HABITAT SELECTION AND FOOD HABITS OF MOOSE IN NORTHEASTERN ALBERTA

Abstract

Habitat selection and food habits of moose (Alces alces andersoni) in northeastern Alberta were studied during fall 1976 and winter 1977. Radiotelemetry was employed to relocate thirteen moose 211 times, yielding 260 observations of habitat use. Most relocation sites were examined, allowing identification and analysis of specific use categories, Including feeding, bedding and non-feeding-bedding. The data were also analyzed according to “presence only” in a given habitat, regardless of the category of use. During the fall the aspen habitat type and aspen mixed with either white spruce or jack pine were heavily used for most categories of use and in terms of “presence only”. The aspen-white spruce and aspen-jack pine were variously preferred. During the winter, aspen and aspen-white spruce were heavily used and were preferred (P < 0.05) in terms of “presence only” and for all categories of use except non-feeding-bedding in aspen. Seventy-seven feeding sites were examined, and 9,055 instances of browse use were recorded. During both fall and winter, saskatoon was clearly the most heavily used browse and appeared to be the only preferred species. Preference for habitat types appeared to depend on the amount of saskatoon available.