PRODUCTIVITY, SURVIVAL, AND MOVEMENTS OF FEMALE MOOSE IN A LOW-DENSITY POPULATION, NORTHWEST-TERRITORIES, CANADA

Moose (Alces alces andersoni) occur at low density (140-160 moose/1000 km2) and are the most important game animal in much of the Mackenzie Valley, western Northwest Territories. Productivity and survival of 30 female moose (greater-than-or-equal-to 1.5 yr.) were studied from Nov ember 1985 through November 1988. Twenty-nine of these moose were radi o-tracked for a total of 1039 relocations. Pregnancy rates were 96% fo r adult and 40% for yearling females. Most females returned to the sam e restricted area to calve each year. Mean newborn calf:female ratio a nd twinning rates were 1.2:1 and 31%, respectively. Mean annual female survival rate was 85%. Annual calf survival was high and stable (44 /- 0.02%). Individual total home range size varied from 40 km2 to 942 km2. Mean home range size for 29 moose was 174 +/- 31 km2 and 202 +/- 59 km2 for the 14 moose radio-tracked the entire three years of study. Fall home ranges were twice the size of winter and summer home ranges ; seasonal ranges overlapped widely, indicating that these moose were non-migratory.