How does land development affect migratory ungulates?
A new research brief authored by Beyond Yellowstone Living Lab research coordinator Kristin Barker shares what we’ve learned over the years about how migratory ungulates like elk, deer, and pronghorn respond to land development. As the needs for residential, energy, and commercial development continue to grow across the region, understanding how land use change affects wildlife species will become increasingly important.
Key takeaways from the research brief include:
Migratory ungulates tend to avoid developed areas, even if they have good habitat.
There are thresholds of development that animals can no longer adjust to.
Many tools can help limit negative effects of development on wildlife, including incentive-based and policy-based approaches.