Migratory Patterns and Home Range Size of Moose in the Central Nass Valley, British Columbia

Abstract

A radio telemetry study of 38 adult moose was conducted in the Nass Wildlife Area (NWA), British Columbia, from 1997 to 2000. At least 71% of the moose were migratory. Bulls and cows moved '75 km between 2 seasonal ranges within the NWA. Migration from winter to non-winter range during April to June (pre-calving) and return to winter range in December to January appeared to be in response to changes in snowpack. Migratory moose used ranges separated primarily by latitude or elevation. Moose occurred at elevations ranging from 200 to 1500 m (x = 400 m). Higher elevations were used during non-winter. Moose used areas throughout the NWA in non-winter, but concentrated their use in the south during winter. Mul- tiannual home range sizes of individual moose varied considerably, with a mean of 171 km2 (kernel-density method) and 262 km2 (minimum convex polygon method). Overall seasonal range size of collared moose was 594 km2 in winter (December through April) and 910 km2 in non-winter (June through November). Moose migrate across the Nass River at several key lo- cations. Information gained during this study is being used by the provincial government and the Nisga'a Lisims government to co-manage moose in the NWA.