Main Sections
Shiras Moose
There are approximately 20 Shiras moose in MU 3-15 and 10 in MU 3-13. Critical components of moose habitat are suitable forage, thermal shelter in both summer and winter, and limited human disturbance. Moose management focuses on winter and summer/reproductive ranges and moose management units established for high value sites (see map).
According to the Safari Club International Record Books, the boundary between the Canadian moose and Shiras moose lies approximately along the edge of the Trans-Canada Hwy 1, with Canadian Moose to the north of the boundary and Shiras moose to the south. Therefore the Shiras moose is found in Management Units 3-13 and 3-14.
General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.
Shiras Moose Map
Issues:
- Reduction in the quality, abundance and distribution of essential habitat (e.g., forage, thermal cover, security cover) and impediments to movement (e.g., livestock fences).
- Increased access-related mortality from unregulated hunting, poaching, stress, inappropriate road locations, types and levels of use.
Goals:
- Increased distribution and abundance of moose
| Objectives | Management Direction/Strategies | Measures of Success/Targets | Intent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Maintain winter range as shown on the Moose map | 1.1 Designate the winter range areas shown on the Moose map as “ungulate winter range” under the Forest and Range Practices Act | Management objectives for moose are not expected to have an impact on the timber harvesting land base so no planning allowance has been allocated | |
| 1.2 Consider available First Nations’ knowledge, when available, of moose winter range into habitat information considered during map amendments | |||
| 2. Provide security and thermal cover and manage high value moose habitat through the establishment of moose management units (MMUs) | 2.1 Establish MMUs within high value sites | High value habitat sites are shrub-dominated swamps, fens and carrs where willow is a dominant species and ungulate browsing is evident | |
| 2.2 Where the high value habitats are isolated or in small groups, a larger buffer can be applied. Where MMUs occur in large groups or complexes, a smaller buffer can be applied | |||
| 3. Protect forage and shelter values within MMUs in moose winter range (see Moose map) and provide for early seral stages of shrubs | 3.1 Up to 33% of the wetland/riparian edges in these areas may be harvested in a single pass | ||
| 3.2 The maximum functional exposure along wetland/riparian areas should not exceed 200 m in width. No more than 1/3 may be clearcut in a single pass | At least 67% of the wetland/riparian edges are not harvested in a single pass | ||
| 3.3 New clearcut blocks adjacent to existing clearcuts or cutblocks without adequate visual security should not be harvested until a 4-metre green-up has been achieved on the adjacent, existing cutblocks | Openings are less than 200 metres long At least 67% of the area has forests that are at least 4 metres tall | ||
| 4. Manage resource development and use activities within summer/reproductive range by protecting forage and shelter values and providing for early seral stages of shrubs (See summer/reproductive range on the Moose map) | |||
| 5. Within mapped moose winter ranges (see the Moose map) provide and maintain adequate browse of palatable species (e.g., willow, birch, aspen, red-osier dogwood) approaching a natural distribution | 5.1 Design harvest patterns to maximize early seral forage opportunities in keeping with cover requirements and natural patch size distribution | Within moose winter range, livestock and forest management maintain or enhance key shrub or browse species (e.g., willow, birch, aspen, re-osier dogwood) approaching a natural distribution | |
| 5.2 Avoid the use of broadcast herbicide applications | |||
| 5.3 Avoid forage species such as willow, birch, aspen, red-osier dogwood, where wherever possible when doing spot herbicide treatment | |||
| 5.4 Avoid the conversion of forage dominant sites to conifer dominated sites by avoiding conifer planting or, at the very least, cluster plant only | |||
| 5.5 Apply minimum stocking standards on wetter (non-mesic) sites to allow for increased production of palatable browse species | |||
| 5.6 Utilize site preparation and brush control methods that minimize impacts to moose forage. Scarification, if necessary, should only be done on planting lines to protect natural regenerating forage species | |||
| 6. Reduce forage competition between livestock and moose in mapped winter and summer/reproductive ranges (see the Moose map) | 6.1 Through range use plans, restrict grazing by domestic livestock to less than 20% removal of leaves and 10% removal of current year’s growth of shoots and twigs | ||
| 7. Ensure the longterm maintenance of thermal and security cover within mapped summer/reproductive and winter ranges (see Moose map), and provide moose with access to cover in these ranges | 7.1 Place wildlife tree patches proximal to key forage areas | ||
| 7.2 Ensure wildlife tree patches are placed in quality thermal cover (usually spruce stands), where possible | |||
| 8. Manage resource development and use activities within their winter and summer/reproductive ranges by minimizing impacts of road access and density | 8.1 Use the seasonal access maps to identify any access management direction for public and industrial use | Impacts from road access and road density are minimized | |
| 8.2 Locate main haul roads away from winter and summer/reproductive ranges | |||
| 8.3 Branch and spur roads built within summer / reproduction sites should be deactivated or blocked to restrict 2 and 4-wheel drive road vehicle access | |||
| 8.4 Maintain visual screening between roads and forage areas, or break up line of sight from roads in moose winter range | |||
| 8.5 Ensure effective visual cover around stand tending areas (e.g., areas that have not reached green-up) | |||
| 8.6 Implement appropriate deactivation, rehabilitation, regulated closures and graduated access measures for new road developments within mapped moose winter and summer/reproductive ranges | |||
| 9. Allow unimpeded movement of moose within their winter and summer/reproductive ranges (see Moose map) | 9.1 Replacement or new livestock fencing should not exceed 42 inches (1.07m) in height and should be a minimum of 18 inches above ground to allow young moose calves to pass over or under fences | Moose movement not impeded by fences | |
| 9.2 Use top rails on fences wherever moose traffic is high (e.g., where trails cross fences) | |||
| 9.3 Use 39” fence (1.0m) on drift fence where cattle pressure is low and in valuable moose habitat | |||
| 10. Continue to gather knowledge and information of moose habitat, health and populations, including First Nations knowledge | 10.1 Continue inventory work to determine population numbers and to refine habitat mapping (winter range and critical areas), as well as the key limiting factors on moose populations (e.g., habitat, poaching, predation, access, etc) | Improved information about moose habitat and populations | |
| 10.2 Explore opportunities to involve First Nations in wildlife studies and assessments |