Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Utah
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The UT Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI) aims to improve habitat across UT by funding active restoration projects. Much of these restoration activities are expected to benefit mule deer populations which are limited by winter foraging opportunities, for example. However, the impacts of WRI treatments on mule deer haven't yet been systematically investigated. Understanding use of WRI treatment lands can help the WRI and the UT Division of Wildlife Resources to strategically site treatment projects for maximal benefit, and optimize the use of resources for specific gains. This project is a collaboration between UT Division of Natural Resources, UT Division of Wildlife Resources, and the UT CRU. Resulting models of space use will help to inform strategic siting decisions for potential treatments, and will provide information on portfolios of treatments across landscapes that most benefit deer populations.