Many western species of large ungulates migrate between seasonal ranges, some using the same corridors and habitats that they have used for thousands of years. "Managing and Protecting North America's Ungulate Migratory Pathways," one of four concurrent Special Sessions at the 79^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Denver, CO, will outline threats to and opportunities for habitat conservation and management of ungulate migratory pathways and stopover habitats. Speakers will address data management, habitat conservation, policy needs, and new educational opportunities, to ensure proper management and protection of ungulate migratory pathways. The session is scheduled from 10 am to noon on Wednesday, March 12.

Ungulate migrations are a large-scale phenomenon often covering long distances and across multiple jurisdictions. But these migrations face continued threats from energy development, urbanization, and other land conversions, coupled with a changing climate and degrading habitat conditions. Recent research made possible by the advent of GPS technologies has provided a better understanding of migration ecology and specificity of routes.

While winter range is critically important to large ungulates like mule deer and pronghorn, maintaining functional migration routes between seasonal ranges may be equally important. Unfortunately, winter range protection often is the norm for land management agencies, and even winter range protection can be inadequate to ensure sustained populations of ungulates that meet state wildlife agency management objectives. Consideration of special management of stopover habitats and other key sections of migratory pathways are lacking. When factors critical to mule deer population health are strengthened, such as protecting migration corridors and implementing responsible energy development, many other game and non-game animals share in the benefits.

New efforts to synthesize disparate spatial data on migration are underway and will aid in advancing conservation and management practices that safeguard migration routes. These efforts will provide useful products on ungulate migrations to the public, managers and decision-makers through research, public education and outreach. Recent efforts in Wyoming and elsewhere could set a precedent and serve as a model that can be duplicated for conserving ungulate migratory pathways throughout the Western United States.

Policy and management changes arising from this and other projects will raise the bar and set high standards for managing migratory ungulates. Policy changes requiring additional protections are difficult and are often met with opposition from project proponents and agencies alike. Focusing on key areas for protection and looking for ways to protect habitats that provide protection for multiple species may be more effective. Ultimately, the incorporation of migration data (e.g., critical route segments) into BLM and USFS decision-making through a range of policy instruments will be needed to ensure protection of ungulate migrations.

Special Session Co-chairs are Bill Rudd, Wyoming Migration Initiative, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and Dr. Ed Arnett, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

Learn more about the 79^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources conference.