DISPERSAL OF SUBADULT MOSOE FROM A LOW DENSITY POPULATION IN INTERIOR ALASKA

Abstract

Dispersal of 1- to 3-year-old moose from a low density, but rapidly growing, moose population was investigated. Radio-collars were placed on 17 offspring of previously radio-collared adult cows. Comparison of home ranges of independent offspring and their respective dams indicates a close spatial relationship between home ranges. No long distance dispersal resulting in the formation of a home range separate from that of the dam’s was observed. Winter home ranges of offspring tended to deviate more from that of their dams’ than did summer home ranges. Thus, this moose population demonstrated a very slow rate of dispersal. For managers this conclusion has important consequences: 1) newly created habitat will not be rapidly located and occupied by dispersing moose; 2) locally overhunted areas will be repopulated primarily by offspring of the areas surviving moose; 3) since declining moose populations adjacent to low density populations derive few new members by immigration, each population must be managed with respect to its individual potential growth rates.