Migration Routes of Elk in North Bighorn Herd in Wyoming
Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the northern section of the Bighorn Mountains display altitudinal migration. In the spring, they migrate from the eastern foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 67). The herd, which numbers around 5,500, primarily winters along the eastern foothills of the northern Bighorn Mountains just west of Sheridan, though some will winter north towards Bighorn Canyon. Winter ranges are a mix of shrubs and herbaceous grasslands, largely supported by private land. During migration animals travel an average one-way distance of 21 mi (34 km) ranging from as little as 5 mi (8 km) to as far as 83 mi (134 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head west up the eastern side of the Bighorn Mountains. They traverse up the slopes generally following clearings 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. 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 largely consists 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 National Forest.
These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the North Bighorn population in Wyoming. They were developed from 109 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 63 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.
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| description | Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the northern section of the Bighorn Mountains display altitudinal migration. In the spring, they migrate from the eastern foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 67). The herd, which numbers around 5,500, primarily winters along the eastern foothills of the northern Bighorn Mountains just west of Sheridan, though some will winter north towards Bighorn Canyon. Winter ranges are a mix of shrubs and herbaceous grasslands, largely supported by private land. During migration animals travel an average one-way distance of 21 mi (34 km) ranging from as little as 5 mi (8 km) to as far as 83 mi (134 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head west up the eastern side of the Bighorn Mountains. They traverse up the slopes generally following clearings 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. 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 largely consists 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 National Forest. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the North Bighorn population in Wyoming. They were developed from 109 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 63 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours. |
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| modified | 2022-04-07T00:00:00Z |
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| title | Migration Routes of Elk in North Bighorn Herd in Wyoming |
