Migration Routes of Elk in Wiggins Fork Herd in Wyoming
Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the southernmost section of the Absaroka Range, just north of the Wind River Range, display altitudinal migration (fig. 71). In the spring, they migrate from the southern foothills near Dubois up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations. The herd, which numbers around 6,000, primarily winters between the Absaroka Range to the north and the Wind River Range to the south. Winter ranges consist mostly of shrubs, largely supported by private land with smaller areas of BLM and Wyoming Game and Fish land. During migration animals travel an average one way distance of 32 mi (51 km) ranging from as little as 8 mi (13 km) to as far as 69 mi (111 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head north and northwest up the southern side of the Absaroka Range following clearings between the pine trees. Summer ranges consist of evergreen forests that are predominantly lodgepole pine with smaller areas of open herbaceous grasslands and low growing shrubs. The summer range is almost entirely within the Shoshone National Forest, however, a large portion of the herd group off and head northwest into the Teton 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 do not cross any highways and are for the most part within the Shoshone or Teton National Forests. The group that migrates northwest into the Tetons may encounter route 26, which could pose a threat of collision with motorists. Additionally, some individuals may winter in the Wind River Indian Reservation. Most of the herd will summer within the boundaries of the Shoshone and Teton National Forest and are therefore under much less threat during those months.
These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the Wiggins Fork population in Wyoming. They were developed from 80 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 16 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.
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| description | Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the southernmost section of the Absaroka Range, just north of the Wind River Range, display altitudinal migration (fig. 71). In the spring, they migrate from the southern foothills near Dubois up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations. The herd, which numbers around 6,000, primarily winters between the Absaroka Range to the north and the Wind River Range to the south. Winter ranges consist mostly of shrubs, largely supported by private land with smaller areas of BLM and Wyoming Game and Fish land. During migration animals travel an average one way distance of 32 mi (51 km) ranging from as little as 8 mi (13 km) to as far as 69 mi (111 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head north and northwest up the southern side of the Absaroka Range following clearings between the pine trees. Summer ranges consist of evergreen forests that are predominantly lodgepole pine with smaller areas of open herbaceous grasslands and low growing shrubs. The summer range is almost entirely within the Shoshone National Forest, however, a large portion of the herd group off and head northwest into the Teton 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 do not cross any highways and are for the most part within the Shoshone or Teton National Forests. The group that migrates northwest into the Tetons may encounter route 26, which could pose a threat of collision with motorists. Additionally, some individuals may winter in the Wind River Indian Reservation. Most of the herd will summer within the boundaries of the Shoshone and Teton National Forest and are therefore under much less threat during those months. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the Wiggins Fork population in Wyoming. They were developed from 80 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 16 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 Wiggins Fork Herd in Wyoming |
