Environmental Biology Masters Capstone

Human wildlife interactions (HWI) pose a complex challenge for wildlife managers. Human encroachment into wildlife habitat and the growing number of outdoor recreationists are increasing the frequency of contact and conflict, especially in regions such as the Front Range of Colorado. Geographic information systems (GIS), which use a combination of remote sensing and environmental survey data, allow for predictive spatial analyses of where human wildlife interactions are likely to occur. I used publicly reported observations of moose to create spatial predictive maps in a species distribution model framework. Slope and elevation were shown to be the strongest predictors of HWI, and additional environmental variables added modest predictive power to the SDM. Additionally, a parsimonious model is presented here for a streamlined and practical framework for future monitoring and analysis. Investigation of suitable habitats based on recent observations provides land managers information to identify the likely locations of human-moose encounters. This study identifies the spatial distribution of moose in the wildland urban interface, the potential for increasing populations in nearby suitable habitats, and subsequent implications for wildlife managers.