Grouping characteristics of Moose (Alces alces) in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba

Abstract

Grouping characteristics of the Moose (Alces alces) population of Riding Mountain National Park were derived between 1970 and 1974 from 1955 ground sightings involving 3173 Moose, and three aerial surveys. Total population numbers and weather conditions fluctuated considerably, but mean annual group size for all associations remained virtually constant with values ranging from 1.6 to 1.7 animals. Nine of the 12 monthly mean group sizes ranged between 1.5 and 1.7 animals. The November mean of 2.1 Moose per group was the only statistically significant variation observed. Monthly sex-age associations between June and December were analyzed for single male, multiple male, single female, multiple female, female- calf, and mixed-sex groups. A November mean of 2. 1 animals per group for all male Moose was the only significant variation observed in sex-age associations. Males were generally more gregarious than females, female-calf groups appeared to be the most stable aggregations, and the overall pattern of grouping behavior appeared to resemble most closely that for herds with approximately equal sex ratios.