Transuterine infection by Baylisascaris transfuga: Neurological migration and fatal debilitation in sibling moose calves (Alces alces gigas) from Alaska

Blood serum 11-hydroxycorticosteroids were compared to visual evaluation of handling stress in Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas) at the Kenai Moose Research Center (MRC). Moose were evaluated for handling excitability before and during handling when trapped, and were graded on a scale from 1 (not excited) to 5 (highly excited). There were significant differences in corticosteroid levels (a = 0.1) between each class comparison, except between classes 4 and 5, suggesting that this analysis provided a means to classify and compare other blood chemistry values from similarly stressed moose. Other factors may influence the 11-hydroxycorticosteroid levels, but handling stress had an overwhelming influence. Other methods to evaluate handling stress, such as body temperature, should also be considered, but when not feasible this method may be utilized.

Download Full-text

Late-winter activity patterns of moose (Alces alces gigas) in western Alaska

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z92-044 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 293-299 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Michael P. Gillingham ◽

David R. Klein

Keyword(s):

Alces Alces ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Late Winter ◽

Time Budgets ◽

Ambient Conditions ◽

Direct Observations ◽

Winter Activity ◽

Gravel Bars ◽

Alces Alces Gigas ◽

Free Ranging

Activity patterns of free-ranging moose (Alces alces gigas) on the central Seward Peninsula were polyphasic but not highly synchronized among individuals from March through May 1987. Female–calf pairs, however, showed nearly identical activity patterns (92.6% of 2353 five-minute scans). Based on data collected between 06:00 and 24:00, we estimate that moose exhibit ~5 or 6 active bouts per 24-h period. Our direct observations of moose (980 moose-h) showed that moose were active 57.2% of the time from 06:00 to 24:00. Inactive bouts lasted ~2.5 times longer than active bouts. Calves tended to lie for longer [Formula: see text] than adult females (143.1 ± 15.5 min) or males (109.0 ± 17.9 min). Time budgets for moose in late winter were intermediate between values reported in previous studies for moose in midwinter and late spring. Our data showed that moose spend much more time walking (8%) than previously reported. We think this reflects their use of the snow-packed river and gravel bars as movement and feeding corridors. Direct observations of moose showed that many active and inactive bouts were less than 10 min in duration; these bouts are not detected by most telemetric systems. We also present evidence that without predation in winter, ambient conditions (e.g., operative temperature) may cause synchrony in the activity patterns of individual moose in northwestern Alaska.

Download Full-text

Polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP ) in Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas)

Animal Genetics ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2052.2006.01466.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 425-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

H. J. Huson ◽

G. M. Happ

Keyword(s):

Prion Protein ◽

Protein Gene ◽

Alces Alces ◽

Prion Protein Gene ◽

Alces Alces Gigas

Download Full-text

Scent marking by Alaskan moose: characteristics and spatial distribution of rubbed trees

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z94-292 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 72 (12) ◽

pp. 2186-2192 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

R. Terry Bowyer ◽

Victor Van Ballenberghe ◽

Karen R. Rock

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Adult Female ◽

Adult Male ◽

Picea Glauca ◽

Alces Alces ◽

Scent Marking ◽

White Spruce ◽

Physical Characteristics ◽

Interior Alaska ◽

Alces Alces Gigas

We studied scent marking (rubbing of trees) in Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas) in interior Alaska during 1989. Pole-sized trees were stripped of bark and rubbed by adult female and adult male moose; marking by females occurred during the peak of rut (late September – early October) when most females were in estrus, whereas marking by males was in late rut (mid-October – November). Moose selected white spruce (Picea glauca) as well as trees with particular physical characteristics for marking. The tops of 18.5% of 54 trees marked by moose were dead, whereas only 0.5% of 201 trees available for marking had dead tops. The distribution of scent-marked trees on rutting grounds was not spatially clumped. We hypothesize that rubbing of trees by females advertises their estrus, and that rubbing by males late in rut serves to attract females not successfully bred early in rut and may help prime estrus in these females.

Download Full-text