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Response of moose to a high‐density road network

May 1, 2018

Road networks and the disturbance associated with vehicle traffic alter animal behavior, movements, and habitat selection. The response of moose (Alces americanus) to roads has been documented in relatively rural areas, but less is known about moose response to roads in more highly roaded landscapes. We examined road‐crossing frequencies and habitat use of global positioning system (GPS)‐collared moose in Massachusetts, USA, where moose home ranges have road densities approximately twice that of previous studies. We compared seasonal road‐crossing frequencies of moose with a null movement model. We estimated moose travel speeds during road‐crossing events and compared them with speeds during other home range movements. To estimate the extent of the road effect zone and determine how roads influenced moose habitat use, we fit a third‐order resource selection function. With the exception of the lowest use road class (

Publication Year 2018
Title Response of moose to a high‐density road network
DOI 10.1002/jwmg.21459
Authors David W. Wattles, Katherine A. Zeller, Stephen DeStefano
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Journal of Wildlife Management
Index ID 70196783
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Coop Res Unit Leetown
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