Migration Routes of Elk in Fossil Buttes Population in Wyoming

The Fossil Butte (hereafter referred to as the Monument in this section of the report) elk population winters in the southern Wyoming Range between Fossil Butte National Monument and Cokeville (fig. 45). During spring, they migrate north short (11 mi [18 km]) to medium (74 mi [119 km]) distances. The segment of the elk population that winters near the Monument migrates into the Wyoming Range at the head of the Hams Fork and LaBarge Creek. This population departs their summer ranges during the beginning of archery season in early fall for the Monument, where no hunting is allowed. Elk wintering closer to Cokeville migrate north in the spring along the western edge of the Wyoming Range. Cokeville collared elk departed their summer ranges later in the season, timed with weather events and vegetation senescence. Challenges to this elk herd include crossing U.S. Highway 89. These data provide the location of migration routes for Elk (Cervus canadensis) in the Fossil Butte herd in Wyoming. They were developed from Brownian bridge movement models using 207 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 72 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2-8 hours.

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  "010:12"
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  "geospatial"
]