 2
radiofixes with greatest W; where W=square root of ((X1-X2)2+(Y1-Y2)2) and X,Y=coordinates of
radiofixes. No. radiofixes=5 in each season.
Area GW
Sex Season" Nb Mean SE Range Mean SE Range
Female Prerut 25 3.1 0.43 0.29-8.3 4.1 0.39 1.1-8.9
Rut 24 3.8 0.52 0.68-10.5 4.5 0.37 1.8-8.8
Po strut 25 10.2 2.6 0.21-54.8 7.5 1.1 1.7-19.3
Male Pre rut 7 7.2 1.8 0.42-16.3 5.1 1.0 0.2-8.4
Rut 7 9.2 1.6 4.5-14.9 6.5 0.73 3.5-8.6
Po strut 7 21.6 6.5 1.6-53.0 11.3 1.6 6.7-18.3
a Prerut= 17 August through 14 September, rut= 14 September through 15 October, postrut= 15 October
through 14 December.
bOne female with a rut range maximum width of 271.9 km2 was not included in calculations.
191
Appendix H. First and last dates radio collared moose adults were in winter range in lower Susitna River
Valley in south-central Alaska in 1 January 1980 through 31 November 1991. Dates in winter range wee
ascertained by comparing the distances between chronologically consecutive radiofixes.
First date in winter range a Last date in winter range b
Year Date J-date SE N Date J-date SE N
1980-81 16 Jan 257 15.0 6 18 Apr 349 2.4 31
1981-82 23 Dec 233 5.7 31 15 Apr 346 1.6 41
1982-83 13 Dec 223 3.5 39 8Apr 339 2.8 37
1983-84 29 Dec 239 6.2 33 8 Apr 339 2.6 36
1984-85 20Dec 230 4.6 34 29 Apr 360 1.8 32
1985-86 19 Jan 260 7.5 16 11 Apr 342 2.0 33
1986-87 26 Dec 236 3.3 46 7 Apr 338 1.9 65
1987-88 21 Dec 231 3.4 62 8Apr 339 2.4 61
1988-89 18 Dec 228 3.4 66 4Apr 335 1.8 58
1989-90 ' 30Nov 210 2.7 49 27 Apr 358 2.6 38
1990-91 17Nov 197 24.0 4
a First date=J-date of the first radiofix after the first long distance movement after 1 October (i.e., J-date
of the radiofix marking the first short distance movement) where J-date=Julian calendar date and J-date
150= 1 October.
bLast date=J-date of the radiofix immediately preceeding the first long distance movement after 15
March (i.e., J-date of the radiofix marking last short distance movement).
192
Appendix I. First and last dates radio collared moose adults were in non-winter range in lower Susitna
River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1 October 1980 through 1 Janaury 1991. Dates in winter range
were ascertained by comparing the distances between chronologically consecutive radiofixes.
First date in non-winter range" Last date in non-winter rangeb
Year Date J-date SE N Date J-date SE N
1980 26 Dec 236 15.4 6
1981 25 Apr 356 2.3 31 7Dec 217 6.3 31
1982 27 Apr 357 1.5 41 16Nov 196 3.5 39
1983 24Apr 354 2.5 33 10 Dec 222 6.1 33
1984 24 Apr 354 2.8 36 1 Dec 211 4.4 34
1985 9May 369 1.8 32 31 Dec 241 7.9 15
1986 1 May 361 2.2 35 26Nov 206 5.0 41
1987 29 Apr 359 1.9 64 22Nov 202 3.4 44
1988 6May 366 2.0 71 15 Nov 195 3.4 71
1989 3May 363 1.8 58 3 Nov 183 3.1 36
1990 lOMay 370 2.2 37 27Nov 207 50.0 5
• First date=J-date of the radiofix immediately after the first long distance movement after 15 March
(;.i.e., J-date of the radiofix marking the first short distance movement, where J-date=Julian calendar date
and J-date 150= 1 October.
bLast date=J-date of the radiofix immediately preceeding the first long distance movement after 1
October (i.e., J-date of the radiofix marking the last short distance movement).
193
Appendix J. Number of days radiocollared moose adults were in winter range and non-winter range in
lower Susitna River in I November 1980 through 31 October 1991. Number of days in winter ranges was
ascertained by comparing the distances between chronologically consecutive radiofixes. No. days was
the mean determined for No. moose.
Days in winter rangeh Days in non-winter rangec
Calendar year• No. days SE No. moose No. days SE No. moose
1980-81 92 21.9 6 226 7.0
1981-82 Ill 5.7 29 203 3.9
1982-83 116 4.7 37 230 6.4
1983-84 104 9.8 33 221 4.9
1984-85 130 5.1 29 237 12.8
1985-86 81 7.4 16 209 5.8
1986-87 98 4.2 43 207 6.1
1987-88 111 4.1 52 193 3.8
1989-90 106 3.9 57 183 3.4
1990-91 146 4.3 36 154 23.3
• Calendar year-1 November through 31May, the following year. In a normal year, winter was 1
December through 31 April the following year and non-winter was 1 May through 31 November.
31
37
33
33
8
31
43
64
35
4
h Days in winter range=J-date (Julian calendar date) of last date minus J-date of first date, where first
date=J-date of the first radiofix immediately after the first long distance movement after 1 October(i.e., J-
date of radio fix of the first short distance movement) and last date= J-date of the radio fix immediately
preceeding the first long distance movement after 15 March (i.e., J-date ofthe radiofix of last short
distance movement).
c Days in non-winter range=J-date of last date minus J-date of first date, where first date=J-date of
frrstradiofix after frrst long distance movement after 15 March and last date=J-date of the radiofix
immediately preceeding the frrst long distance movement after 1 October.
194
.......
\0
Vl
Appendix K. Area (km2) of winter (November through April ) and late winter (January through April) season home range size (krn2
) in female and male
moose adults radiocollared in winter concentration areas and postrut concentration areas in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1981-86 and
1989-90. Home range=lOO% minimum convex polygon.
November through April January through April
No. No. No. No.
Sex Year• moose radio fixes Mean SE Range moose radio fixes Mean SE Range
Female 1981-82 24 15 66.0 ll.l 11.3-178.2 25 6-9 40.0 9.0 7.3-162.2
1982-83 33 10-11 68.3 15.8 1.4-423.8 33 7 32.4 11.5 0.6-357.7
1983-84 31 12 102.6 23.5 2.0-595.5 35 8 44.4 10.6 1.1-344.7
1984-85 30 9-13 76.7 16.2 7.5-343.1 32 7-8 10.2 1.9 1.1-41.3
1985-86 15 6 24.5 7.8 4.4-102.3
1989-90 62 5-10 26.6 4.7 0.9-243.7 61 4-6 13.4 3.8 0.1-208.7
Male 1981-82 7 15 168.5 57.9 31.3-426.0 7 9 79.1 37.9 20.3-303.5
1982-83 6 10 211.3 118.9 13.0-780.3 7 7 8.4 2.6 1.4-16.8
1983-84 4 10-12 33.5 11.7 15.9-67.0 6 8 111.5 58.8 16.4-392.1
1984-85 3 13 67.4 31.7 6.4-112.5 5 8 6.3 2.7 2.0-15.0
1985-86 17 6 36.4 10.2 1.5-172.4
1989-90 9 5-8 23.2 8.1 0.5-64.5 9 4-6 6.9 2.2 0.1-20.6
a Snowpack depth varied greatly among years and between seasons within calendar years. In general, snow accumulation was low in 1981-82, early and
normal in 1982-83, late and normal in 1983-84, deep in 1984-85, low in 1985-86, and very deep in 1989-90.
......
1.0
0\
Appendix L. Greatest width (km) of winter (November through April ) and late winter (January through April) season home ranges in female and male moose
adults radiocollared in winter concentration areas and postrut concentration areas in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1981-86 and 1989-
90. Home range=lOO% minimum convex polygon. Greatest width=distance between 2 radiofixes with greatest W; where W=square root of ((X1-X2)2+(Y 1-
Y2)2) and X,Y=coordinates ofradiofixes.
November through April January through April
No. No. No. No.
Sex Year" moose radio fixes Mean SE Range moose radiofixes Mean SE Range
Female 1981-82 24 15 20.0 3.0 4.9-66.8 25 6-9 17.6 2.9 4.1-66.0
1982-83 33 10-11 20.9 2.7 2.0-63.7 33 7 10.8 1.7 1.6-48.2
1983-84 31 12 22.0 3.0 2.0-63.3 35 8 16.5 2.3 1.8-61.4
1984-85 30 9-13 18.5 2.5 5.0-49.5 32 7-8 6.9 0.8 1.9-22.7
1985-86 15 6 11.6 2.1 4.4-34.3
1989-90 62 5-10 12.9 1.2 2.2-41.4 61 4-6 9.8 1.1 0.9-39.3
Male 1981-82 7 15 25.3 6.1 9.9-51.5 7 9 23.3 5.7 6.7-47.23
1982-83 6 10 20.4 5.8 6.0-40.1 7 7 6.7 1.1 2.5-9.5
1983-84 4 10-12 14.4 2.8 9.7-21.5 6 8 21.0 5.2 9.7-43.7
1984-85 3 13 25.2 9.8 5.5-35.5 5 8 4.6 1.6 1.6-10.3
1985-86 17 6 14.5 1.7 3.5-29.6
1989-90 9 5-8 12.7 3.5 2.2-32.5 9 4-6 7.7 2.8 0.5·29.0
• Snowpack depth varied greatly among years and between seasons within calendar years. In general, snow accumulation was low in 1981-82, early and
normal in 1982-83, late and normal in 1983-84, deep in 1984-85, low in 1985-86, and very deep in 1989-90.
......
\0
-J
Appendix M. Area (km2
) and greatest width (km) of tenninal winter season home range in 4 samples (A-D) of radiocollared moose adults telemetry
monitored in lower Susitna River valley in south-central Alaska in a winter with early nonnal accumulations of snow, 1982-83, and 2 winters with deep
accnmulations of snow, 1984-85 a late snow winter and 1989-90, an early snow winter.
Snow accumulation
Nonnal Deep
Sample/ No. Home range size No. Home range size
Moose Radio-Dates of Radio-Dates of
Id. No. fix Nos. radio-fixes Days Radio-fixes Area Width fix Nos. radio-fixes Days Radio-fixes Area Width
Sample A; winter home range disjunct from non-winter home range; calendar years:
1982-83: 1984-85:
153140 57-65 13 Dec-20 Apr 128 9 11.7 6.8 109-117 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 10.1 1.7
15321i 21-25 4 Jan-4 Mar 59 5 1.4 2.1 72-79 21 Jan-25 Apr 94 8 3.9 3.7
153252 58-64 4 Jan-1 Apr 87 7 1.8 2.2 107-117 20 Dec-2 May 133 11 18.1 9.2
153291 59-66 4 Jan-20 Apr 106 8 6.6 6.3 110-118 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 7.5 6.0
153582 59-67 13 Dec-20 Apr 128 9 3.8 4.2 111-119 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 2.4 3.4
Sample B; winter home range non disjunct from non-winter home range; calendar years:
1982-83: 1984-85:
153170 59-67 4 Jan-20 Apr 106 9 21.3 15.6 110-118 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 19.2 11.4
153192 58-65 4 Jan-20 Apr 106 9 7.0 10.2 109-117 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 4.1 6.5
153260 80-86 21 Jan-20 Apr 89 7 71.4 18.5 131-139 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 28.9 15.9
153340 60-67 4 Jan-20 Apr 106 8 12.6 4.9 111-119 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 7.2 5.0
153552 60-67 4 Jan-20 Apr 106 8 7.1 5.6 111-119 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 5.7 8.0
153692 60-67 4 Jan-20 Apr· 106 8 11.2 8.0 111-119 21 Jan-2 May 101 9 7.1 5.8
Sample C; winter home range disjunct from non-winter home range; calendar year:
1989-90:
152166 53-58 25 Nov-9 Apr 135 6 3.3 3.6
-\0
00
Appendix M. Continued.
152191 53-60 25 Nov-25 Apr 151 8 6.5 6.3
152810 34-38 12 Dec-9 Apr 118 5 17.3 11.2
152860 55-60 25 Nov-9 Apr 135 6 11.8 5.9
153123 84-90 21 Nov-25 Apr 155 7 39.0 13.5
153263 87-93 21 Nov-25 Apr 155 7 21.6 9.5
153311 62-68 21 Dec-25 Apr 125 7 0.3 0.9
153640 52-57 12 Dec-25 Apr 134 6 12.8 7.4
Sample D: winter home range not disjunct from non-winter home range
1989-90:
152440 11-17 21 Nov-25 Apr 155 7 6.8 6.4
152720 16-22 26 Nov-26 Apr 151 7 3.0 2.4
152750 30-36 21 Nov-25 Apr 155 7 5.5 4.1
152780 16-22 26 Nov-26 Apr 151 7 11.0 6.8
153021 28-33 25 Nov-26 Apr 152 6 19.2 8.2
153070 38-44 25 Nov-25 Apr 151 7 22.9 9.9
153081 38-44 25 Nov-25 Apr 151 7 12.2 16.4
153142 11-17 21 Nov-25 Apr 155 7 2.8 4.0
153192 166-172 25 Nov-25 Apr 151 7 6.2 4.9
153222 11-17 21 Nov-25 Apr 155 7 13.7 7.5
153231 11-17 21 Nov-25 Apr 155 7 3.4 5.4
153300 158-162 20 Nov-25 Apr 156 5 2.0 2.3
153692 166-171 25 Nov-10 Apr 136 6 16.5 11.0
153830 27-32 25 Nov-26 Apr 152 6 1.6 2.4
153870 16-20 26 Nov-26 Apr 151 5 2.8 2.5
• Radio-fix Nos.= numbers of radio-fixes used in calculations; Dates of radio-fixes=inclusive dates of radio-fixes used in calculations; No. days=number of
days encompassing radio-fixes; No. radio-fixes= number of radio-fixes used in home range calculations; Area= area (km2
) of 100% minimum convex polygon
(MCP) formed by radio-fixes; Greatest width=distance between 2 radiofixes with greatest D; where D=square root of ((X 1-X2)
2+{Y 1-Y2)
2
) and
X, Y =coordinates of radiofixes.
Appendix N. Results of minimum convex polygon and adaptive kernel methods of estimating life home
range size (km2) in migratory and non-migratory radio collared female and male moose adults telemetry
monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska during April 1980 through
January 1991.
Minimum convex polygon Adaptive kernel
Sex No. UD" N Mean SE Min Max Mean SE Min Max
Females 1 70 173 21.1 23 805 216 25.3 29 959
>1 36 372 43.1 34 ll08 477 58.3 33 1464
land>! 116 241 22.1 23 1108 304 28.4 29 1464
Males 1 23 257 57.8 19 1098 386 102.1 32 2214
>1 13 313 52.0 98 631 438 98.2 49 1154
1 and >1 36 277 41.1 19 1098 405 73.5 32 2214
"No. UD=No. Utilization distributions; {l)=unimodal, non-migratory moose;(> 1) multimodal, migratory
moose.
199
Appendix 0. Area (km2
) of life, life-seasonal, seasonal, and management event home ranges in 6 non-migratory and 6 migratory radiocollared moose
telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1980-91. Area=km2 of 100% MCP Migratory moose were moose
with winter home ranges that were disjunct from non-winter home ranges; non-migratory moose were moose with winter home ranges that were not disjunct
from non-winter home ranges. Life home range (HR)=all radiofixes {RF); calving HR=RF in 10 May through 31 May; summer HR=RF in 13 July through 15
August; rut HR=RF in 15 September through 5 October; post rut HR=RF in 11 October-7 November; winter HR=RF in 19 Janaury through 31 March; hunt
HR=RF in 20 August through 30 September; survey HR=RF in 7 November through 21 December; life-seasonal HR=RF in 6 seasonal periods.
Life-
Moose Life n seasonal n Calving n Summer n Rut n Po strut n Winter n Hunt n Survey n
Non-migratory
150200 286.9 163 75.9 85 14.5 18 4.6 17 2.8 8 3.1 6 60.6 36 5.3 16 16.1 16
153240 29.2 111 23.5 58 4.8 II 5.9 12 0.5 6 0.4 5 18.4 24 5.9 13 5.6 12
153300 90.5 172 60.5 91 14.1 17 19.5 19 3.2 11 8.6 6 29.4 38 5.1 20 46.1 17
153340 82.2 154 74.9 80 32.7 16 13.7 16 3.1 9 7.1 6 36.4 33 5.9 17 20.6 14
N 153552 63.7 167 45.0 88 6.6 17 9.8 17 7.0 11 2.2 6 39.0 37 18.6 18 19.4 16
0 153692 70.6 172 70.2 91 10.8 17 14.3 17 2.5 11 3.5 7 65.5 39 8.8 18 7.1 18 0
Mean 103.9 58.3 13.9 11.3 3.2 4.1 41.6 8.3 19.2
SE 37.6 8.4 4.1 2.3 0.9 1.3 7.4 2.1 6.0
Migratory
153140 178.0 150 156.1 76 51.4 15 14.6 14 7.1 8 3.7 6 35.9 33 16.2 16 56.9 15
153211 348.1 121 260.9 66 69.7 16 21.8 8 8.4 8 8.6 6 62.5 28 11.8 11 46.5 11
153220 1202.0 197 795.1 103 442.4 17 175.4 20 157.5 14 7.6 9 144.0 43 167.5 23 24.0 22
153252 479.4 160 390.6 83 104.9 16 155 17 14.0 9 24.7 6 33.3 35 18.3 17 232.0 15
153291 336.3 150 321.5 78 68.7 15 17.2 16 14.3 9 17.3 6 163.9 32 19.6 17 108.2 13
153582 396.0 174 284.6 91 75.1 17 76.4 17 7.9 11 3.5 7 179.9 39 11.1 18 155.3 19
Mean 490.0 368.1 135.4 53.5 34.9 10.9 103.3 40.8 103.8
SE 148.0 91.0 61.8 26.2 24.6 3.4 27.3 25.4 32.1
Appendix P. Distance (km) between centroids of rut seasonal home ranges and centroids of other
seasonal home ranges in life home ranges of non-migratory and migratory radiocollared female moose
adults telemetry monitored with aircraft in lower Susitna River Valley in south-central Alaska in 1980-
91. Centroids of home ranges were mid-points of radioflxes in the primary polygons in adaptive kernal
analyses of life seasonal home ranges. Centroids were described by X, Y coordinates where X and Y
were means of X andY coordinates, respectively. A primary polygon was the polygons that
encompassed the greatest number of radioflxes. Migratory moose were moose with winter home ranges
that were disjunct from non-winter home ranges; non-migratory moose were moose with winter home
ranges that were not disjunct from non-winter home ranges.
Moose Calving Summer Po strut Winter Hunt Survey
Non-migratory
150200 1.9 0.7 0.7 2.8 0.4 0.8
153240 1.8 0.7 1.6 3.9 0.5 1.4
153300 1.9 0.3 1.6 3.0 0.2 1.9
153340 1.7 0.4 1.0 4.6 0.0 1.4
153552 0.5 0.2 1.3 2.3 0.3 1.8
153692 0.3 0.5 0.1 2.6 0.6 0.7
Mean 1.36 0.48 1.06 3.20 0.34 1.33
SE 0.30 0.84 0.24 0.35 0.09 0.20
Migratory
153140 1.0 2.0 2.4 17.8 1.7 1.4
153211 8.4 3.7 3.7 13.1 0.1 6.7
153220 3.3 3.8 61.1 60.5 0.4 61.2
153252 3.4 0.3 1.4 41.9 0.4 1.5
153291 2.4 2.0 1.8 25.3 13.4 7.8
153582 3.3 0.3 1.4 41.9 0.4 1.5
Mean 2.85 2.08 8.94 24.92 4.15 15.34
SE 1.21 0.61 7.18 8.51 2.34 9.42
201
..
Alaska's Game Management Units
OF
10 tJ • • •
''-:
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration lProgram consists of funds from a
li 0% to 11% manufacturer's excise tax collected from the sales of hand-
guns, sporting rifles, shotguns, ammunition, and archery equipment ~
I he federalAid program allots funds back to states through a formula
based on each state's geographic area and number of paid hunting li-~
cense holders. Alaska receives a maximum 5% of revenues collected each ~
year. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game uses federal aid funds to \.-.rQ
help restore, conserve, and manage wild birds and mammals to benefit the ~
public. These funds are alsp used to educate hunters to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes
for responsible hunting. Seventy-five percent of the funds for this report are from Federal Aid.
Whitten
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game administers all programs and activities free from discrimination
based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability.
The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire
further information please write to ADF&G, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526; U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 300 Webb, Arlington, VA 22203 or O.E.O., U.S.
Department of the Interior, Washington DC 20240.
For information on alternative formats for this and other department publications, please contact the
department ADA Coordinator at (voice) 907-465-6077, (TDD) 907-465-3646, or (FAX) 907-465-6078.