Moose (Alces alces) browse availability and use in response to post-fire succession on Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

Abstract

I examined post-fire moose habitat dynamics on Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge in interior Alaska with the objective of increasing understanding of local moose habitat characteristics. I estimated browse density, biomass, and summer browse use in a 2005 burn, 1990 burn, 1972 burn, and an unburned area. I revisited each site the following spring to estimate browse availability and removal during winter. In addition to evaluating browse production and use, I estimated proportional habitat use of varying-aged burns by 51 VHF-collared moose. I found that summer browse production and winter browse availability were highest in the 1990 and 2005 burns. I found that summer and winter browse use was highest in the 1990 burn. Collared moose generally avoided recently burned stands and demonstrated preference for >30 year old stands in both summer and winter. Moose demonstrated preference for unburned stands during calving. Although biomass production and availability were highest in 11 – 30 year old stands, disproportionate use of food resources in burns was evident. This disproportionate use of burns and food resources could be due to a variety of reasons including resource type, historic moose distribution patterns, and predation avoidance strategies.