AN EXAMINATION OF THE ABSENCE OF ESTABLISHED MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) POPULATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN CAPE BRETON ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA

An analysis was performed on habitat-related factors for the southeastern side of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia to investigate the continued absence of moose (Alces alces) from the region. Temperature and snow depth, at times, reach levels that could cause thermal stress or impede movement of moose; however, it is unlikely that these factors dictate the absence of moose. No clear relationships were established between environmental concentration levels of the heavy metals molybdenum, cadmium, copper, and lead and moose distribution; however, high concentration levels of molybdenum in the Cape Breton study area warrant further investigation. Road density assessments showed that the study area has a higher level of road density compared to 2 mainland control sites; however, higher road density occurs in other areas in which moose persist. Anthropogenic factors such as poaching were not considered influential enough to exclude moose. A forest habitat comparison analysis was performed to identify habitat features that were statistically correlated with moose presence, and then were applied in a probability model to predict moose presence in the study area. The logistic regression model used to predict the probability of moose presence was composed of positively associated forest inventory variables (softwood average maturity, hardwood average maturity, % mixed hardwood, % non-forested area, total wetland area) that best fit the data. The model identified 43% of the Cape Breton study area as having a high-probability weighting for moose presence. Overall, this study did not reveal a clearly identifiable cause for the continued absence of moose in southeastern Cape Breton Island

Road-kill of Mammals in Nova Scotia

We examined road mortality of wild mammals in Nova Scotia using data from (a) five years of province-wide data on wildlife collisions involving larger mammals, and (b) 20 months of observations of smaller mammals along a 160-km route near Halifax. An average of 2079 White-tailed Deer was reported killed annually on highways during 1999 through 2003, along with 14 Moose and 33 Black Bear. Female White-tailed Deer were more likely to be road-killed than males (by a factor of 1.8), yearlings more so than older animals, and there were peaks of mortality in the late spring and late autumn. The road-kill of smaller mammals was highest in the summer and least in the winter, and the most frequent mortalities were of Raccoon (28% of observations), Porcupine (27%), Skunk (17%), Snowshoe Hare (6%), Coyote (4%), and Groundhog (3%). The standardized kill-rate (number/100 km) was highest on a 100-series highway compared to trunk highways or urban streets, but the rate standardized to vehicle density was highest on trunk highways

HISTORY, STATUS AND PRESENT DISTRIBUTION OF MOOSE IN NOVA SCOTIA

A brief history of moose distribution, management and hunting in Nova Scotia from first European contact to 1995 is presented. At present, the distribution of moose on mainland Nova Scotia is similar to distributions during the 1960’s, although densities are much reduced. Winter aerial surveys indicate a decrease from 0.49 moose/km2 in 1968 to 0.08 moose/km2 in 1994 for traditional moose ranges in the northern mainland. Preliminary aerial surveys in 1993 of the southwestern (Tobeatic) region of the province suggest densities may reach 0.35 moose/km2. Densities on western Cape Breton Island for 1993 range from 0.98 moose/km2 in the south to 2.80 moose/km2 in the north. Associations with deer, current forest management practices, hunting and predation are discussed as possible causes for changes in population levels and distribution. Management implications are discussed

MOOSE ON CAPE BRETON ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA: 20TH CENTURY DEMOGRAPHICS AND EMERGING ISSUES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Presumed extirpated in the early 1900s, moose were re-introduced to Cape Breton Island by the federal Park Service in the late 1940s. After 25 years of gradual growth the population expanded rapidly following a spruce budworm outbreak in the mid- to late-1970s, yielding a large huntable population by the mid-1980s. Continued growth of the herd has presented a number of management challenges and opportunities to the Province of Nova Scotia, the local First Nations, and Parks Canada, each seeking to maintain sustainable moose numbers from different perspectives. Presented here is a history of population growth and exploitation of moose on Cape Breton in the latter 20th Century, the evolution of cooperative management of the herd, and emerging management issues

ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF INCISORS IN NOVA SCOTIA MOOSE: EVALUATION OF A POPULATION WITH ABNORMAL INCISOR BREAKAGE

This study compared the concentrations of major and trace elements in the enamel of incisors from moose (Alces alces andersoni) in Cape Breton Highlands, where the incidence of incisor tooth breakage was believed to be unusually high, and moose in southwest Nova Scotia (A. a. americana) where there was no evidence of breakage. Our goal was to determine which elements, if any, might be related to the incisor breakage in moose from Cape Breton Highlands. There was a positive relationship between age and frequency of incisor breakage, and most moose had a broken I2 incisor by 4 years of age in the Cape Breton Highlands. We analyzed I2 incisors for 51 trace elements with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Concentrations of 8 elements, including barium, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, lead, tin, strontium, and yttrium, were lower (P < 0.05) in incisors from Cape Breton Highlands; gallium had a higher concentration. Reduced intake of barium, beryllium, and strontium is linked to depressed growth and reduced calcification of bones and teeth

Road-kill of Mammals in Nova Scotia

We examined road mortality of wild mammals in Nova Scotia using data from (a) five years of province-wide data on wildlife collisions involving larger mammals, and (b) 20 months of observations of smaller mammals along a 160-km route near Halifax. An average of 2079 White-tailed Deer was reported killed annually on highways during 1999 through 2003, along with 14 Moose and 33 Black Bear. Female White-tailed Deer were more likely to be road-killed than males (by a factor of 1.8), yearlings more so than older animals, and there were peaks of mortality in the late spring and late autumn. The road-kill of smaller mammals was highest in the summer and least in the winter, and the most frequent mortalities were of Raccoon (28% of observations), Porcupine (27%), Skunk (17%), Snowshoe Hare (6%), Coyote (4%), and Groundhog (3%). The standardized kill-rate (number/100 km) was highest on a 100-series highway compared to trunk highways or urban streets, but the rate standardized to vehicle density was highest on trunk highways

COMPLEXITY AND INFORMATION GAPS IN RECOVERY PLANNING FOR MOOSE (ALCES ALCES AMERICANA) IN NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA

In 2003, the Eastern moose (Alces alces americana) on mainland Nova Scotia was declared an endangered species under the Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act. Subsequently, as required by the Act, a recovery team was established and the recovery planning process was initiated. Very early in this process, it was recognized that developing a recovery strategy for this moose population was going to be difficult due to the complexity of issues involved. The basic demographic data on population structure, reproduction, and mortality are not current for the population, and the assessment methodologies are inconsistent. The ability to evaluate potential factors limiting the population is hindered by a lack of information, primarily in the subject areas of genetic structure, health, illegal harvest, and habitat suitability and fragmentation. There are great difficulties in establishing cause-effect relationships, as well as verifying the potential cumulative and synergistic effects of the factors impacting the moose population. Answering these questions is challenging and will require substantial social, political, and financial support as well as a properly designed research program to acquire the requisite data. Until the information gaps can be addressed, it is prudent to adopt a precautionary and adaptive approach to the recovery of this species