Time-study of moose (Alces alces L., 1758) geophagia activity in the Central Yakutia

Abstract

Geophagia of wild hoofed mammals was recorded using camera-traps in five mineral licks of the Central Yakutia (Russia). In total, 235 camera-trap-days are spent, breakdown by months: June — 34, July — 60, August — 65, September — 60, October — 16. Over this period, we registered 122 visits of moose. Presence of 215 moose on the mineral licks is documented, among them — 24 visits of females with calves. The average geophagia of moose (M±SD) is 8.7±7.8 min (lim 1–40; n=125). The average number of visits per day is 3.1 (lim 1–8; n=54). The maximum number of moose staying on a mineral lick at the same time amounted to 4 animals. The maximum number of moose visited a licks per day amounted to 6 animals (apart from repeated visits). Monthly visiting of licks is as follows: June — 43.3%, July — 49.2%, August — 5.8%, September — 1.7%, and October — 0%. The sex ratio of using the salt mineral licks was as follows: bulls 47.6% (n=10), cows — 52.4% (n=11). How to cite this article: Stepanova V.V., Argunov A.V., Kirillin R.A., Okhlopkov I.M. 2017. Time-study of moose (Alces alces L., 1758) geophagia activity in the Central Yakutia // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.16. No.2. P.185–190. doi: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.16.2.07