Migratory ungulates are susceptible to effects of development along their migration corridors. For example, impermeable barriers such as tall fences preclude movements of migratory populations. Most forms of development in the West, however, represent semipermeable barriers, and their influences on migration remain unclear. This study entails using fine-scale mule deer movement data to evaluate the influence of anthropogenic barriers on the animals’ migratory behaviors. Our efforts include evaluating the rate of travel, duration of stopovers, and route fidelity of deer migrating across a gradient of development in Southwest Wyoming.
In FY2014, we analyzed mule deer movement metrics and use of migration stopover sites. Our results indicate that mule deer tolerate moderate levels of development along short portions of their migration routes without behavioral effects; however, deer increase their rates of movement if more intense development has occurred along longer portions of their routes. Results from this study will allow managers to understand how to balance development with maintaining migratory corridors in Southwest Wyoming and elsewhere in the West. In addition, our work is helping to document the Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration corridor (see http://migrationinitiative.org/content/red-desert-hoback-migration-assessment). The BLM, WGFD, and some nongovernmental organizations are using this information to guide fencing modifications, habitat enhancements, and revisions to their resource management plan.
Products Completed in FY2014
- Wyckoff, T.B., 2014, Identifying threshold levels of development that impede Wyoming ungulate migrations: presented at the Annual Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit Partners Meeting, April 24, 2014, Laramie, Wyo.
- Wyckoff, T.B., Kauffman, M.J., Albeke, S.E., and Sawyer, Hal, 2014, Identifying threshold levels of development that impede mule deer migrations: presented at The Wildlife Society Wyoming Chapter and Central Mountains and Plains Section Joint Annual Meeting, August 26-28, 2014, Sheridan, Wyo.
Products Completed in FY2013
- Kauffman, M.J., 2012, The ecology and conservation of migratory ungulates, presented at the annual conference of The Wildlife Society, October, 12, 2012, Portland, Oreg.
- Wyckoff, T., Kauffman, M., Albeke, S., and Sawyer, H., 2013, Evaluating the influence of development on mule deer migrations, presented at the Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society, October 30, 2013, Rock Springs, Wyo.
Product Completed in FY2012
- Sawyer, H., Kauffman, M.J., Middleton, A.D., Morrison, T.A., Nielson, R.M., and Wyckoff, T.B., 2013, A framework for understanding semi-permeable barrier effects on migratory ungulates: Journal of Applied Ecology, v. 50, p. 68-78.
Products Completed in FY2011
- Wyckoff, T.B., Kauffman, M.J., and Albeke, S.E., 2001, Evaluating the influence of development on ungulate migrations: Annual Meeting of The Wildlife Society, November 5-10, 2011, Kona, Hawaii [poster].
- Wyckoff, T.B., Kauffman, M.J., and Albeke, S.E., 2001, Evaluating the influence of development on ungulate migrations: Annual Meeting of the Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society, December 6-9, 2011, Jackson, Wyo. [poster].
- Allen, L.A., and Kauffman, M.J., 2012, WLCI researchers employ new approaches to help managers conserve deer migrations: U.S. Geological Survey, WLCI Fact Sheet 2, 4 p., online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/wlci/fs/2/WLCI_fs_2.pdf.
Products Completed in FY2010
- Sawyer, H.S., 2010, Habitat use and migration ecology of mule deer in developing gas fields of western Wyoming: Laramie, Wyo., University of Wyoming, Ph.D. dissertation.
- Sawyer, H., and Kauffman, M.J., 2011, Stopover ecology of a migratory ungulate: Journal of Animal Ecology, v. 80, 10 p., online at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01845.x/pdf.
- Sawyer, H., 2010, Big game impact assessment -- Lessons learned from natural gas development in Wyoming, in National Wind Coordinating Collaborative, October 20, 2010, in Denver, Colo. [presentation]
Products Completed in FY2009
- Sawyer, H.S., Kauffman, M.J., Nielson, R.M., and Horne, J., 2009, Identifying and prioritizing ungulate migration routes for landscape-level conservation: Ecological Applications, v. 19, p. 2016-2025.
- Sawyer, H., and Kauffman, M.J., in review, Stopover ecology of a migratory ungulate: submitted to Ecology.
- Kauffman, M.J, Middleton, A., and Sawyer, H., 2009, Conserving ungulate migrations -- A prospectus for research and management: Presentation for the Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society annual meeting, November, 2009.
- Sawyer, H., Kauffman, M.J., Nielson, R.M., and Horne, J.S., 2009, Identifying and prioritizing ungulate migration routes for landscape-level conservation: Presentation for the USGS WLCI Science Workshop, May, 2009.
- Sawyer, H., 2009, Mule deer and energy development in Wyoming: Presentation for the U.S. Forest Service Region II Meeting, February, 2009.
