Mating in moose: timing, behavior, and male access patterns

Abstract

We observed mating wild moose (Alces alces) in a naturally regulated population in central Alaska during 1980–1991. The median date of observed copulations for all years was 2 October, with small shifts among years. Of 191 mounting sequences observed, all occurred between 24 September and 8 October. Only 2% of copulations (n = 86) involved the mating of a female and two males. Large males performed 82% of all mountings and 88% of all copulations. One male copulated with at least 12 females during one mating season. Male and female behavioral patterns associated with mating were similar to those observed in other cervids and included tongue flicking, courtship croaking, genital smelling, chinning by males, and tree rubbing by females. Both sexes displayed little obvious postcopulation behavior.