Wind River wildlife corridor designation aims to conserve mule deer populations
CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission's identification of the Upper Wind River migration corridor during its meeting in Douglas on Sept. 10 will allow for funding to help conserve mule deer populations.
This wildlife crossing project will also include the construction of three new underpasses, one overpass and the improvement of three existing underpasses.
"Identifying corridors allows us to use science to highlight some of the most important mule deer movements and habitats so that all users can implement practices to conserve these areas," WGFD Director Angi Bruce said in a statement.
The Upper Wind River Mule Deer Migration Corridor is primarily used by the Dubois mule deer herd, but also provides vital passage for mule deer from the Sublette herd and Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.
According the the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), the corridor follows the same route as US26 and results in frequent wildlife-vehicle collisions, particularly in the spring and fall migrations when hundreds of mule deer cross the road. Mule deer in this herd migrate from five to 90 miles between their high-elevation summer ranges in the Wind River, Absaroka, Gros Ventre and Teton mountain ranges and their low-elevation winter ranges on the eastern Wind River front.
The WGFD said in an announcement that the identification of this corridor will allow for additional funding opportunities for conservation-based projects on private and public lands to treat invasive annual grasses, improve range fences to wildlife-friendly standards and other proactive management actions.
