MOOSE SURVEY WHITEHORSE NORTH LATE-WINTER 2011 Prepared by: Sophie Czetwertynski, Shawn Taylor, Kieran O’Donovan, and Rick Ward October 2012 MOOSE SURVEY WHITEHORSE NORTH LATE-WINTER 2011 Yukon Fish and Wildlife Branch TR-12-26 Acknowledgements The Yukon Fish & Wildlife Branch provided funding and staff for this survey. We thank Whitehorse Air Services Ltd. and pilot Tom Hudgin for providing fixed-wing aircraft support; and Kluane Helicopters for helicopter support during the 2011 survey period. We also thank Todd Powell, Lorne LaRoque, Elsabe Kloppers, Stuart Alexander, and Carol Foster for providing their time and local knowledge of the area as navigators and/or observers during the aerial survey flights. Susan Westover provided multiple report reviews, data entry and management and was invaluable in oversight and delivery on this survey. © 2012 Yukon Department of Environment Copies available from: Yukon Department of Environment Fish and Wildlife Branch, V-5A Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Phone (867) 667-5721, Fax (867) 393-6263 Email: [email protected] Also available online at www.env.gov.yk.ca Suggested citation: CZETWERTYNSKI, S., S. TAYLOR, K. O’DONOVAN, AND R. WARD. 2012. Moose survey: Whitehorse North, Late-winter 2012. Yukon Fish and Wildlife Branch Report TR-12-26. Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Summary We conducted a late-winter survey of moose in the Whitehorse North area on 4 – 5 and 8 – 12 February 2011. The main purposes of this survey were to estimate the abundance, distribution, and age and sex composition of the local moose population. We attempted to count all moose in survey blocks covering approximately 31% of the area. We saw a total of 101 moose, of which 35 were bulls, 51 were cows, and 15 were calves. We calculated a population estimate of 383 ± 20% moose for the area, or approximately 107 moose per 1,000 km2 of total area. This is below the Yukon-wide average of about 155 moose per 1,000 km2 of total area. Long term survey results suggest that moose numbers in the area declined between 1982 and 1993 but have remained stable since then. We estimated approximately 29 calves for every 100 cows in the survey area. This suggests that, assuming average predation and harvest rates, survival of calves during the summer and fall of 2010 was likely sufficient to maintain a stable moose population. We estimated that there were approximately 70 bulls for every 100 cows in the survey area, which is a more than sufficient sex-ratio required for cows to be bred. Reported moose harvest by licensed hunters in the Whitehorse North survey area appears to be within normal allowable harvest limits set out in the Yukon moose management guidelines. This does not include harvest by First Nations’ hunters. Whitehorse North - Late-winter Moose Survey in February 2011 i Table of Contents Acknowledgements......................................................................... Inside Cover Summary......................................................................................................... i Table of Contents ............................................................................................ ii List of Tables.................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ................................................................................................ iii Introduction.................................................................................................... 1 Previous Surveys ......................................................................................... 1 Community Involvement .............................................................................. 1 Study Area...................................................................................................... 2 Methods.......................................................................................................... 5 Weather and Snow Conditions ........................................................................ 7 Results and Discussion................................................................................... 8 Stratification (Identification of High and Low Moose Density Blocks) ............ 8 Census Coverage and Flight Times............................................................... 8 Sightability Correction Factor (SCF) Calculation......................................... 12 Visibility Prediction Results........................................................................ 13 Observations of Moose ............................................................................... 13 Distribution and Abundance of Moose........................................................ 13 Ages and Sex of Moose............................................................................... 15 Population Status ...................................................................................... 17 Harvest...................................................................................................... 19 Other Wildlife Sightings ............................................................................. 22 Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................................. 23 Literature Cited............................................................................................. 24 Whitehorse North - Late-winter Moose Survey in February 2011 ii List of Tables Table 1. Summary of the 2011 Whitehorse North moose survey flight.............. 7 Table 2. Observations of moose during the February 2011 survey in the Whitehorse North survey area. ................................................................ 13 Table 3. Estimated abundance of moose in the Whitehorse North survey area in February 2011........................................................................................ 16 Table 4. Estimated composition of the moose population in the Whitehorse North survey area in February 2011........................................................ 16 Table 5. Results of the 2011 late-winter, and 1982 and 1993 early-winter moose surveys in the Whitehorse North area........................................... 18 Table 6. Average annual (2006–2010) reported moose harvest1 and allowable harvest for the 2011 Whitehorse North Moose Survey Area: Game Management Subzone (GMS) 5-48, 5-49, and 5-50.................................. 21 List of Figures Figure 1. Whitehorse North 2011 survey area boundary and survey blocks showing Game Management Subzones...................................................... 3 Figure 2. Whitehorse North 2011 survey area fire history. ............................... 4 Figure 3. Stratification of the 2011 Whitehorse North moose survey area......... 9 Figure 4. Whitehorse North 2011 low stratum grouping and stratified sampling. ............................................................................................................... 10 Figure 5. Whitehorse North 2011 high stratum grouping and stratified sampling................................................................................................. 11 Figure 6. Whitehorse North 2011 survey area visibility model prediction based on percent conifer cover. ......................................................................... 14 Figure 7. Annual reported moose harvest (1979–2010) in the Whitehorse North Survey area (Game Management Subzones 5-48, 5-49. and 5-50). Does not include harvest by First Nations members............................................... 20 Whitehorse North - Late-winter Moose Survey in February 2011 iii Introduction and sex composition of the local moose population. This report summarizes the results of the late-winter survey of moose in the Whitehorse North survey area Previous Surveys (Figure 1), conducted on 4 – 5 and 8 This was the first late-winter moose – 12 February, 2011. The survey population survey in the Whitehorse was originally scheduled to be done North area. Early-winter population in early-winter but lack of snow surveys, however, were done in until mid November in conjunction 1982 (Markel and Larsen 1983) and with trying to complete 2 other 1993 (unpublished data). These surveys in the Southern Lakes surveys generally covered a slightly region prevented us from completing smaller area than the 2011 survey. this survey as originally planned. Results from the 1982 and 1993 are A late winter option for presented in the discussion section completing this survey was for comparison purposes. considered based on two key assumptions: Community Involvement 1. Moose movement across survey area boundaries between seasons Moose have been a key part of First would not have a large influence Nation peoples’ subsistence lifestyle on the survey result. Because for generations and today are the moose habitats surrounding the most widely hunted game species by survey area were similar to those both First Nation and non-First within the survey area and Nation hunters. because there were no known The moose population within the concentration areas or movement Whitehorse North survey area is of corridors we concluded that interest to the Southern Lakes seasonal movements or habitat Wildlife Coordinating Committee selection would not bias our (SLWCC). The SLWCC includes 6 survey results. First Nations governments as well as 2. Visibility differences between representatives from the habitats selected by moose in governments of Yukon, British early and late winter were either Columbia, and Canada.