Moose (Alces alces) population survey in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, November 2015
Sorum MS and Joly K. 2016. Moose (Alces alces) population survey in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, November 2015. Natural Resource Report. NPS/YUCH/NRR—2016/1150. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Moose (Alces alces) are an integral component of the boreal ecosystem in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve (YUCH) and are considered good indicators of long-term habitat change within the Park ecosystem. The National Park Service (NPS) surveyed moose in a 3,096 mi2 (8,019 km2) area in and around YUCH during 10 – 15 November 2015. We used the Geo-Spatial Population Estimator (GSPE; Ver Hoef 2002) technique to estimate moose abundance. The population estimate for YUCH was 1,138 moose (90% confidence interval = 932-1343, +/- 18%) which yielded a density of 0.37 moose/mi2 (0.14 moose/km2). The age/sex ratios were 27 calves:100 cows, 4 yearling bulls:100 cows, and 64 bulls:100 cows. The estimate of total observable moose has increased since the mid-2000. Major changes to the Park’s landscape, such as wildfires during 1999 and 2004 and the 2009 flood, may be affecting bottom-up resources that have contributed to increases in moose abundance.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Sorum, Mathew; Joly, Kyle
- Date of Issue
- 2016-03
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NRSS , YUCH
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Mammals