Life-history stages and behavior influence demographic classification of moose captured on remote cameras

Moose (Alces alces) are a photogenic species found across boreal and semi-boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Previous studies have used demographic data from remote cameras to estimate demographic parameters and population dynamics. A primary assumption is that these age and sex classes are accurately classified. However, numerous factors can influence the ability of observers to identify age and sex classes of moose captured on cameras. We used data from 84 cameras from a 3-year period (19 Nov 2021–30 Apr 2024) in northern Maine, USA, to evaluate how temporal, environmental, site-level, and endogenous factors influence the ability of observers to classify age and sex classes of moose. Using Bayesian categorical regression models, we found that temporal variability, position and proximity of moose from cameras, and the behavior of moose influenced our ability to identify age and sex classes. This information can be used to decide which periods to use data for population modeling..., Study Area We used data from remote cameras located in Wildlife Management District (WMD) 4 in northwestern Maine along the border of Quebec, Canada. The landcover in WMD 4 was comprised of Laurentian–Acadian Northern Hardwood Forest and Acadian Low Elevation Spruce-Fir-Hardwood Forest. Commercial timber harvest is common throughout this region in both landcover types. Moose densities are highest in WMD 4 (4 moose/km2) compared to other WMDs in the state and WMD 4 is part of an experimental unit to decrease moose densities via harvest. The climate of this region is variable with cold and snowy winters and warm and humid summers. Camera surveys We used a stratified random design to capture the local and landscape gradients across the study area, setting two remote camera arrays that each had a total of 84 sites. We positioned one camera trap per site, facing north on a tree, 1–2 m above the ground, and pointed at a slight downward angle towards a snow stake positioned 5–7 m from the cam..., # Life-history stages and behavior influence demographic classification of moose captured on remote cameras DOI: 10.5061/dryad.73n5tb3bs This dataset was used to evaluate the influence of temporal, environmental, site-level, and endogenous factors on demographic classification of moose detected on remote cameras in northwestern Maine, USA. We used data from 84 cameras that were operating for ~2.5 years (19 Nov 2021 - 30 April 2024) and tagged moose based on 9 possible categories, including \"Adult Female\", \"Adult Male\", \"Adult Unknown\", \"Juvenile Female\", \"Juvenile Male\", \"Juvenile Unknown\", \"Unknown Female\", \"Unknown Male\", and \"Unknown Unknown\". These categories were used as a response variable in a Bayesian categorical probability analysis that included predictor variables from the four different groups. The data herein was used to evaluate which of these groups and variables most influenced the ability of observers to differentiate between age and sex categories of moose. **We po..., ,