NEAFWA 2018

AUTHORS: Krysten Schuler, Cornell University; Kevin Hynes, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Sharon Tabor, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; James Stickles, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Niki Dean, Cornell University; Edward Dubovi, Cornell University; Jeremy Hurst, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

ABSTRACT: Moose in the Adirondacks region of northern New York State represent the southern extent of the eastern moose (Alces alces) subpopulation. Currently, there is a multi-institution study examining population metrics. One component is to assess factors that may affect survival of New York moose. We collected samples from live moose (n=26; 3 males, 23 females) and necropsied moose mortalities (n=138) over the course of 18 years. Survival rate  of live moose was high, despite exposure to Parelaphostrongylus tenuis (78% prevalence). Moose in New York appear to have fewer ectoparasites (e.g., winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus) than reported in other eastern states. However, we found Neospora caninum (52% prevalence) was common in this population. Pregnancy (16 of 22) and calving rates (15 of 20) were high. An average of 7.3 mortalities were examined annually with more males (51%) than females (38%); juveniles (≤2.5-years-old) were twice as likely as adults to be mortalities. More than half the animals examined died or were euthanized after being struck by a vehicle. Mortalities directly from P. tenuis (8%) or F. magna (2%) were not common, but we found these parasites frequently at necropsy (12% and 23%, respectively) even if they were not the cause of death. Additionally, we identified echinococcus cysts in 10% of examined animals. Although parasitic infections are common in this population, they do not appear to be affecting reproduction; however, higher mortalities rates in juveniles may be limiting population growth.