Forestry maps as an information source for description of moose winter yards

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Proulx, Gilbert, Joyal, Robert
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Alces alces
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z81-012; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z81-012

One hundred and twenty-one moose (Alces alces) winter yards were located in February 1975 in La Vérendrye Fish and Game Reserve, Quebec. At this time of winter, they occupied a mean area of 0.44 km 2 . The yards were established on various slopes or on mountain tops without preference to a particular exposure. This habitat is situated on gentle slopes of less than 11% inclination, and at an altitude less than 46 m above bodies of water considered as components of summer habitats. Discriminant analysis showed that the habitat used by moose differs from unused sites only by a lack of bodies of water and shade-intolerant stands. The typical winter yard corresponds to a mosaic of mature and disturbed stands varying in structure and age and provides both cover and food. It is dominated by white birch (Betula papyrifera) associated with conifers. Forestry maps alone cannot identify all parameters for a suitable site but coupled with topographic maps they can, for some years, localise potential sites to be protected from logging.