Range Expansion by Moose into Coastal Temperate Rainforests of British Columbia, Canada

• Main Authors: Darimont, C. T., Paquet, P. C., Reimchen, T. E., Crichton, V.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: WBI Studies Repository 2005
• Subjects: Alces alces; British Columbia; coastal temperate rainforest; Canis lupus; distribution; range expansion; traditional ecological knowledge; Animal Studies; Population Biology; Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology; Canada
• Online Access: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/bioeopp/3; https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=bioeopp

Ranges of species are dynamic and respond to long-term climate change and contemporary effects such as habitat modification. We report here that moose (Alces alces) have recently colonized coastal temperate rainforests of British Columbia, Canada. Contrary to recent publications, field observations of moose and their sign, combined with their occurrence in wolf (Canis lupus) faeces, suggest that moose are now widespread on the coastal mainland and occur on least three islands. Traditional ecological knowledge (information accumulated by aboriginal peoples about their environment) suggests that colonization occurred during the mid 1900s, concomitant with logging of major watersheds that bisect the Coast Mountain Range. Range expansion by moose may have ecological consequences such as alteration of predator– prey dynamics and transmission of disease to native deer (Odocoileus hemionus).