On Tuesday, September 22, Dr. Laura Finnegan provided an overview of moose ecology and habitat in Alberta, approaches for monitoring moose, and the five research themes of the Moose Research Initiative, with a deeper dive into the first three themes:
Moose population size and trend relative to forest management activities and landscape condition;
Moose summer and winter ranges in Alberta: Resource Selection Function (RSF) models and connectivity;
Investigate how forest management and climate factors may impact boreal ungulates.
When:
Tuesday, September 22, 2026; 12:00–1:00 pm MDT
What to Expect:
Lunch & Learn Program: Quick Refresher
Presentation from Dr. Laura Finnegan (fRI Research)
Live, interactive Q&A session
About our Presenter:
Dr. Laura Finnegan has been the lead researcher of the Caribou Program at fRI Research since 2013. She has a PhD in Zoology from Trinity College, Dublin. Her research is on applied wildlife ecology, conservation, and the interactions between wildlife and landscape disturbance, with a specific focus on boreal ungulates.
Abstract:
Moose are an important species in Alberta’s boreal forest with ecological, cultural, and economic significance. Because moose and forest management occur across the same landscape, forest management practices play an important role in supporting the long-term persistence of moose populations. This session will provide an overview of the Moose Research Initiative, a research program developed by forestry partners including Canfor, West Fraser and Weyerhaeuser, and delivered by fRI Research in collaboration with project partners. The initiative is organized around five research themes that cover moose population size and trends, seasonal ranges and habitat connectivity, the effects of climate change on boreal ungulates, the use of drones for wildlife surveys and how management strategies for moose and other species influence habitat and predator movement over time. This research aims to improve how moose are monitored in forested landscapes and to better understand how forest management strategies that consider other species, such as caribou, influence moose populations and habitat across Alberta.
Related Downloads:
Webinar Recording: