Habitat Use by White-Tailed Deer and Moose on Sympatric Range

Abstract

Temporal and spatial distributions of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and moose (Alces alces) were studied in relation to habitat on the 1,200-ha Himsworth Game Preserve in central Ontario. Habitat use was determined by examining systematically arranged plots for deer and moose pellet groups and tracks at 334 locations. Three time periods were involved: 15 October 1973 (leaf fall) to April 1974, May to June 1974, and July to August 1974. Observations of sign were analyzed in relation to habitat types and habitat factors, including basal area and density of trees, stand height, and percent crown cover. Deer sign was observed at 174 and moose sign at 129 of the 334 locations in the October-April period. The distribution of both species appeared to be more influenced by individual habitat factors than by habitat types; moose distribution was related more to food factors and deer distribution related more to shelter factors. The mixed and coniferous habitat types supported the highest deer densities, whereas the deciduous types supported the highest moose densities. Sign of deer and moose was recorded at 38 and 31 locations, respectively, in the May to June period. Twenty-eight observations of deer sign but only 12 observations of moose sign were made in the July to August period. Alder (Alnus rugosa) was the only habitat type where sign of both species occurred more than expected (P < 0.05) during spring and summer. The distribution of sign of both cervids indicated little spatial overlap in the summer. J. WILDL..MANAGE. 40(4):645-657 Several excellent studies have been done on habitat use by white-tailed deer and moose in northeastern North America, but relatively little is known about the summer use of habitat by either species, or of the interactions of these two species on sympatric range. Such studies are necessary to determine the ecological factors important in transmission of the parasitic nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis (meningeal worm), which is enzootic in white-tailed deer populations over much of eastern North America, and has been recognized as an important agent in the decline of moose populations in this area (Anderson 1965, 1972, Gilbert 1973, 1974, Prescott 1974). Altitudinal separation of deer and moose occurs in the winter months in some areas of Nova Scotia (Telfer 1967), New Brunswick (Kelsall and Prescott 1971), and Maine (Gilbert 1974). A study conducted in central New Brunswick, where the terrain was relatively flat, also indicated little overlap in the use of winter range by deer and moose (Telfer 1970). These studies were limited to winter months, however, a time period unimportant for P. tenuis transmission because the intermediate hosts (gastropods) are not available for ingestion by the definitive host. In addition, the winter range of both deer and moose is more l mited in extent than the summer range, and the habitat types used likely are considerably different between the two seasons. The purpose of this study was to investigate the temporal and spatial distributions of deer and moose in relation to habitat for a 1-year period on an area of sympatric range, and to identify areas of overlap and hence some of the factors responsible for the existence of moose refugia (Gilbert 1974) in deer range infected with P. tenuis. We acknowledge the assistance of R. Wolfe, E. Bain, and D. Booth, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, North Bay District. K. McCormick ably assisted in the field during data collection. The study was financed by Canadian National Sportsman J. Wildl. Manage. 40 (4):1976 645 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.221 on Mon, 03 Oct 2016 04:55:48 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 646 HABITAT USE BY DEER AND MOOSE Kearney and Gilbert Show grants to R. C. Anderson and F. F. Gilbert.