Massachusetts Project: Status, Movements, and Habitat Use of Moose in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Project

Status, Movements, and Habitat Use of Moose in Massachusetts

January 2006 - September 2011

Personnel

Stephen DeStefano, Principal Investigator

Participating Agencies

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Moose have re-colonized much of their historic range in New England. This recent southern expansion has raised questions as to their ability to cope with different forest types, densely populated areas, and higher temperatures. We used GPS collars to track the movements of moose throughout southern New England. Home ranges were between 30-200 sq km, and moose used a combination of young forest for food, mature forest for thermal cover, and wetlands, esp. during calving, while avoiding the densely developed areas. The population is low density but appears stable. Moose-vehicle collisions remain a concern throughout the region.

Research Publications

Research Publications	Publication Date
Wattles, D., and S. DeStefano. 2011. Status and management of moose in the northeastern United States. Alces 47:53-68. \| Abstract	July 2011	Moose (Alces alces) populations have been re-established in much of the historic range in the northeastern United States. Recently the southern edge of the range has been extended southward into southern New England and northern New York from established populations in northern New England. Moose populations are now well established in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and continue to expand in New York. This southerly range expansion in the Northeast has taken place when moose populations elsewhere along the southern edge of their range are in decline, with climate change being cited as a prominent cause. The forests of New England transition from northern forest types dominated by spruce (Picea spp.), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), beech (Fagus grandifolia), birch (Betula spp.), hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and maple (Acer spp.), where moose are common, to transitional hardwood forests increasingly dominated by oak (Quercus spp.) and white pine (Pinus strobus), where little is known about moose habitat requirements. The habitat moose have recently occupied in the Northeast is also some of the most densely populated by humans anywhere in moose range, which has raised concerns over human safety and the threat posed by moose-vehicle collisions. In light of these recent developments, we conducted a literature search on moose in the northeastern United States and distributed a questionnaire and conducted phone interviews with biologists responsible for moose management across the region to determine the status of moose in the northeast, what management activities are taking place, and what research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps regarding moose in New England and New York. Moose numbers have stabilized throughout much of the region, with continued population growth in northern New York. Management activities range from regulated harvest of moose in the 3 northern New England states, to no active management in southern New England and New York. In Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, >3,000 moose are harvested every fall. Moose-vehicle collisions are a concern across the region, with >1,000 occurring annually, including several human fatalities. Increased information on demographics, specifically the roles that parasitism by winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) and brain-worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) play in mortality, is greatly desired. In general moose appear to be thriving in the Northeast despite continued concerns with high temperatures and incompatibility with high human populations.

Technical Publications

Technical Publications	Publication Date
Wattles, D., K. Berger, S. DeStefano, W. Woytek, and J. McDonald. 2006. Moose movements and habitat use: progress report on the GPS moose study in Massachusetts. USGS Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Amherst, MA and Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA. 15pp.	June 2006
DeStefano, S., and D. Wattles. 2009. Tracking the Commonwealth's moose. Massachusetts Wildlife 59:12-25.	October 2009

Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations	Publication Date
Wattles, D. W. 2011. Status, movements, and habitat use of moose in Massachusetts. MS Thesis, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.	August 2011

Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Massachusetts Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources