Deer-Moose Relationships on a Burn In Northeastern Minnesota

Irwin, Larry

A study of habitat selection and distributions of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and moose (Alces alces) was conducted from July 1972 through December 1973 on a 5,920-ha burn that occurred in spring 1971 in northeastern Minnesota. Most use of coniferous stands within the burn by both moose and deer occurred in late fall and early spring, but they selected deciduous stands above all others (P < 0.05), especially in summer and fall. Moose and deer utilized aquatic communities from late May through June. Both species selected postburn communities that produced large amounts of preferred forage. Sites logged prior to the fire and openings along roads were attractive to deer. Association coefficients confirmed moose and deer utilized similar communities in summer and fall, but by December they occurred in similar communities by chance. Aerial and ground observations of animal groups indicated that moose and deer used the burn during summer and the periphery and unburned forest during winter. Coefficients of dietary overlap indicated relatively high overlap occurred during fall, when deer used browse plants more often. This study suggests the large burns, which produce large quantities of woody forage in boreal forests, allow moose populations to increase despite the presence of deer and the pathogenic nematode parasite Parelaphostrongylus tenuis.

Deer-Moose Relationships on a Burn In Northeastern Minnesota

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