WINTER FEEDING STRATEGIES OF MIGRATING AND NONMIGRATING MOOSE

We recorded forage and habitat use by radio-collared moose, Alces alces (L.), in southeastern Norway. Migrating and resident moose preferred different habitats during winter. Migrating animals used habitats of lower site quality than did resident animals. Migrating animals also used Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.) forests more often and had a higher proportion of pine and common birch (Betula pubescens L.) in their diet than did resident animals. Increased browsing pressure from both migrating and resident animals was evident at the end of the winter from an increase in twig diameter at the point of browsing, breakage of stems, heavy browsing of common birch, and more extensive searching for forage. Rebrowsing of previously browsed trees by resident moose and, to a lesser extent, by migrants was recorded during March. Snow depths were similar on the winter ranges of resident and migrating moose.