Elk in Wyoming

Ungulate migration is one of the world’s most awe-inspiring animal behaviors, and it has important ecological benefits for the migrating species, as well as cascading effects throughout terrestrial food webs. Yet, ungulate migrations have been declining globally due to factors such as anthropogenic disturbances and environmental change. Elk are an iconic species of the western United States with many of the populations being migratory. Understanding how elk migration persists over time within a population is an important step to protecting migratory populations.