Wolves not key to declining number of Kenai moose; habitat change is
For a century the moose population on the Kenai Peninsula has been artificially high. Dena'ina oral tradition tells of moose dramatically expanding on the Kenai Peninsula in the late 1800s. Previously the primary ungulate on the Peninsula was caribou. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, a number of large fires changed much of the habitat from caribou-friendly ground and tree lichen to moose-friendly aspen, willow and scrub birch browse. Some of the fires were natural, associated with bark beetle infestation cycles, and some were set by miners clearing ground for turn-of-the-century mining. Hugh Bennett wrote that in 1916 his party rarely traveled more than two miles without encountering a burned area. Historic photos show hundreds of acres burned by placer miners.
Consequently, in the early part of the 20th century, willow, aspen and birch grew up where the mature spruce forests had burned. The last reported caribou was sighted on the Kenai Peninsula in 1917. (The modern caribou are transplants.) Because of the newly luxuriant habitat, moose thrived, growing large in numbers and in size. Eastern and European sport hunters discovered the giant Kenai moose and trophy hunting became a minor industry in the early 20th century. Word spread largely through magazine articles with accompanying trophy photographs of a hunter with a huge moose rack, some in excess of 70 inches. The wealthy sport hunters had influence and lobbied for creation of a sport-hunting reserve and in 1941 Congress created the Kenai National Moose Range (now Kenai National Wildlife Refuge).
Moose habitat was also artificially enhanced by post-World War II homestead clearings, most of which generally lay fallow after "prove up." By 1955 there were 851 homesteads totaling 110,000 acres on the Kenai Peninsula and there was more to come in the next decade. In the early 1970s it was common to see 10 to 12 moose browsing on scrub birch in an old homestead clearing.
Spruce Of The Kenai Peninsula - News
Consequently, in the early part of the 20th century, willow, aspen and birch grew up where the mature spruce forests had burned. The last reported caribou was sighted on the Kenai Peninsula in 1917. (The modern caribou are transplants.)
From 1932 to 1934, he was in charge of investigations dealing with moose on the Kenai Peninsula. He later spent eight years, from 1936 to 1944 as executive officer of the Alaska Game Commission. He was appointed as chief of the Service's Division of