Data from: Influence of reproductive status on occupancy of salvage-logged boreal forest by moose (Alces americanus)

Wildlife-habitat relationships reflect the behavioural choices made by
species in response to perceived risks and rewards. Ungulates must often
choose between habitats that provide forage and those offering concealment
from predators, yet natural and anthropogenic disturbances create risky
landscapes where tradeoffs may be difficult to navigate. Ungulate
responses to forest disturbance may vary by sex and reproductive state,
given that reproductive females with calves often prioritize predator
avoidance. We investigated state-dependent habitat use by reproductive and
solitary moose (Alces americanus) in response to salvage logging after a
widespread infestation by spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) in the
boreal forest of Yukon, Canada. We used camera traps and multi-state
occupancy models to examine moose occurrence in unsalvaged and
salvage-logged forests at different regenerative stages (0–10 years and
11–25 years post-logging) and levels of tree retention after logging. We
compared results to single-state occupancy models that did not account for
reproductive status. As predicted, single-state models showed high use of
stands with low canopy cover and maximum tree removal (i.e., clear-cuts).
This suggested that moose capitalized on shrubby forage available in
logged stands, regardless of regenerative stage. However, this result was
overly simplistic. Multi-state occupancy models revealed that forest age
was the most important factor for female moose with calves, in contrast to
solitary moose. Females with calves tended to avoid newly logged areas and
preferred regenerating and unsalvaged forests with hiding cover, although
estimates of effect size had low precision. Climate change is contributing
to the rising frequency and severity of bark beetle outbreaks, and
post-infestation salvage logging has been implicated in the decline of
moose populations in western Canada. Our results support the need to
maintain diverse, mixed-age forest landscapes to meet the food and cover
requirements of moose in different demographic classes.