moose studies

[wideopenthrottle]

http://www.bcoutdoorsmagazine.com/BC_Moose_Population_Research_Project

is there anyone here that has access (links) to more info/research on this?

[luckofthedraw]

I don't know of any links, but would be curious to see them.

The decline was over the last decade, as the study suggests. The way I read this is; the info over the last 3 years shows numbers are stable, for a healthy moose population. Good news I hope.

I think it was 2007/2008 ish, we were hit with a bad winter storm causing significant winter kill. Add in the year of bad ticks, poaching, and then pine beetle. Hopefully the data received from the collared cows will show us that things are looking up.

[wideopenthrottle]

. Hopefully the data received from the collared cows will show us that things are looking up.

i hope so too

[Summit 512]

Out of 19 mortalities 9 were from wolves,that tells you some thing.

[elch jager]

The cow population seems stable. The next obvious thing to observe is calf survival... I suspect that is where the answers will be found. With the stripping of trees the cows cannot conceal the calves adequately. Predation by the wolves and/or black bears might show up.

I find it a bit odd that these scientists would not have started with collaring calves either in addition to or instead of the cows... growth of any population is defined by surviving offspring.

[325]

The cow population seems stable. The next obvious thing to observe is calf survival... I suspect that is where the answers will be found. With the stripping of trees the cows cannot conceal the calves adequately. Predation by the wolves and/or black bears might show up.

I find it a bit odd that these scientists would not have started with collaring calves either in addition to or instead of the cows... growth of any population is defined by surviving offspring.

Hard to fit a collar on a fast-growing calf

[elch jager]

true... maybe some other form of tag... we track sturgeon and salmon with subcutaneous transmitters...

[6.5x55mm]

Funny just checked my cams in Bonaparte. Apparently they are out there. Never Have I had a pic of a collared animal before. Side note, in 65 days only one wolf.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/ovis383/aa4_zpsqhrptitz.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/ovis383/media/aa4_zpsqhrptitz.jpg.html)


http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/ovis383/aa5_zpsd2um85eu.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/ovis383/media/aa5_zpsd2um85eu.jpg.html)

[elch jager]

only one calf in the shot... wonder if the other one is just out of frame, or is now wolf poop?

[325]

true... maybe some other form of tag... we track sturgeon and salmon with subcutaneous transmitters...

Yeah, but I think that's mostly mark-recapture. I agree there may be a way to do it, and it sure would be interesting to determine what's killing moose calves. I'd be betting that black bears are killing a lot.

[6.5x55mm]

ummm Maybe

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/ovis383/aa3_zpszngpixd9.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/ovis383/media/aa3_zpszngpixd9.jpg.html)

[albravo2]

dang. nice bear.

[6.5x55mm]

Here are some shots of wolf in the same area from the past.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/ovis383/EK000005_zpsy3ri1zlq.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/ovis383/media/EK000005_zpsy3ri1zlq.jpg.html)


http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/ovis383/HUNT0011_zpsob8efzui.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/ovis383/media/HUNT0011_zpsob8efzui.jpg.html)

[drakfero]

lots of dogs on one spot..

[HarryToolips]

Yeah, but I think that's mostly mark-recapture. I agree there may be a way to do it, and it sure would be interesting to determine what's killing moose calves. I'd be betting that black bears are killing a lot.
I'd bet your right....

[J-F]

Black bears take a heavy toll on the moose population, namely on calves.

And bears taste good too, so...

[2chodi]

Here you go: http://nprg.ca/?attachment_id=2132

[Backwoods]

Awesome trail cam pics of the wolves!!!!!! Out of hunting season I seen two black bears chasing a calf elk in 7b they ran right past our truck across a live oil&gas site, they weren't far behind, never did find out the out come but I doubt it ended well for the calf, I'm sure the bears do take down quiet a few moose, we shot a moose few years back and both rear quarters were scratched deep from claws on something!!!

[Beaverhunter]

only one calf in the shot... wonder if the other one is just out of frame, or is now wolf poop?

How do you know there was ever 2?

[270ruger]

32 moose brought into butchers from 8-9.

[Airedale]

I agree fully with Elch Jaeger that calves are the key to any ungulate herd management.

For as long as I can remember biologists keyed on counting the calf/cow ratio in late winter which defined the annual "recruitment" rate.
10 calves per 100 cows meant the herd was diminishing. If it was 40/100 the herd was expanding.
If the recruitment rate was diminishing then biologists tried to figure out why. If there weren't enough bulls to get the work done
then seasons were curtailed. If predators were decimating the calves then measures were taken to reduce them.
Not sure why you would go through all the trouble and expense of collaring 150 cows and monitoring them. Inevitably,
over a longer period, old age will get them all.
However, now that they are collared they can be monitored for the all important calf recruitment numbers.

[6.5x55mm]

Still around.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/ovis383/blackwolf_zpscjf4jp8j.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/ovis383/media/blackwolf_zpscjf4jp8j.jpg.html)

[ElliotMoose]

Any sign of the collared cow and her calf?

[Looking_4_Jerky]

I wonder if the winds we are having would make it any more likely you could approach a pack of wolves without them being alerted to your presence. Tracking a pack in the snow?

[Xenomorph]

Still around.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/ovis383/blackwolf_zpscjf4jp8j.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/ovis383/media/blackwolf_zpscjf4jp8j.jpg.html)



I need some practice :) and I love shooting. We should get together a group of us and take out as many wolves/bear as we can. I for one I'm doing my 100% and making sure I'll down two bears/year. Wolves ...yet to get one, but don't mind skinning.

[elch jager]

How do you know there was ever 2?
I don't. Just an educated guess. Perhaps faulty. I thought twins were the norm, and singles were unusual. Apparently the reverse is true. My bad.
When food is abundant twins occur 20 to 30 %. When predation is high the percentage will spike further in response.

[wideopenthrottle]

Here you go: http://nprg.ca/?attachment_id=2132

excellent..thank you