The relative influence of different mortality factors on a norwegian moose population - a case study

Summary

Hunting has traditionally been the main mortality factor of moose Alces alces populations in Norway. The last decade however, the Scandinavian wolf Canis lupus population has increased and the impact of wolf predation has locally become an important mortality factor that has to be considered in moose population management. Here we try to separate the impact of different mortality factors on a local moose population in Stor-Elvdal municipality, SE Norway, that is affected by hunting, vehicle collisions and predation. We have used 1) survival data from individually marked moose, 2) density estimates based on hunter observations, 3) data from road- and railway killed moose, and 4) kill-data from ground-tracking unmarked wolves on snow. We have estimated population performance by applying an age- and sex structured model to estimate the relative impact of different mortality factors. In addition, we simulated how moose density may affect hunting potential in areas where wolves are present.