Changes in moose and white-tailed deer abundance in northeastern Alberta and the relationship to cumulative impacts

The relationship between ungulate abundance and the cumulative impacts resulting from industrial developments in northeastern Alberta is not well understood. In order to address this topic, aerial survey data of moose and white-tailed deer was analyzed. Analyses indicated that deer expanded north and were more numerous in 2001 than in 1969. Moose were less numerous in 2001 than in 1969 throughout northeastern Alberta. Moose abundance was negatively related to agriculture. There was also evidence of additive cumulative effects caused by agriculture and well density. White-tailed deer abundance was negatively related to the distance to urban centres, agriculture and cutblocks and positively related to road density. There was also evidence of additive cumulative effects caused by agriculture, well density and road density. However, the statistical models were not very robust, suggesting that the cumulative impacts considered are not likely the main drivers of moose and white-tailed deer abundance and distribution.