Wyoming Pronghorn Elk Mountain Migration Routes
The Elk Mountain pronghorn herd inhabits south-central Wyoming to the south of Interstate 80, southeast of Rawlins, Wyoming, and north of the Sierra Madre range and Medicine Bow Mountains (fig. 34). This herd unit is dominated by arid to semiarid Wyoming big sagebrush-steppe and characterized by harsh winters. This GPS-collaring project (2010–12) was initiated to serve as a control herd for a wind energy and pronghorn study in the Shirley Basin of Central Wyoming (Taylor, 2014). Pronghorn in this herd are partially migratory and use habitat on the eastern and western sides of Wyoming Highway 130. They generally winter in a valley to the north of Saratoga, Wyoming, along Wyoming Highway 130 and the North Platte River. During the spring, pronghorn either migrate to the south toward the foothills of the Sierra Madre or to the east toward Elk Mountain. Pronghorn that summer to the east of the Elk Mountain migrate either to the south or to the north around the mountain; pronghorn face moderately narrow bottlenecks on each route that are created by Pennock Mountain to the south of Elk Mountain or Interstate 80 to the north of Elk Mountain. Some individual pronghorn in this herd seasonally overlap with the Baggs herd (refer to the “Baggs Pronghorn” section in this report).
The Elk Mountain pronghorn herd faces many threats from human development. Interstate 80 is the most prominent barrier to pronghorn movement (Robb and others, 2022). Pronghorn rarely cross the interstate because of the road’s high traffic volume and associated net-wired right-of-way fencing; additionally, part of the Union Pacific railroad parallels the interstate. Wyoming Highway 130 and associated fencing also limit pronghorn movement, but pronghorn can cross this highway and fencing more easily than Interstate 80 (Robb and others, 2022). Pronghorn also encounter some exurban development near Saratoga and Elk Mountain, Wyoming, as well as cattle ranching and agricultural land, primarily pastures and meadows for hay production.
These mapping layers show the location of the migration routes for pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in the Elk Mountain population in Wyoming. They were developed from 73 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 24 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 7-11 hours.
Complete Metadata
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| description | The Elk Mountain pronghorn herd inhabits south-central Wyoming to the south of Interstate 80, southeast of Rawlins, Wyoming, and north of the Sierra Madre range and Medicine Bow Mountains (fig. 34). This herd unit is dominated by arid to semiarid Wyoming big sagebrush-steppe and characterized by harsh winters. This GPS-collaring project (2010–12) was initiated to serve as a control herd for a wind energy and pronghorn study in the Shirley Basin of Central Wyoming (Taylor, 2014). Pronghorn in this herd are partially migratory and use habitat on the eastern and western sides of Wyoming Highway 130. They generally winter in a valley to the north of Saratoga, Wyoming, along Wyoming Highway 130 and the North Platte River. During the spring, pronghorn either migrate to the south toward the foothills of the Sierra Madre or to the east toward Elk Mountain. Pronghorn that summer to the east of the Elk Mountain migrate either to the south or to the north around the mountain; pronghorn face moderately narrow bottlenecks on each route that are created by Pennock Mountain to the south of Elk Mountain or Interstate 80 to the north of Elk Mountain. Some individual pronghorn in this herd seasonally overlap with the Baggs herd (refer to the “Baggs Pronghorn” section in this report). The Elk Mountain pronghorn herd faces many threats from human development. Interstate 80 is the most prominent barrier to pronghorn movement (Robb and others, 2022). Pronghorn rarely cross the interstate because of the road’s high traffic volume and associated net-wired right-of-way fencing; additionally, part of the Union Pacific railroad parallels the interstate. Wyoming Highway 130 and associated fencing also limit pronghorn movement, but pronghorn can cross this highway and fencing more easily than Interstate 80 (Robb and others, 2022). Pronghorn also encounter some exurban development near Saratoga and Elk Mountain, Wyoming, as well as cattle ranching and agricultural land, primarily pastures and meadows for hay production. These mapping layers show the location of the migration routes for pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in the Elk Mountain population in Wyoming. They were developed from 73 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 24 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 7-11 hours. |
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| modified | 2025-02-06T00:00:00Z |
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| title | Wyoming Pronghorn Elk Mountain Migration Routes |
