Moose Abundance and Recruitment on The Blackfeet Indian Reservation and Glacier National Park

Abstract

Across much of their range, moose (Alces alces) abundance and recruitment rates have been declining, including areas in and around Montana. These concerning trends have prompted wildlife managers to implement monitoring plans to assess the status of their moose populations. However, moose are often difficult to monitor given their unique behavior and ecology. Moose are relatively shy animals that rarely aggregate and exist at low densities in densely forested regions. In addition, they have no unique markings to differentiate individuals. Given these difficulties and current trends in moose populations, we used two relatively new survey methods to estimate the abundance and calf recruitment rate of moose on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and Glacier National Park. During the summers of 2022 and 2023, we randomly placed 100 cameras across our study area. We analyzed moose detection data from our cameras using two alternative models, Space‐to‐Event and Time‐to‐Event. The Blackfeet Tribe, in conjunction with the University of Montana and Glacier National Park, will determine the efficacy of these models to estimate moose abundance and recruitment, and assess the population’s status and potential trajectory. Results obtained from this research will guide conservation strategies on the Reservation and in the Park. Suitable management strategies are crucial because the Blackfeet Tribe takes a conservative approach to moose management in the absence of baseline data. Sustainable management of moose is especially crucial as moose provide a significant source of revenue for the Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department through the sale of hunting permits.