Moose

Alces alces

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
AMALC03010
Common Name: 
Moose
Scientific Name: 
Alces alces
Synonyms: 
Alces americanus
Alces alces giga
Alces alces andersoni
Naming References: 
R169
Google image search
Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Terrestrial Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Artiodactyla
Family: 
Cervidae
References: 
R169
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

16 months (most at 30 months)
References: 
B001

Longevity

Up to 20 years
References: 
B001

Economic/Human Considerations

tourism; important big game species (P095), hide, hair, antlers important items for native crafts (H110)
References: 
H110
H111
P095
Habitat
Subclimax (early successional) stages of forests, lake shores, alder swamp, arctic tundra.
References: 
B001
Distribution

Ecozones

Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
P095

Distribution

82% of the NWT (extra limital occurrences to the north coast in Nunavut).
Score: 
G = 2
References: 
P095

Number of Occurrences

Unknown number of populations in the NWT; 4 areas surveyed in Beaufort Delta (Inuvik region), no recent surveys in Sahtu, 2 areas surveyed in Dehcho; 2 areas surveyed in North Slave, and 4 areas surveyed in South Slave (R2021002, H302).
References: 
H111
H164_05
H302
R2021002

Area of Occupancy

Extending eastwards into the tundra since the 1900s; slight increase (H111).
Score: 
-
References: 
H164_05
RSC10
H302
Population

Population Size

25,000-40,000 (R2021002)
Score: 
F = 1
References: 
RSC10
R2021002

Density

Low density (1 to 4) to high density (4 to 7), densities per region were used to estimated NWT population.
References: 
R2021002
Trends

Trends

Decreasing near Fort Providence, but increasing in all other areas due to fires in these areas in last 10 years. Undocumented trend in the Dehcho, although local accounts indicate decreasing over the past 15 years in some parts and stable in others. Most burns in Dehcho are >10 years old (H164_05). Moose are surveyed in the North Slave (Taiga Plains and Taiga Shield study areas) Increasing in the North Slave because of forest fires. Population surveys in March 2004, November 2007, and November 2012 (H302).
Score: 
FH =
References: 
H164_05
RSC10
H302
Threats

Threats

Disease, predation, potential localized over-hunting (near communities).
Score: 
C = M
References: 
P095
RSC10

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Score: 
-
References: 
P095
RSC10
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
S Rank: 
S4
Decision Process Description: 
Reviewed in 2004, no change in status. Reviewed in 2010, no change. Reviewed in 2015, no change. Reviewed in 2020, no change.
Last Updated: 
February 14, 2024

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Larter Nic (2004) Notes on re-assessment of mammals. e-mail to S Carriere dated 12/11/04 copy in reference binder - H164_05 Return
  • RWED biologists (2004) Forest Criteria & Iindicator Data Submission Forms - input from RWED on wildlife Criteria 1. Copy in Infobase Reference binder - RSC10 Return
  • Cluff, D (2015) e-copy - H302 Return

Density

  • ENR (2020) Moose Population Estimate for the Northwest Territories: Discussion Paper (draft). 4 pages Diims file - R2021002 Return

Economic Status

  • Nagy J (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Inuvik - H110 Return
  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
  • NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (1992) NWT Wildlife Sketches: Moose of the Northwest Territories. NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development 2nd Edition Personal Files - P095 Return

Ecozones

  • NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (1992) NWT Wildlife Sketches: Moose of the Northwest Territories. NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development 2nd Edition Personal Files - P095 Return

Habitat

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (1992) NWT Wildlife Sketches: Moose of the Northwest Territories. NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development 2nd Edition Personal Files - P095 Return
  • RWED biologists (2004) Forest Criteria & Iindicator Data Submission Forms - input from RWED on wildlife Criteria 1. Copy in Infobase Reference binder - RSC10 Return

Longevity

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Naming

  • Wilson, Don E. and Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005) Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press 3rd ed 2142 pages - R169 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
  • Larter Nic (2004) Notes on re-assessment of mammals. e-mail to S Carriere dated 12/11/04 copy in reference binder - H164_05 Return
  • Cluff, D (2015) e-copy - H302 Return
  • ENR (2020) Moose Population Estimate for the Northwest Territories: Discussion Paper (draft). 4 pages Diims file - R2021002 Return

Population Size

RWED biologists (2004) Forest Criteria & Iindicator Data Submission Forms - input from RWED on wildlife Criteria 1. Copy in Infobase Reference binder - RSC10 Return
,
ENR (2020) Moose Population Estimate for the Northwest Territories: Discussion Paper (draft). 4 pages Diims file - R2021002 Return

Range Extent

  • NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (1992) NWT Wildlife Sketches: Moose of the Northwest Territories. NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development 2nd Edition Personal Files - P095 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Larter Nic (2004) Notes on re-assessment of mammals. e-mail to S Carriere dated 12/11/04 copy in reference binder - H164_05 Return
  • RWED biologists (2004) Forest Criteria & Iindicator Data Submission Forms - input from RWED on wildlife Criteria 1. Copy in Infobase Reference binder - RSC10 Return
  • Cluff, D (2015) e-copy - H302 Return

Taxonomy

  • Wilson, Don E. and Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005) Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press 3rd ed 2142 pages - R169 Return

Threats

  • NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (1992) NWT Wildlife Sketches: Moose of the Northwest Territories. NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development 2nd Edition Personal Files - P095 Return
  • RWED biologists (2004) Forest Criteria & Iindicator Data Submission Forms - input from RWED on wildlife Criteria 1. Copy in Infobase Reference binder - RSC10 Return