Wyoming Project
Uinta Mule Deer Survival, Movement, and Habitat Use
January 2020 - January 2025
Personnel
Participating Agencies
- Muley Fanatic Foundation
- Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department
The purpose of this study is to collect movement and habitat use data for mule deer to aid WYDOT, WGFD, and partners in reducing wildlife vehicle collisions and conserving ungulate migrations along the I-80 corridor in western Wyoming.
Study Objectives:
1. To document mule deer migration patterns relative to I-80 and other highways (HWY 30, 189, 410). Mule deer migration corridors have never been mapped in this part of Wyoming, and this collaring study is providing this critical information.
2. To identify current mule deer use of existing crossing structures along the I-80 corridor. Our specific geographic focus is the Mountain View/Evanston area, including the southern portion of HWY 189.
The project is a collaboration among our research group at UW, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Green River Region), and WYDOT engineers. Study collaborators include Matt Kauffman, Bill Rudd (Wyoming Migration Initiative), Jeff Short (WGFD), and Scott Gamo and Thomas Hart (WYDOT).