Migration corridor state designation and protection plays a critical role in enhancing the resiliency of wildlife populations by ensuring they can move freely between essential habitats, especially in response to changing environmental conditions. Wyoming is home to some of the longest, most intact big game migrations and the largest, most diverse ungulate populations in the U.S. These migrations require vast, uninterrupted landscapes, such as those in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF). The BTNF spans mountain ranges, river valleys, glacial fields, and sagebrush plains, providing critical habitats for species like pronghorn antelope, mule deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, native trout, Greater Sage-Grouse, grizzly bears, and grey wolves.
The Bridger-Teton National Forest land use management plan revision is currently underway. There are two migration corridors of interest in this region: the Sublette Antelope and the Wyoming Range Mule Deer migration corridors. To have the Forest Service take into account the State’s management priorities, Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF) will work to have the migration corridors designated by the time the BTNF planning process is complete. They will also advocate for additional wildlife crossings to ensure safer passage.
