SHORT-TERM BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSE OF MOOSE ALCES-ALCESTO MILITARY DISTURBANCE IN NORWAY

The response of moose Alces alces to military disturbance in a multi-u se landscape was studied. Four individual free-ranging moose, fitted w ith heart-rate transmitters, were subjected to specific stimuli in con trolled disturbance trials, and 12 radio-collared moose were followed for 3-week-long periods, before, during, and after large-scale militar y manoeuvres. In the disturbance trials the moose showed much shorter flush distances (the distance from the disturber at which flight began ) and normal heart rate returned sooner after being disturbed by mecha nical stimuli than after human stimuli. There was no significant diffe rence in flight distance or maximum heart rate for these two categorie s of disturbance. There was a significant, inverse relationship betwee n flushing distance and both flight distance and the time required for heart rate to return to normal. During manoeuvres the home range size increased, but only one moose within the disturbed area made a signif icant home range shift. We hypothesised that the greater fear of human s than of vehicles is due to the strict ban on hunting from vehicles, and to the familiarity with unthreatening, all-terrain, timber-cutting vehicles. We concluded that military activity of the type studied her e is not especially detrimental to moose, and that the effects of thei r activity should not differ from comparable civilian harassment. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd