Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Wildlife migrations sustain species, ecosystems, and economies
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Friday, October 14, 2022
For many animals, fall is a time of migration, which means they may be more active near roadways and can cross roads unexpectedly. Drivers should use caution and slow down, especially at dawn, dusk and during the night when visibility is reduced. Photo by Diane Renkin @Interior ([link removed])
A new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts ([link removed]) looks at the growing body of data around the millions of mule deer, elk, pronghorn, and other large ungulates (hoofed mammals) that migrate across the Western United States each year. Ungulates travel great distances between summer and winter habitats, supporting many species by transporting seeds, moving biomass and nutrients across the landscape, and feeding predators. Along the way they support billions of dollars in economic output ([link removed]) from activities such as hunting and wildlife tourism.
Scientists’ understanding of these migrations has been revolutionized in recent years thanks to GPS technology in the form of collars affixed to individual animals. This technology enables researchers to pinpoint when, where, and how wildlife traverse across the vast landscapes of the American West. The report, “How to Conserve Wildlife Migrations in the West,” ([link removed]) promotes further integration of the rapidly evolving research with state, tribal, and federal management and policy efforts. Since the beginning of 2022 ([link removed]) , seven Western states have passed legislation to maintain wildlife habitat and movement, a watershed moment for landscape-scale connectivity efforts.
Pew’s report supports the finding that ungulate migrations are a critical part of the life cycle. ([link removed]) Animals that migrate successfully are more likely to survive the winter and produce healthier young. When migration pathways are disrupted due to development, transportation systems, urban sprawl, fencing, and energy and mineral extraction operations, animals cannot access adequate food or habitat and populations tend to decline. In addition to identifying several key threats, Pew developed a set of recommendations ([link removed]) to help land and wildlife managers, conservationists, industry, and others better coordinate and direct their efforts to conserve migratory corridors.
Quick hits
** New documentary: A pair of suckers and a chub worth saving
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Telluride Daily Planet ([link removed])
** Advocates seek to build on momentum from Biden's first national monument designation
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The Hill ([link removed])
** California delays decision to list Joshua Tree as threatened
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Palm Springs Desert Sun ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** Toxic dust storms a growing threat as Utah's Great Salt Lake shrinks
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Wyoming Public Radio ([link removed])
** Navajo woman walks from Arizona to D.C. to spotlight her missing aunt, other victims
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Washington Post ([link removed])
** Utah man sentenced for organizing illegal dirt bike race in Grand Teton National Park
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Jackson Hole News & Guide ([link removed])
** Report: Wildlife migrations in the U.S. sustain species, ecosystems, and economies
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Pew Charitable Trusts ([link removed])
** Advisory board begins process to rename Colorado's Mount Evans
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” As a Cheyenne woman raising my children here, I just want to have a different connection to the mountain than the Evans name.”
—Morning Star Jones, a Cheyenne descendent of survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre; Colorado Sun ([link removed])
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** @USFWS ([link removed])
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Do you know how to spot a healthy forest? We talked to experts about what makes forests great habitat for wildlife: [link removed] ([link removed]) . Photo: @LassenNPS ([link removed]) , by Kim Turner/USFWS
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