MATING IN MOOSE - TIMING, BEHAVIOR, AND MALE ACCESS PATTERNS

We observed mating wild moose (Alces alces) in a naturally regulated p opulation in central Alaska during 1980-1991. The median date of obser ved copulations for all years was 2 October, with small shifts among y ears. Of 191 mounting sequences observed, all occurred between 24 Sept ember and 8 October. Only 2 % of copulations (n = 86) involved the mat ing of a female and two males. Large males performed 82 % of all mount ings and 88 % of all copulations. One male copulated with at least 12 females during one mating season. Male and female behavioral patterns associated with mating were similar to those observed in other cervids and included tongue flicking, courtship croaking, genital smelling, c hinning by males, and tree rubbing by females. Both sexes displayed li ttle obvious postcopulation behavior.