Migration Routes of Elk in Medicine Lodge Herd in Wyoming

Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the western section of the Bighorn Mountains display altitudinal migration. In the spring, they migrate from the western foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 70). The herd, which numbers around 2,700, winters along the western foothills of the Bighorn Mountains along the eastern section of the Bighorn Basin. Winter ranges are a mix of shrubs and herbaceous grasslands, largely supported by private and BLM land, though many individuals will remain within the boundaries of the Bighorn National Forest. During migration animals travel an average one way distance of 20 mi (32 km) ranging from as little as 5 mi (8 km) to as far as 74 mi (119 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head east up the Bighorn Mountains. They traverse up the slopes generally following clearings in between extensive pine forests. Summer ranges consist of evergreen forests that are predominantly lodgepole pine with smaller areas of open herbaceous grasslands. The summer range is almost entirely within the Bighorn National Forest, but some individuals will summer in private land to the south. The population size of the herd has remained relatively steady over the last decade. While there is a higher concern for the animals on their winter range because it contains large areas of private land, their migration routes are much safer because they are relatively short, do not cross any highways and are for the most part within the Bighorn National Forest. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the Medicine Lodge population in Wyoming. They were developed from 52 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 19 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

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