Seasonal Moose Habitat Selection

The moose is Minnesota’s largest wild animal. In December 2012 moose were proposed as a species of special concern under Minnesota law due to their population decline (Baker, 2012). Time series analysis of the northeast Minnesota moose population estimates conducted by Lenarz (2012) found a significant decline between 2005 and 2012. Moose habitat lacks highly specific requirements, depending mostly on food availability, elevation, and climate factors. Moose have been found to live in different locations depending on the season of the year, leading researchers to question what impact long-term climate change could have on moose survival (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2011). In this paper, seasonal moose habitats in Minnesota were identified using the following data: elevation, aspect, land use, tree canopy, lake and river distribution, snow depth, wetland location, and floodway location. Separate winter/spring and summer/fall habitats for moose were delineated to accommodate seasonal factors, feeding, and thermal cover requirements. Moose harvest locations were then compared to the habitat suitability results.