Summary: | From 1973 to 1985, the date, sex and age, location and time of moose killed on the Avalon Peninsula in eastern Newfoundland were recorded. Traffic volume patterns, converted to a sunrise-sunset regimen of 8 daily time periods for each month, were related to these moose-vehicle collisions. Throughout the year most moose were killed in the first few hours after sunset, but moose vulnerability to collisions in summer was greatest near sunrise, suggesting moose were more frequent/active near roadways during this time. Males were disproportionately represented in road-kills, and were particularly vulnerable in June, July and October. yearling proportions in road-kills were highest in June, July, and September, and may be related to dispersal brought on by calving and the rut. The number of female moose killed in collisions with vehicles each year may presently approach the annual female harvest, primarily due to a conservative harvest strategy which aims for a 3:1 female:male ratio in a growing population. Balancing hunter demand with increasing moose-people conflicts presents a management dilemma not yet investigated in Newfoundland.
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