Fact Sheet on Moose Migration

Alberta, Canada

In Alberta, moose distribution is dominant in the northern boreal and Rocky Mountain foothills, with an expanding population in southern parkland and grassland ecoregions. Moose thrive in areas characterized by a mosaic of younger plant communities that they use for forage and older forests where they seek thermal cover and safety. Moose are partially migratory, meaning some individuals migrate and others remain resident year round. Many moose migrate from the foothills of the central Canadian Rockies to higher elevation summer ranges. Their migrations are driven by the accessible elevational gradients (ranging from 650–1880m) and the associated habitat diversity. On average, moose migrations were 24 km long and strongly influenced by topographical gradients. In winter, individuals mainly forage along the valley bottoms and in the foothills, which are widely affected by anthropogenic changes, including clear-cuts and oil and gas development. In spring, migratory individuals move along steep elevational gradients to arrive at the higher elevation summer ranges. In the fall, with the onset of colder weather, migratory animals return to the low elevation areas. In many cases, they traverse nearly identical migratory paths as in spring. Trembling aspen, lodgepole pine, white and black spruce and other pine species characterize the low elevation habitats, while lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce characterize the alpine ecosystem.

Northern Scandinavian Mountains, Sweden

Following a population bottleneck due to overhunting in the early 1900s, moose populations have rebounded across Sweden. Sweden is now home to the densest population of moose in the world. Moose in Sweden are partially migratory, with some animals remaining resident year round and others making migrations up to 200 km long. Their migration distance and duration vary in response to weather conditions, forage availability and the latitudinal or east-west gradients they travel across. Their migration distance and duration vary in response to weather conditions, forage availability and the latitudinal or east-west gradients they use to travel. The onset of spring migration is typically consistent across individuals in the same area, whereas fall migration is a more protracted process with moose leaving summer ranges at different times. In the country’s mountainous interior, strong seasonality characterizes the moose’s migratory range. Here, many moose migrate long distances, often traveling northwest from their winter range to their summer ranges. Some animals make altitudinal migrations. Migrants typically move between coniferous forests in their winter ranges and highly productive deciduous forests in the mountains in the summer. Migration routes are typically specific to the individual and are relatively predictable from year to year. In this system, valleys and other terrain strongly shape migration routes. Barring the presence of some ski resorts, the Scandinavian Mountains are generally characterized by a small human footprint in terms of infrastructure and population density compared to other parts of the country.

Northern Inland, Sweden

Following a population bottleneck due to overhunting in the early 1900s, moose populations have rebounded across Sweden. The country is now home to the densest population of moose in the world. Moose in Sweden are partially migratory, with some animals remaining resident year round and others making migrations up to 200 km long. Their migration distance and duration vary in response to weather conditions, forage availability and the latitudinal or east-west gradients they use to travel. The onset of spring migration is typically consistent across individuals in the same area, whereas fall migration is a more protracted process with moose leaving summer ranges at different times. In the country’s mountainous interior, strong seasonality characterizes the moose’s migratory range. Here, many moose migrate long distances, often traveling northwest from their winter range to their summer ranges. Some animals make altitudinal migrations. Migrants typically move between coniferous forests and highly productive deciduous forests in the mountains in the summer. Migration routes are typically specific to the individual and are relatively predictable from year to year. Major landmarks like rivers shape migration routes in this region. This area is characterized by rotation forestry, large wetland areas, rivers, and intensive mining activity. Additionally, a major railway cuts through the area from south to north (from Boden to Gällivare, Kiruna and further to Narvik at the Norwegian coast).