The purpose of this one-year project is to monitor moose nutritional condition after landscape-scale wildfires on the kenai peninsula

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will receive $832,787.65 under a Formula Grant award from the Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 7 through June 30, 2027. The funding supports monitoring of moose nutritional condition and habitat quality after landscape-scale wildfires on the Kenai Peninsula through 2027. Specifically, the award will continue 14 years of data collection on moose movements in early successional habitats compared to late successional areas, providing insights on how large-scale habitat enhancement projects can positively influence moose populations. The results will also substantiate increased use of prescribed fire or mechanical treatment relative to moose. This work under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) will support management decisions on harvest bag limits and expand knowledge of the relationship between habitat quality, body condition, movement patterns, antler size, and herd recruitment for the Kenai Peninsula moose population.

This monitoring should provide insights into habitat quality as well as insights into how large-scale habitat enhancement projects can positively influence moose populations.will continue to contribute to 14 years of data on moose movements in the early seral habitats of the funny river fire and swan lake fire, in comparison with late seral habitats on the northern kenai lowlands. Given the last opportunity to do a research project of this magnitude in response to a landscape scale wildfire on the kenai peninsula was in 1969, the results of this project will be essential to understanding moose response to landscape scale fire in this area.expanded research on selected populations supports improved management of wildlife over time with respect to habitat quality. Results from this work are intended to substantiate increased use of prescribed fire or mechanical treatment relative to moose populations on the kenai peninsula. Complementary benefits such as community wildfire protection connects forest and fire management to community values for safety and hunting opportunities.continuing research on the kenai peninsula moose population supports management decisions for harvest bag limits while expanding the body of knowledge relating habitat quality to body condition, movement patterns, antler size, and herd recruitment.