Data from: Retrospective analyses to understand how wolf territory density impacts moose quotas, harvest and observation rate
Data files
Nov 04, 2025 version files 119.89 KB
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Harvest_Observations.txt
57.57 KB
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Quota.txt
59.70 KB
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README.md
2.61 KB
Abstract
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 countries, management actions were taken to reduce the total moose mortality (reduced harvest) as well as to maximize productivity in the population (reduced harvest of adult females) in response to increased wolf territory density. Annual changes in quotas were related to fulfilment of last year´s quota and wolf territory density in the previous two years. The annual change in harvest were affected by actual harvest the previous year and by set quotas, showing that harvest followed management plans. Abilities to adjust to new conditions is a key in wildlife management where conflicting societal objectives such as forestry, sustainable ungulate harvest yield, and carnivore conservation should be balanced.
Dataset DOI: 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: year
- MMU_ID: ID of moose management unit
- year_MMU_ID: year combined with ID of moose management units
- MMU_size: size of moose management units (km2)
- 2_year_wolf_index: average wolf territory density for the previous and current winter
- 5_year_wolf_index: average wolf territory density during the last five years, including the winter after the hunting season
- latitude: latitude
- harvest_density: moose harvest density per km2
- harvested_calves_total_harvest: proportion of harvested calves in total harvest
- harvested_females_adult_harvest: proportion of harvested females in adult harvest
- observed_calves_per_adult_female: number of observed calves per adult female
- observed_females_observed_adults: proportion of females among observed adults
- observed_moose: number of observed moose per time unit
File: Quota.txt
Variables
- country: Norway or Sweden
- year: year
- MMU_ID: ID of moose management unit
- year_MMU_ID: year combined with ID of moose management units
- 2_year_wolf_index: average wolf territory density for the previous and current winter
- 5_year_wolf_index: average wolf territory density during the last five years, including the winter after the hunting season
- latitude: latitude
- harvest_density_previous_year: harvest density in the previous year per km2
- percentage_hunting_quotas_previous_year: percentage of the hunting quotas filled in the previous year
- annual_change_quotas: annual change in quotas
- annual_change_harvest_density: annual change in density of harvested moose
Data files are tab-delimited with a comma decimal