MOOSE - TRAIN COLLISIONS: EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The effects of environmental conditions during winter (1 November-14 April) on moose-train collisions was investigated along a 92.2 km section of the Nordlandsbanen railway, in Norway between 1980 and 1988. The total number of train kills was 262, and ranged between 71 (1983/84) and 8 (1984/85) kills per year. Mean winter snow depth explained 84% of the annual variation. A high proportion of moose were killed when snow depth exceeded 100 cm. high ambient temperatures reduced the risk of collisions, while low temperatures had the opposite effect. Fifty four % of all moose were killed shortly after a snowfall, however, the mechanisms involved are still unknown. It is recommended that train speed be reduced through high risk sections of the railway, especially in periods with high snow frequency, high snow depth and low ambient temperatures