grrr-listen!

Moose in British Columbia

Introduction The largest member of the deer family (cervidae), moose are found in northern forests across Eurasia, from Scandinavia and Poland to eastern Russia, and across North America from Alaska and British Columbia to Labrador and Nova Scotia. The same species, Alces alces, occurs on both continents. This pattern of distribution is called circumboreal. Adult bulls stand nearly 2 m tall and have the most massive antlers of any member of the deer family. Long and critical source of food, clothing, and implements for First Nations, the majestic Moose also fascinated early explorers, whose writings included many accounts of Moose. Moose have survived the advance of civilization rather well, and an estimated 800,000 to 1.2 million live in North America today. Evolution and Appearance: Moose are relative latecomers to North America. They probably arrived from Asia via the Bering land bridge during the most recent (Wisconsin) glacial period, when sea levels were lower than today. During that period, Moose lived in unglaciated parts of Alaska, then spread south and east as the ice sheets melted. British Columbia has three subspecies of Moose. All three subspecies are similar in appearance, but those in southeastern British Columbia have the smallest bodies and antlers. The biggest Moose reside in northern British Columbia. Moose look noticeably different from other native hoofed mammals (ungulates). They are larger and have longer legs, a shoulder hump, and a dark brown to blackish coat. They have no rump patch, but they have a bell of skin and hair under the throat and a large, overhanging upper lip. In fall, adult cows weigh on average about 340 to 420 kg; adult bulls weigh 450 to 500 kg. The maxiumum recorded weight is 595 kg. Moose have long legs to help them travel through fallen timber, brush and deep snow. Their winter coat of long guard hairs and undercoat of fine wool allows them to survive in the coldest of climates on earth. Only male Moose have antlers, which they grow and shed each year. The antlers begin to develop in late April or early May. While they are growing, the antlers are covered with furry velvet, which contains their nourishing blood supply. In British Columiba, Moose antlers reach full size by early September Then the velvet dries, and the Moose rubs it off against trees or shrubs. Antlers usually continue to grow until the Moose is about ten years old. In their prime, bulls may carry split-palm or butterfly antlers with a total spread of up to 1.8 m. On prime bulls, the lower or brow palm protects the face during head-to-head fights. In British Columbia, Moose shed their antlers between mid-November and March. The older bulls shed earliest, and by March only the yearlings may still have antlers. Distribution and Abundance: Moose are one of the most widely distributed ungulates in British Columbia. Found across almost the entire interior of the province, they are most abundant in the central and sub-boreal plains of northeastern British Columbia. Today, British Columbia has about 170,000 Moose. Over 70 percent live in northern British Columbia and the rest in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, Tompson-Okanagan and Kootenay regions. Population densities vary greatly from place to place, mostly in response to snow depth and the supply of winter browse. In winter, typical population densities in British Columbia range from 0.3 Moose per square km to 1.5 per square km. Life History: Moose are essentially solitary animals that move about within familiar summer and winter home ranges. In British Columbia, Moose mate from September to November. At rutting time, cow Moose emit a long, quavering moan that is audible for up to 3 km. this call can attract bulls in forested terrain where visual contact is limited. Several cows often gather around a prime bull or two fighting bulls and wallow in the urine-soaked rutting pits the bulls have made. the bulls do not try to form a harem, but prime bulls engage in serious shoving matches in which they lock antlers. These fights are intended to show the cows the bull's superiority so that the cows can chose the best mate. Unlike other ungulates, the Moose cows may be quite aggressive toward one another, and receptive females actively choose their mate, rather than leaving the choice to the males. In late May and June, after a gestation period of eight months, the birthing period approaches. Pregnant females seek seclusion and chase away their young of the previous year. Singl births are the rule, and only 10 to 20 percent of adult cows produce twins. Newborn calves weigh 11 to 16 kg and can stand on their first day. Calves start eating vegetation when they are two weeks old but are not completely weaned until autumn. They grow rapidly during their first summer and weigh 135 to 180 kg by early winter. Most cows produce one or two calves every year during their lifetime. The main natural causes of death in Moose are starvation and predators. Humans are responsible for losses from hunting and from collisions with trains and highway vehicles. During the most severe winters when the snow cover is unusually deep and long-lasting, Moose are in poor physical condition and usually die from starvation or attacks by wolves. Black Bears can take signifcant numbers of newborn calves. Grizzly Bears also kill Moose in the southern interior. The most important parasites of Moose are winter ticks, liver flukes and tapeworm cysts. Moose that are weakened from malnutrition occasionally die from heavy tick infestations, but most Mooose in British Columbia do not die from parasites. Values and Uses: First Nations used Moose extensively before the European explorers arrived. In parts of British Columbia, Moose were the main source of meat for indigenous peoples. They used Moose hides for moccasins, clothing and shelter and made tools and implements from the bones and antlers. According to historical records, some first Nations in northern British Columbia starved when Moose were scarce. Early explorers and the first settlers also relied heavily on Moose for food. Explorers traded Moose hides at Hudson Bay company posts and used dried Moose meat to provision the trading posts during winter. Moose continue to be an important part of the economy and diet of many northern and rural people, including First Nations. In recent decades, Moose has been one of the most important game species in British Columiba, providing more meat than all other ungulates combined. The Moose is also a valued trophy animal. The annual provincial harvest of 8000 to 14,000 Moose has generated considerable license revenue for management, habitat enhancement, and enforcement programs, as well as income for guide-outfitters in British Columbia's northern communities. The Moose also has aesthetic value as a symbol of the northern wilderness. Many outdoor recreationists have thrilled at the sight of a mature bull or cow with its calf in a natural setting. Canoers and river rafters often see Moose along rivers and around lake shores in summer. Canoeing in Bowron Lakes Provincial Park or along the Crooked River north of Prince George is also a good way to see Moose. Along the Yellowhead route, Moose are frequently visible in summer at Moose Lake in Mount Robson Provincial Park and in Cranberry Marsh near Valemount. In winter they often appear at the Grove Burn east of Prince George, which has an observation tower for viewing Moose. Along the Alaska Highway, good places to spot Moose include Munch Lake and the wetlands of Liard Hotsprings Provincial Park. Conservation: During the 1900s, human activities have reduced the land area in British Columbia that can support Moose. Land settlement and farming have mainly affected Moose habitat in the Peace River and Carboo regions. Hydroelectric reservoirs have flooded key winter ranges in the Peace River area (Williston and Site one Reservoirs), along the Columbia River (Mica and Revelstoke Reservoirs), and in the upper Nechako watershed. Although we will never know the actual carrying capacity of those flooded habitats, we can be sure that they would have supported several thousand Moose. Floating debris also prevents Moose from migrating across some reservoirs. Each year, hundreds of Moose die on highways and railway lines, particularly along the Yellowhead corridor. The take by resident hunters, although substantial, is regulated and is not a major conservation concern. However, uncontrolled harvesting from illegal poaching and legal First Nations hunting is a major concern in some areas. The recent proliferation of logging roads and other access roads in many Moose habitats needs to be controlled because it, too, could lead to over-harvesting of Moose. Since 1981, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks has undertaken a number of Moose habitat enhancement projects in central and northern British Columbia. The projects were aimed at increasing the supply of woody browse on Moose winter ranges. They involved controlled burns to produce early successional stages and bulldozing over-mature browse stands to rehabilitate them. Logging is now widespread on Moose ranges in British Columbia, which may temporarily benefit Moose. However, removing too much forest cover can be detrimental. Forest harvesting and silviculture prescriptions on important Moose ranges must recognize the needs of Moose. In future, increasing huyman populations and resource development in central and northern British Columbia could have adverse effects on Moose habitat. It will require comprehensive land-use planning to ensure that these developments have as little impact as possible on Moose populations. Carefully considered approaches to land-use planning, forest practices, and habitat enhancement can help maintain today's Moose population well into the future. information courtesy of Habitat Conservation Trust Fund

B.C. Parks - "Jerry, the Moose"

GoMoose



back to index