A GIS for Evaluating Potential Migration
Barriers for Big Game Animals in Wyoming

Description: 
Numerous natural and human-made landscape elements can constrain habitat suitable to the seasonal migration of big game animals such as elk, mule deer and antelope. This projects focus is to digitize known migration barriers (roads, fences, etc) based on expert knowledge. Wyoming Game and Fish biologists from around the state have drawn and labeled 1:100K maps with elements thought to inhibit the migration of one or more big game species that exhibit seasonal migrations. This database will be invaluable for planning new development around critical big game routes, and restoring migration corridors that may already be significantly interrupted by human-induced changes to the landscape.

Dates:
July 2002 through June 2003

Funding Sponsor:
Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Principal Investigator:
Nathan Nibbelink

Co-Principal Investigator:
D. Feeney (Ruckleshaus Institute for Environment and Natural Resources
R. Cupal (UW - Ag and Applied Economics)

Other personnel:
S. Lanning