F. MOOSE 



1) Introduction 



A population of moose inhabits the Kootenai River valley; 

 however, little information is available on the seasonal distribu- 

 tion, habitat preference, and status of the population. Currently 

 moose are ranked seventh in the prioritization of management objec- 

 tives for Region One (northwestern Montana), Montana Department of 

 Fish Wildlife and Parks. 



2) Seasonal Habitat Preference 



Available information on the seasonal distribution of moose 

 within the Kootenai River valley indicates the Pinkham Creek and 

 Pinkham Rioge areas are the preferred areas for moose (Drumheller 

 1936, Zajanc 1948) with small populations of 4 to 5 animals in 

 each tributary of the Kootenai River (U.S. Dep. Agric. 1965a). 

 Shrub fields in old burns and logged areas appeared to be preferred 

 as forage sites (U.S. Dep. Agric. 1965a, 1966). Moose have been 

 observed wintering from the lower elevations to areas as high as 

 6000 feet in elevation. Zajanc (1948) observed no moose or moose 

 tracks during his survey of the Gateway to Jennings area. He 

 stated there were probably a few moose residing in the Five Mile 

 and Ten Mile creeks, and the moose range would include any of the 

 stream bottom type found in the Fisher River area. 



3) Population Status 



A scattered population of moose inhabited the area impacted by 

 the Libby Dam project. As indicated by the available data, the 

 population was increasing during the 1950's and 60's; however, no 

 reliable population or density estimates were available for the 

 project area. The U.S. Dep. Inter. (1965) estimated a population 

 of 300 moose within the reservoir area of influence; however, no 

 data could be found to support a population estimate of this magni- 

 tude. 



4) Assessment of Impacts 



Bottomlands and lower benches inundated by the reservoir prob- 

 ably all provided habitat utilized by moose during one or more 

 seasons. Loss of this habitat resulted in a loss of moose from the 

 population and/or displacement of individuals to other areas. Un- 

 less displaced individuals located quality, unoccupied habitat they 

 were eventually lost from the population. 



Construction of the Burlington Northern railroad grade along 

 the lower Fisher River and Wolf Creek also removed habitat utilized 

 by moose. Flath (1972a) reported three moose were killed along the 

 relocated railroad grade during the winter of 1970-71. 



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