Retrospective analyses to understand how wolf territory density impacts moose quotas, harvest and observation rate

The ever-growing human population along with the expansion of settlements and land use, and effective hunting methods increasingly influence wildlife populations. Knowledge of management responses to re-establishing large carnivores is important to understand the overall impact of humans on large carnivores and their prey populations. We examined the response of moose (Alces alces) harvest, but also population size and composition in relation to wolf (Canis lupus) territory density along a latitudinal gradient in two bordering countries in northern Europe. Moose harvest density was negatively related to wolf territory density with model estimates showing that harvest was 35% (Norway) to 39% (Sweden) lower in moose management units (MMUs) with average wolf territory density, compared to MMUs without wolves during the previous five years. The corresponding model estimates for moose observation rate was 21% lower in Sweden and 1% lower in Norway. In both ..., , # Data from: Retrospective analyses to understand how wolf territory density impacts moose quotas, harvest and observation rate

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.wstqjq2z3](10.5061/dryad.wstqjq2z3)

## Description of the data and file structure

We examined the effect of wolf territory density on moose population size and composition (age and sex), and hunting yield (harvest density), along a latitudinal gradient in Norway and Sweden during a six-year period. We quantified the impact of wolf territory density on size and composition of the hunting yield (harvest data) and on the moose population (moose observations), and investigated whether wolf territory density affected annual adjustments of hunting quotas and changes in harvest from year to year, or whether the changes in harvest size merely were a response to changes in harvest quotas or the harvest in the preceding year.

### Files and variables

#### File: Harvest_Observations.txt

##### Variables

* country: Norway or Sweden
* year: ...,