Science and Values Influencing Predator Control for Alaska Moose Management

• Published in: The Journal of Wildlife Management
• Main Authors: BOERTJE, RODNEY D., KEECH, MARK A., PARAGI, THOMAS F.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2010
• Subjects: Alces alces; Canis lupus; Ursus arctos; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.2193/2009-261; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.2193%2F2009-261

ABSTRACT We encourage informed and transparent decision‐making processes concerning the recently expanded programs in Alaska, USA, to reduce predation on moose ( Alces alces ). The decision whether to implement predator control ultimately concerns what society should value; therefore, policymakers, not objective biologists, play a leadership role. From a management and scientific standpoint, biological support for these predator‐control programs requires convincing evidence that 1) predators kill substantial numbers of moose that would otherwise mostly live and be available for harvest, 2) low predation can facilitate reliably higher harvests of moose, 3) given less predation, habitats can sustain more moose and be protected from too many moose, and 4) sustainable populations of Alaska's brown bears ( Ursus arctos ), black bears ( Ursus americanus ), and wolves ( Canis lupus ) will exist in and out of control areas. We reviewed 10 moose mortality studies, 36 case histories, 10 manipulative studies, 15 moose nutrition studies, and 3 recent successful uses of nutrition‐based management to harvest excess female moose. Results of these studies support application of long‐term, substantial predator control for increasing yield of moose in these simple systems where moose are a primary prey of 3 effective predators. We found no substantive, contradictory results in these systems. However, to identify and administer feasible moose population objectives, recently established moose nutritional indices must be monitored, and regulatory bodies must accept nutrition‐based management. In addition, the efficacy of techniques to reduce bear predation requires further study. Predicting precise results of predator control on subsequent harvest of moose will continue to be problematic because of a diversity of changing interactions among biological, environmental, and practical factors. In Alaska, the governor has the prerogative to influence regulations on predator control by appointing members to the Board of Game. At least ...