A MODIFICATION OF A MOOSE POPULATION ESTIMATOR

• Main Authors: Becker, Earl F., Reed, Daniel J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 1990
• Subjects: DuBois; Alces alces
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/1153

The enumeration of moose (Alces alces) population to obtain estimates of moose density, and bull:cow, and calf:cow ratios are important to successful management of moose populations. Aerial surveys using the Gasaway-DuBois-Reed-Harbo method, GDRH, (Gasaway et al. 1986) assume that sightability is identical for all strata. The GDRH method uses a stratified double sample design, and as a result, sightability must be calculated and applied within strata to be statistically valid. We also present data suggesting sightability is not identical for all strata. We present a modification to the GDRH method that allows sightability to vary between strata and offer software that includes these modifications.