Pierre River Mine Project

TERRESTRIAL AENV SIRS 44 – 78
Section 13.1
Response 62b Evidence that the habitat surrounding the LSA may be underexploited by moose
comes from population density estimates and known mortality sources in the
region. Moose density in the Jackpine Mine Expansion local study area (LSA)
was calculated at 0.22 moose/km 2 (Golder 2007). Moose population density
estimates for Moose Management Areas (MMAs) 8 and 9 (about half the
regional study area [RSA] falls into each Management Area) have ranged from
0.10 moose/km 2 (wildlife management unit [WMU] 540, survey year 1993/1994)
to 0.62 moose/km 2 (WMU 525, survey year 1995/1996) (ASRD 2002). Moose
hunting is a very common activity in the RSA (ASRD 2009), and likely has
reduced moose populations. Annual regulated harvest from WMUs in the RSA is
about 100 per year (e.g., 104 in 2008, 106 in 2007). In addition, moose are a
staple for First Nations in the region and their unregulated harvest is likely
substantive. Finally, moose are the primary prey species for wolves in the region
(James et al. 2004).
References
There has been a documented relationship of increasing moose populations with
increasing levels of human development in northern Alberta (Schneider and
Wasel 2000). This has been hypothesized to be due to lower predation and
hunting pressure near areas of extensive human development in Alberta, as well
as increasing forage availability with increasing forest fragmentation (Schneider
and Wasel 2000). Mean moose population density in the White Zone of northern
Alberta has been estimated to be about 0.50 moose/km 2 (Schneider and Wasel
2000). Moose populations in the Oil Sands Region may be able to reach this level
or higher, depending on wildlife management actions and the trajectory of
landscape change.
ASRD (Alberta Sustainable Resource Development). 2002. Northern Moose
Management Program: moose population surveys. Available online at:
http://www.srd.alberta.ca/ManagingPrograms/FishWildlifeManagement/
NorthernMooseManagementProgram/MoosePopulationSurveys.aspx.
Accessed November 10, 2009.
ASRD (Alberta Sustainable Resource Development). 2009. Resident hunter
harvest.
http://www.mywildalberta.com/Hunting/GameSpecies/ResidentHunters
Harvest.aspx. Accessed October 30, 2009.
Golder (Golder Associates Ltd.). 2007. Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
Environmental Setting Report for the Jackpine Mine Expansion & Pierre
River Mine Project. Prepared for Shell Canada Limited. Calgary, AB.
Submitted December 2007.
James, A.R.C., S. Boutin, D.M. Hebert, and A.B. Rippin. 2004. Spatial
separation of caribou from moose and its relation to predation by wolves.
Journal of Wildlife Management 68: 799-809.
13-42 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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