MOVEMENTS, HABITAT USE, AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF A TRANSLOCATED GROUP OF ROOSEVELT ELK by Matthew McCoy A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Humboldt State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science June, 1 986 MOVEMENTS, HABITAT USE, AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF A TRANSLOCATED GROUP OF ROOSEVELT ELK by Matthew McCoy A F gam Director, Natural Resources Graduate Program 86/W-66/06/10 Natural Resources Graduate Program Number Ala M. Gillespi9( ABSTRACT In March 1982, 17 Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) were captured at Gold Bluffs Beach, Humboldt County, California and translocated to an enclosure 4 km east of Shelter Cove, Humboldt County. The animals were released from the enclosure in November 1982. Data were collected for eight radio-collared animals (seven adult females and one 4-year old male) January to December 1983. The number of herds varied from one (January through March) to four (October through December). Three female herds moved 45 km, 58 km, and 84 km south of Shelter Cove, while the radio-collared male remained within 16 km of Shelter Cove. Home range locations varied seasonally. Home range sizes were largest during the summer reflecting migrational and exploratory movements. Habitat use was disproportionate to habitat availability at the home range level during each season. Cultivated grasslands and riparian areas were used in proportions greater than their availability. Coastal Prairie use was greater than that available except in the Shelter Cove area. Shrub and forest habitat types were generally used less than that available. Animal distances to nearest road and water varied seasonally, but were greatest for radio-collared females during the spring. Use of cover was greatest during spring and summer and was correlated with increased temperature and decreased cloud cover. Activity followed a diurnal pattern with extended periods of activity (two or more hours) occurring at sunrise and sunset and shorter iii iv periods (about one hour) occurring at night and during the day. The amount of activity decreased significantly (p < 0.02) during the year. Animals were most active during the winter (43 percent of a 24—hour period) and least active during the fall (36 percent of a 24—hour period). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would especially like to thank Dr. R. Golightly, my major professor, for his advice, support, patience, and friendship. His efforts are largely responsible for the completion of this thesis. I would also like to thank the members of my graduate committee: Drs. D. Kitchen and K. Fulgham, for their advice and criticism. The Bureau of Land Management provided a vehicle, maps, and equipment. The California Department of Fish and Game provided radio-telemetry equipment and the animals. Humboldt State University provided additional equipment and computer facilities. Residents in the study area provided useful information and support. Special thanks to M. Bivin for offering encouragement, helpful criticism, and for being a friend. B. Hardenbrook and J. Grenier also provided much appreciated manuscript reviews. B. Burger was more helpful than he could have imagined. Thanks to all the people who remained friends and offered support through the ups and downs. I am a better person for knowing them. Finally, I wish to thank my family for their support and encouragement. This thesis is dedicated to the memory of my father, I regret he could not be here to enjoy it. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES xi INTRODUCTION 1 STUDY AREA 5 Habitat Types 5 Grassland 5 Shrubland 7 Forest 7 Riparian 8 MATERIALS AND METHODS 10 Capture and Release 10 Animal Data Collection 11 Habitat Data Collection 13 Animal Data Analysis 14 Definition of Season, Herd, and Movement 14 Test for Independence 15 Home Range Area 15 Habitat Use 15 Comparison of Distance Variables Between Seasons 16 Slope and Climate 16 vi vii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Page Activity Pattern 17 Deliniation of Habitat Types 17 RESULTS 18 Movements and Home Ranges 18 Habitat Types 22 Habitat Use 22 Use of Grassland Habitats 32 Use of Shrub and Forest Habitats 32 Use of Riparian Habitats 33 Distance to Road 33 Distance to Water 33 Distance to Cover 36 Slope 36 Climate 36 Activity Pattern 40 Time Spent Active 40 Specific Behaviors 42 DISCUSSION 45 Movements and Home Ranges 45 Habitat Use 49 Use of Grassland Habitats 49 Use of Shrub and Forest Habitats 50 Use of Riparian Habitats 50 Distance to Road 51 Distance to Water 51 viii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Page Distance to Cover 52 Slope 52 Climate 53 Activity Pattern 53 Time Spent Active 54 Time Allocation to Specific Activities 56 Conclusions 58 REFERENCES CITED 60 APPENDIX A. Animal Capture 68 APPENDIX B. Animal Movements 70 APPENDIX C. Habitat Sampling 72 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Herd Movements of Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, January-December 1983. 19 2 Seasonal Averages of Individual Home Range Areas (ha) for Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 21 3 Total Hectares and Total Number of Hourly Locations of Translocated Roosevelt Elk by Activity for each Habitat Type in the Study Area, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, January-December 1983. 27 4 Habitat Use by Bull #201RW, Humboldt County, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 28 5 Habitat Use by the Red Herd (Cows #226R and #233B), Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 29 6 Habitat Use by Cow #231W, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 30 7 Habitat Use by the Orange Herd (Cows #2290, #236RWB, #237Y, and #240G), Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 31 8 Yearly and Seasonal Breakdown of Animal Distances to Road for Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 34 9 Yearly and Seasonal Breakdown of Animal Distances to Water for Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 35 10 Yearly and Seasonal Breakdown of Animal Distances to Cover for Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 37 11 Slope Use by Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, January-December 1983. 38 12 Correlation Between Habitat Type Used (Grassland, Riparian, and Forest) and Climatic Variables (Ambient Temperature, Cloud Cover, Precipitation, and Wind Speed) for Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Spring-Fall 1983. 39 is LIST OF TABLES (CONTINUED) Table Page 13 Percentage Time Spent in Specific Active and Inactive Behaviors for Several Herbivores. 57 14 Dominant Plant Species in the Seven Grassland Subgroups Determined Using Cluster Analysis, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California. 72 15 Dominant Plant Species in the Three Shrubland Subgroups Determined Using Cluster Analysis, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California. 73 16 Dominant Plant Species in the Seven Forest Subgroups Determined Using Cluster Analysis, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California. 74 17 Dominant Plant Species in the Three Riparian Subgroups Determined Using Cluster Analysis, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California. 75 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Initial Trap Site and Study Area for the Translocation of Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, February 1982 through December 1983. 6 2 Study Area for the Translocation of Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, January-December 1983. 20 3 One-hundred, 90, and 50 Percent Home Range Estimates (Convex Polygon), with Number of Observations Used in the 100 Percent Estimate, of Bull #201RW, January-December 1983. 23 4 One-hundred, 90, and 50 Percent Home Range Estimates (Convex Polygon), with Number of Observations Used in the 100 Percent Estimate, of the Red Herd (Cows #226R and #233B), January-December 1983. 24 5 One-hundred, 90, and 50 Percent Home Range Estimates (Convex Polygon), with Number of Observations Used in the 100 Percent Estimate, of Cow #231W, January-December 1983. 25 6 One-hundred, 90, and 50 Percent Home Range Estimate (Convex Polygon), with Number of Observations Used in the 100 Percent Estimate, of the Orange Herd (Cows #2290, #236RWB, #237Y, and #240G), January-December 1983. 26 7 Percentage Time Collared Roosevelt Elk Were Observed Active during each Hour, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, Winter-Fall 1983. 41 8 Monthly Breakdown of Specific Active Behaviors Based on 5-minute Scan Data for Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, January-December 1983. 43 9 Monthly Breakdown of Specific Inactive Behaviors Based on 5-minute Scan Data for Translocated Roosevelt Elk, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, January-December 1983. 44 10 Percentage Time Spent Active (during a 24-hour Period) as a Function of Body Weight (log w( kg )) of Several Herbivores. 55 11 Location of Prebaited Trap Sites in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Redwood National Park, Humboldt County, California, February 1982. 69 xi INTRODUCTION Historically, Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) were found in the Pacific states from the Olympic Peninsula, Washington to San Francisco Bay, California and inland to the Cascade Mountains (Murie 1951). Overhunting and habitat loss have reduced California's Roosevelt elk population numbers and restricted their distribution (Orr 1937, Mandel 1979). Translocations