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Vermont's Big
Game Mammals
Mark Scott, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
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1. We regularly refine our data collections and population models to better monitor pops and health over time. Research at higher intuitions, such as UVM, plays a critical role.
2. Key constituents (i.e. hunters), and others, expect to participate in harvesting or seeing these species annually.
3. The future of these species and forests health are interdependently connected–that’s why VMC efforts are so important.
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Public Participation is
Key
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VT Moose Population Estimates
1991 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13
100015002000250030003500400045005000
YEAR
NUM
BER
OF
MO
OSE
New estimate method using deer
hunter effort sur-veys
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Moose Seen Per Hour Scouted WMU E
Either Sex Permits OnlyTotal Data: 6,571 Moose/ 47,292 Hours
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
'93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 ,14YEAR
MO
OSE
SEE
N/ H
OU
R
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VT Non-Hunting Moose MortalitiesBiological Years 1980 – 2014
1980 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98
2000 '02 '04 '06 '08 10 12
2014
0
50
100
150
200
250TOTALMOTOR VEHICLE
BIOLOGICAL YEAR (JUNE 1 - MAY 31)
NU
MB
ER O
F M
OR
TALI
TIES
4,499 Total Moose, 3,086 MV
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1,216 Total Cows 2014 = 528 lbs
80% CI’s
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
500
520
540
560
580
600
620
640
R² = 0.415323538864308
Age 3+ Cow Dressed Carcass Weights
1993 - 2014
Pounds
n=3 4 8 18 18 14 30 30 29 44 69 118 129 136 109 102 119 90 43 42 39 22
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80% CI’s
n=16 14 12 16 14 16 34 39 49 67 33 41 32 35 12 10 13 9
462 Total Cows 2014 = 430 lbs
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
350
400
450
500
R² = 0.574114125477075
Yearling Cow Dressed Carcass Weights
1997 - 2014Pounds
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Ovulation Rate for Age 3+ Cows (n = 594)1999 - 2014
Cor
pora
lut
ea p
er C
ow
n=16 21 15 22 38 70 63 67 60 39 62 45 23 24 20 9
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Winter Severity Index1990-2015
19901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Win
ter
Seve
rity
Inde
x
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1981-85 1986-90 1991-95 1996-00 2001-05 2006-102000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Estimated Black Bear Populations, 5-Year Blocks 1985-2010
Low Estimate High Estimate Best Estimate5 Year Period
Esti
mat
ed P
opul
atio
nAxi
s
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198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Motor Vehicle Total Incidental Kill Damage
Calendar Year
Black Bear Mortalities by Motor Vehicles
and Total Incidental Kills 1985-2014
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Reproduction & Survival
March 2014 March 2015
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Young Forest Conditions
in Vermont
Percent seedling/sapling from FIA survey data
Region 1997 2012
Northern VT
14.5% 10%
Southern VT
4.6% 4%
Total 9.5% 7%
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Vermont’s Forest Wildlife
Habitat
• 4.6 million acres of forest habitat in VT• 86% of VT forests are privately owned• 1.3 million acres (22%) of total VT landscape is
conserved (not all is forest)• 4,800 acres of habitat lost to development
annually