Wyoming Migration Initiative
@wyo-migrations.bsky.social
We are a research group based at the University of Wyoming, engaged in tracking and conserving big game migrations by sharing science with the public. We post migration tracking, wildlife images, and stories. migrationinitiative.org
#Deer665's route shows the bigger picture of ungulate migrations in the American West: Animals move from desert winter ranges to lush summer ranges, maximizing the extreme contrast of the seasons to their advantage. These migrations support abundant herds and intact ecosystems. #Deer #Science
July 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
#Deer665's route shows the bigger picture of ungulate migrations in the American West: Animals move from desert winter ranges to lush summer ranges, maximizing the extreme contrast of the seasons to their advantage. These migrations support abundant herds and intact ecosystems. #Deer #Science
In South Park of #JacksonHole, #Deer665 bounded across busy US 26/191 and passed ranch lands, a golf course, and conservation easements before swimming the Snake River. Then she climbed over the 8,400 crest of #TetonPass to reach summer range.
July 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
In South Park of #JacksonHole, #Deer665 bounded across busy US 26/191 and passed ranch lands, a golf course, and conservation easements before swimming the Snake River. Then she climbed over the 8,400 crest of #TetonPass to reach summer range.
On June 3rd, Deer 665 crossed Granite Creek and headed up the Boulder Creek drainage where she finished the week of migration on June 4. (Image of another #deer nicknamed Jo, that we tracked in Granite Creek back in 2020, Credit Tanner Warder, Wyoming Coop Unit). @deerposts.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
On June 3rd, Deer 665 crossed Granite Creek and headed up the Boulder Creek drainage where she finished the week of migration on June 4. (Image of another #deer nicknamed Jo, that we tracked in Granite Creek back in 2020, Credit Tanner Warder, Wyoming Coop Unit). @deerposts.bsky.social
By June 2nd, Deer 665 had climbed to a spot 1.5 miles north of US 191 where it enters the east side of Hoback River Canyon. This is close to where Deer 665 was born in June 2021, a story we are excited to share in the coming weeks. (Image of Hoback Basin pronghorn from May 2018)
June 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
By June 2nd, Deer 665 had climbed to a spot 1.5 miles north of US 191 where it enters the east side of Hoback River Canyon. This is close to where Deer 665 was born in June 2021, a story we are excited to share in the coming weeks. (Image of Hoback Basin pronghorn from May 2018)
Deer 665’s fourth week of migration started at the Raspberry Ridge stopover from May 28-31. She was likely eating wildflowers like sticky purple geranium, arrowleaf balsalmroot (shown here), lupine, and mules ears (wyethia), before she started migrating again on June 1st.
June 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Deer 665’s fourth week of migration started at the Raspberry Ridge stopover from May 28-31. She was likely eating wildflowers like sticky purple geranium, arrowleaf balsalmroot (shown here), lupine, and mules ears (wyethia), before she started migrating again on June 1st.
@deerposts.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
@deerposts.bsky.social
@deerposts.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
@deerposts.bsky.social
@deerposts.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
@deerposts.bsky.social
#Deer665 has migrated a long way to reach these slopes of wildflowers, aspen and pine that offer food and security. Raspberry Ridge is one of #Deer 665’s favorite stopovers from previous years. She spent five days here in May 2024, and two weeks in June 2023. (Clip from 2018.)
June 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
#Deer665 came within 1/4 mile of the Rim Station on May 23, leaving the Upper Green and entering Hoback Basin (shown in photo). She stayed north of US 191. By May 24, #Deer 665 made it to Raspberry Ridge, where she spent five days on stopover to close out week three of her migration on May 28.
June 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
On May 22 #deer665 bounded across the Cora highway WY 352 (shown in this Joe Riis photo) and splashed across the Green River later that day.
June 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
On May 22 #deer665 bounded across the Cora highway WY 352 (shown in this Joe Riis photo) and splashed across the Green River later that day.
From there #Deer665 crossed the Soda Lake Wildlife Habitat Management area on May 21, and passed another bottleneck at Willow Lake. (Deer foraging on lupine near Willow Lake in May 2018, credit Gregory Nickerson - Wyoming Migration Initiative)
June 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
From there #Deer665 crossed the Soda Lake Wildlife Habitat Management area on May 21, and passed another bottleneck at Willow Lake. (Deer foraging on lupine near Willow Lake in May 2018, credit Gregory Nickerson - Wyoming Migration Initiative)
This effort is a great example of migration data leading to targeted, voluntary conservation.
June 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This effort is a great example of migration data leading to targeted, voluntary conservation.
The Luke Lynch wildlife refuge was named in memory of the #Wyoming director of @theconservationfund who raised more than $2M to purchase and restore the land & donate it to WY Game and Fish Dept.
June 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The Luke Lynch wildlife refuge was named in memory of the #Wyoming director of @theconservationfund who raised more than $2M to purchase and restore the land & donate it to WY Game and Fish Dept.
The map shows her swimming across Fremont Lake bottleneck outside of Pinedale on May 20, though our GPS didn’t pick up the exact crossing location.
From there #Deer 665 moved through the Luke Lynch Wildlife Habitat Management Area.
From there #Deer 665 moved through the Luke Lynch Wildlife Habitat Management Area.
June 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The map shows her swimming across Fremont Lake bottleneck outside of Pinedale on May 20, though our GPS didn’t pick up the exact crossing location.
From there #Deer 665 moved through the Luke Lynch Wildlife Habitat Management Area.
From there #Deer 665 moved through the Luke Lynch Wildlife Habitat Management Area.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department,
Bureau of Land Management – Wyoming,
The Nature Conservancy,
The Pew Charitable Trusts,
and Sweetwater Royalties, Ghost Town of Superior Wyoming, and Wildcat Coal (for private land access).
Bureau of Land Management – Wyoming,
The Nature Conservancy,
The Pew Charitable Trusts,
and Sweetwater Royalties, Ghost Town of Superior Wyoming, and Wildcat Coal (for private land access).
June 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Wyoming Game and Fish Department,
Bureau of Land Management – Wyoming,
The Nature Conservancy,
The Pew Charitable Trusts,
and Sweetwater Royalties, Ghost Town of Superior Wyoming, and Wildcat Coal (for private land access).
Bureau of Land Management – Wyoming,
The Nature Conservancy,
The Pew Charitable Trusts,
and Sweetwater Royalties, Ghost Town of Superior Wyoming, and Wildcat Coal (for private land access).
Biodiversity Institute of UW – Don and Judy Legerski Fellowship,
Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship,
the UW Science Initiative Graduate Fellowship,
USGS Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative,
Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition,
Teton Conservation District,
Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship,
the UW Science Initiative Graduate Fellowship,
USGS Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative,
Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition,
Teton Conservation District,
June 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Biodiversity Institute of UW – Don and Judy Legerski Fellowship,
Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship,
the UW Science Initiative Graduate Fellowship,
USGS Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative,
Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition,
Teton Conservation District,
Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship,
the UW Science Initiative Graduate Fellowship,
USGS Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative,
Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition,
Teton Conservation District,
Muley Fanatic Foundation – Southwest Wyoming Chapter,
Muley Fanatic Foundation Upper Green Chapter
10 Country Chapter of The Muley Fanatic Foundation,
Mule Deer Foundation of Wyoming,
Mule Deer Foundation Headquarters,
SITKA Gear,
National Science Foundation,
Muley Fanatic Foundation Upper Green Chapter
10 Country Chapter of The Muley Fanatic Foundation,
Mule Deer Foundation of Wyoming,
Mule Deer Foundation Headquarters,
SITKA Gear,
National Science Foundation,
June 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Muley Fanatic Foundation – Southwest Wyoming Chapter,
Muley Fanatic Foundation Upper Green Chapter
10 Country Chapter of The Muley Fanatic Foundation,
Mule Deer Foundation of Wyoming,
Mule Deer Foundation Headquarters,
SITKA Gear,
National Science Foundation,
Muley Fanatic Foundation Upper Green Chapter
10 Country Chapter of The Muley Fanatic Foundation,
Mule Deer Foundation of Wyoming,
Mule Deer Foundation Headquarters,
SITKA Gear,
National Science Foundation,
The Red Desert Mule Deer Study is generously supported by many partners and funders, including:
Knobloch Family Foundation,
George B. Storer Foundation,
Safari Club International Foundation and 100 Hunter Legacy Endowment Fund,
Muley Fanatic Foundation Headquarters,
Knobloch Family Foundation,
George B. Storer Foundation,
Safari Club International Foundation and 100 Hunter Legacy Endowment Fund,
Muley Fanatic Foundation Headquarters,
June 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The Red Desert Mule Deer Study is generously supported by many partners and funders, including:
Knobloch Family Foundation,
George B. Storer Foundation,
Safari Club International Foundation and 100 Hunter Legacy Endowment Fund,
Muley Fanatic Foundation Headquarters,
Knobloch Family Foundation,
George B. Storer Foundation,
Safari Club International Foundation and 100 Hunter Legacy Endowment Fund,
Muley Fanatic Foundation Headquarters,
Cartography by WMI's Ian Freeman, based on maps by our Wild Migrations atlas partners at the Department of Geography, University of Oregon InfoGraphics lab.
June 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Cartography by WMI's Ian Freeman, based on maps by our Wild Migrations atlas partners at the Department of Geography, University of Oregon InfoGraphics lab.