Space and habitat use of moose in southwestern Sweden

Abstract

Increasingly, wildlife managers and land managers are challenged to maintain the viability of large mammal populations. Although the moose (Alces alces) is an ecologically, economically, and culturally important ungulate species found throughout most of Sweden, little is known about its ecology throughout the southern part of the country. We collected baseline ecological data on spatial and habitat use patterns in urbanized southwestern Sweden by fitting 22 adult moose (13 F, nine M) with global positioning system (GPS) radio collars. Home range size of cows did not differ among seasons (P > 0.10); however, bulls had larger home ranges during fall than all other seasons (P < 0.010). Mean home range size of males during fall and spring was larger than females during any season (P < 0.010). We used a Euclidean distance-based approach to analyze multi-scale habitat selection by moose. Moose of both sexes and during all seasons selected boreal forest and mires when establishing a home range (P < 0.10). Moose had seasonal differences in habitat selection within their home range (P 0.001), and generally selected clear-cuts and early successional forests, mature coniferous forests, and glades, but avoided agricultural areas and open water. Habitat and space use characteristics of moose in our urbanizing study area were similar to characteristics reported for moose in forest-dominated landscapes of Fennoscandia.