Neonate health and calf mortality in a declining population of north american moose (Alces alces americanus)

Tiffany M. Wolf; Yvette M. Chenaux-Ibrahim; Edmund J. Isaac; Arno Wünschmann; Seth A. Moore

doi:10.7589/jwd-d-20-00049

Neonate health and calf mortality in a declining population of north american moose (Alces alces americanus)

Tiffany M. Wolf, Yvette M. Chenaux-Ibrahim, Edmund J. Isaac, Arno Wünschmann, Seth A. Moore

Veterinary Population Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Moose (Alces alces americanus) populations in many areas along the southern extent of the North American moose range, including Minnesota, have experienced decline. Ascertaining neonate health and cause-specific mortality is critical where calf survival is low and understanding underlying causes of population dynamics is important. To investigate moose neonate health and causes of mortality, we studied 43 calves shortly after parturition during 2013–15 and 2018. The observed natural calf mortality rate was 84% by the following January of each calving season. Most natural calf mortalities were caused by black bear (Ursus americanus) or wolf (Canis lupus) predation or associated injuries (71%) but also included stillbirth (16%), orphaning (7%), generalized bacterial infection (3%), and hunter harvest (3%). Neonate health was evaluated in 27 calves by hematology, serum biochemistry profile, and maternally derived immunoglobulin. General health parameters were mostly within an expected range for normal health and adequate maternal immunoglobulin transfer. Importantly, these data contribute to a growing body of literature on moose neonate health and is the first report, to our knowledge, of maternally derived immunity in moose neonates.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	40-50
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of wildlife diseases
Volume	57
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7589/jwd-d-20-00049
State	Published - Jan 6 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank the Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council and the Minnesota Zoo for their direct support of this project. Thanks also to Donald Jorgensen for his expertise in validating and performing the radial immunodiffusion assays for this study. Recognition is given to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for their corresponding work to understand causes of calf mortality in Minnesota. This work could not have been accomplished without the dedication of the Grand Portage Trustlands staff, who rallied when needed to loan equipment, courier biological specimens, or cover other ongoing projects. Many thanks to the funding agencies that have supported these efforts, including the US Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grant Pro-gram, the Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indianapolis Zoo Conservation Grant, and the Minnesota Zoo Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Fund.

Publisher Copyright:
© Wildlife Disease Association 2021.

Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Hematology
Maternal antibodies
Moose calf mortality
Neonatal ungulate health
Passive transfer
Serum biochemical profile
Animals, Newborn
Predatory Behavior
Stillbirth
Animal Distribution
Minnesota
Ursidae
Deer
Pregnancy
Animals
Wounds and Injuries
Wolves
Female
Bacterial Infections/mortality
Population Dynamics

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Journal Article

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.7589/jwd-d-20-00049

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abstract = "Moose (Alces alces americanus) populations in many areas along the southern extent of the North American moose range, including Minnesota, have experienced decline. Ascertaining neonate health and cause-specific mortality is critical where calf survival is low and understanding underlying causes of population dynamics is important. To investigate moose neonate health and causes of mortality, we studied 43 calves shortly after parturition during 2013–15 and 2018. The observed natural calf mortality rate was 84% by the following January of each calving season. Most natural calf mortalities were caused by black bear (Ursus americanus) or wolf (Canis lupus) predation or associated injuries (71%) but also included stillbirth (16%), orphaning (7%), generalized bacterial infection (3%), and hunter harvest (3%). Neonate health was evaluated in 27 calves by hematology, serum biochemistry profile, and maternally derived immunoglobulin. General health parameters were mostly within an expected range for normal health and adequate maternal immunoglobulin transfer. Importantly, these data contribute to a growing body of literature on moose neonate health and is the first report, to our knowledge, of maternally derived immunity in moose neonates.",

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note = "Funding Information: We thank the Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council and the Minnesota Zoo for their direct support of this project. Thanks also to Donald Jorgensen for his expertise in validating and performing the radial immunodiffusion assays for this study. Recognition is given to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for their corresponding work to understand causes of calf mortality in Minnesota. This work could not have been accomplished without the dedication of the Grand Portage Trustlands staff, who rallied when needed to loan equipment, courier biological specimens, or cover other ongoing projects. Many thanks to the funding agencies that have supported these efforts, including the US Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grant Pro-gram, the Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indianapolis Zoo Conservation Grant, and the Minnesota Zoo Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Fund. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Wildlife Disease Association 2021. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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AU - Wünschmann, Arno

AU - Moore, Seth A.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank the Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council and the Minnesota Zoo for their direct support of this project. Thanks also to Donald Jorgensen for his expertise in validating and performing the radial immunodiffusion assays for this study. Recognition is given to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for their corresponding work to understand causes of calf mortality in Minnesota. This work could not have been accomplished without the dedication of the Grand Portage Trustlands staff, who rallied when needed to loan equipment, courier biological specimens, or cover other ongoing projects. Many thanks to the funding agencies that have supported these efforts, including the US Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grant Pro-gram, the Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indianapolis Zoo Conservation Grant, and the Minnesota Zoo Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Fund. Publisher Copyright: © Wildlife Disease Association 2021. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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AB - Moose (Alces alces americanus) populations in many areas along the southern extent of the North American moose range, including Minnesota, have experienced decline. Ascertaining neonate health and cause-specific mortality is critical where calf survival is low and understanding underlying causes of population dynamics is important. To investigate moose neonate health and causes of mortality, we studied 43 calves shortly after parturition during 2013–15 and 2018. The observed natural calf mortality rate was 84% by the following January of each calving season. Most natural calf mortalities were caused by black bear (Ursus americanus) or wolf (Canis lupus) predation or associated injuries (71%) but also included stillbirth (16%), orphaning (7%), generalized bacterial infection (3%), and hunter harvest (3%). Neonate health was evaluated in 27 calves by hematology, serum biochemistry profile, and maternally derived immunoglobulin. General health parameters were mostly within an expected range for normal health and adequate maternal immunoglobulin transfer. Importantly, these data contribute to a growing body of literature on moose neonate health and is the first report, to our knowledge, of maternally derived immunity in moose neonates.

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KW - Stillbirth

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KW - Ursidae

KW - Deer

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Animals

KW - Wounds and Injuries

KW - Wolves

KW - Female

KW - Bacterial Infections/mortality

KW - Population Dynamics

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Neonate health and calf mortality in a declining population of north american moose (Alces alces americanus)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

PubMed: MeSH publication types

UN SDGs

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