The behavior of moose at natural mineral springs in Quebec

Abstract

The Matane Wildlife Reserve (48°40′ N, 66°55′ W) is the only location in Quebec known to have mineral springs. Their water is rich in sodium (172.5 ± 97.1 ppm, n = 17 vs. 3.6 ± 2.6 ppm, n = 10, in streams flowing nearby) and other minerals. We observed moose (Alces alces) there for a total of 11 months over three summers. Maximal use of the springs occurred in early July. Moose visited springs mostly around sunrise and sunset, spending a mean (± SD) of 24.3 ± 26 min (n = 691) at the springs, 20.7% ± 17% of which was spent drinking, almost always right at the actual spring (about 0.1 m2). Calves started visiting springs in late June, always with their mothers, but rarely drank before September. Moose interacted aggressively, particularly to displace one another from the small springs. Lactating females chased all other moose away when they were accompanied by their calves. Such females spent much less time drinking when their calves were present than when they visited a spring alone. Moose usually urinated at a spring, but almost never on the actual spring itself, and most often close to the end of a visit. Of 360 urinations, 32.2% were hock urinations. Mineral springs seem to be important, although incidental, social gathering places, where the hunger for salt forces moose to have a more intense social life than their otherwise solitary habits allow.