Damage caused by moose (Alces alces L.) by bark stripping of Picea abies

Abstract

Bark stripping by moose occurred in 12% of the total growing stock in spruce stands inspected in two forest districts in central Estonia. The damage commonly occurs after thinning cuttings and in relatively fertile forest types. The stems became unsuitable for timber within 2–3 yrs owing to subsequent decay. The broken trees had been bark‐stripped on average 6.3 yrs earlier. The trees affected were thicker and had a higher nutritional value than the undamaged ones. Calcium and iron concentrations were relatively high in the spruce bark, the nutritional value of which is generally low. A deficiency of minerals was apparently not the reason for bark feeding because the mineral nutrient concentrations in food plants commonly used were not exceptionally low. It could be assumed that the use of bark in some forest areas is related to high moose density coinciding with reduced food availability. Changes in forest management support this conclusion.