Characteristics of moose (Alces Alces) calving sites

The movements of female moose, 14 in 1995 and 20 in 1996, were recorded by radio-tracking to examine the characteristics of calving sites in the centr e of Quebec. Females were spotted by helicopter every 3 or 4 days ((x) over bar = 3.5 +/- 0.4; n = 15) between mid-May and early June (1995: May 17 - June 9; 1996. May 21 - June 6) so that the exact dates and sites of calving could be determined. Topography and vegetation at the sites were determine d using topographic maps and terrestrial surveys and were compared with con trol sites chosen randomly within the home range of each female. Twenty-six calving sites were identified, 10 in 1995 and 16 in 1996. Calving sites we re situated seven times more often at the top of hills (69%; n = 26) than c ontrol sites (10%). They were also situated more often (88%) on hills with less than 10% slopes than control sites (52%). Finally, distance to the nea rest river was greater for calving sites ((x) over bar = 543 m) than for co ntrol sites ((x) over bar = 339 m). Canopy and food, altitude, distance to a road or a water source, drainage, and orientation did not differ between calving sites and control sites. Although this is not a formal test, the ob served characteristics of calving sites support the hypothesis that calving females choose sites where the risks of fawn predation are lowest. As fema les do not repeatedly use the same calving sites and as the physical charac teristics of the sites and nature of the forest at the sites are not limiti ng, we do not see any reason why moose calving sites should be submitted to particular protection or management measures.