Causes of Neonatal Moose Calf Mortality in South Central Alaska
Ballard WB, Spraker TH, Taylor KP. 1981. Causes of Neonatal Moose Calf Mortality in South Central Alaska. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 45(2):335-342
During spring 1977 and 1978, 136 moose (Alces alces gigas) calves were radio-collared in the Nelchina and Susitna river basins of south central Alaska in an effort to determine causes of mortality. Thirteen calves (9.5%) died as a result of collaring activities. Of 123 remaining calves exhibiting normal cow-calf bonds, contact with 3 calves was lost and 66 (55%) died of natural causes. Predation by brown bears (Ursus arctos) was the most important cause of mortality, accounting for 79% of the deaths. Timing of the deaths of radio-collared calves was similar to that of uncollared calves of radio-collared adults, which indicated that collaring did not predispose the calves to predation. Ninety-four percent of the natural mortality occurred before 19 July each year. Little scavenging of either abandoned or predator-killed calves was observed. Radio-collared brown bears were observed on 78 kills during 1978, averaging 1 ungulate kill/6.1 observation days. Moose of all age-classes comprised 87% of the kills and calves were the most common prey (57%). Identification of brown bear as a significant predator of moose complicate attempts to understand and manage ungulate-carnivore relationships.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Ballard, Warren; Spraker, Ted; Taylor, Kenton
- Units
- CAKN , DENA , WRST , YUCH
- Keywords
- Alces alces gigas, Calves, Moose, moose calf, Mortality, Ursus arctos