MOOSE

Moose

Rachel Crowhurst, Dana Sanchez, Clinton Epps

Latin name: Alces alces 

In Alaska, moose have cultural and economic importance as well as practical importance to subsistence hunters. The Copper River Delta (CRD) herd was established by translocations in the 1950s and has been mostly isolated since, due to glaciers and other natural barriers. In response to concerns of inbreeding in the population, Dr. Clinton Epps and Dr. Dana Sanchez initiated a project in collaboration with the Native Village of Eyak. Genetic data showed that the population does not appear to be inbred, and identified potential migrants between the CRD and neighboring herds. Thus, the research indicates that proposals to translocate new moose into this population to increase genetic diversity do not appear warranted.

Publications: 

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