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Gunn, A. 1995.
Distribution and abundance of muskoxen west of Coppermine, NWT,
1987-1988. 28 pp.
ABSTRACT
The
muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) that recolonized the Rae-
Richardson
river valley, Northwest Territories in the 1970s were previously
surveyed in March 1983.
We conducted a systematic strip transect survey in August 1987 to
determine if the population had continued to increase.
The estimate in August was low and imprecise: only 163 muskoxen
were observed on transect.
A repeat of the survey in March 1988 when the muskoxen were still
concentrated in the valley gave an estimate of 1,800 + 290 (S.E.)
from the 547 muskoxen counted on transect.
The estimate suggests that the increase in the population during
the 1970s and early 1980s has not continued.
A sex and age position survey in August 1987 documented poor calf
survival - grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) predation is a likely factor.
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