Migration Routes of Elk in Gooseberry Herd in Wyoming

Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the southern section of the Absaroka Range display altitudinal migration. In the spring, they migrate from the eastern foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 69). The herd, which numbers around 2,700, primarily winters along the southeastern foothills of the Absaroka Range just northwest of the Owl Creek Mountains. Winter ranges consist mostly of shrubs, largely supported by private land with smaller areas of BLM land. During migration animals travel an average one-way distance of 22 mi (35 km) ranging from as little as 9 mi (14 km) to as far as 52 mi (84 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head west up the eastern side of the Absaroka Range. 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, although some individuals will summer within the Wind River Indian Reservation. 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 National Forest. Aside for the few individuals that summer in the Wind River Indian Reservation, most of the herd will summer within the boundaries of the Shoshone National Forest and are therefore under much less threat during those months. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the Gooseberry population in Wyoming. They were developed from 67 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 35 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

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  "geospatial"
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