LANDER — On the Sept. 9-10 assembly in Lander, the Wyoming Sport and Fish Fee voted to advocate consideration of the whole Sublette Antelope Migration Hall for designation to the Governor, together with the East of Farson and the Purple Desert segments. The choice got here after preliminary suggestions from the Wyoming Sport and Fish Division, adopted by public remark and dialogue.
The Sublette Antelope Migration Hall is utilized by one in every of Wyoming’s largest antelope populations, with migration routes starting from 6 to 165 miles throughout Fremont, Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, and Teton counties. The hall was formally recognized in March 2024 to delineate paths antelope use as they migrate between summer time and winter ranges. Sport and Fish used knowledge from greater than 20 years of analysis, together with GPS collar knowledge from greater than 500 antelope, to grasp and handle these actions.
Sport and Fish is working to formally designate the hall via the method outlined within the Governor’s Migration Hall Govt Order. The purpose is to establish and mitigate threats the pronghorn are dealing with. Threats which might be evaluated for all corridors embrace habitat fragmentation, off-road automobile use, roads and fencing, invasive annual grasses and poor habitat high quality. Utilizing knowledge to delineate seasonal use aids within the long-term administration of the herd.
Through the September assembly, Sport and Fish really helpful the designation of eight segments of the hall to the Fee (North, Bondurant, Foothills, East of 191,Central, Caplet, Fontenelle, and Southwest). Preserving according to the Govt Order’s flexibility between designation and identification, the 2 southeastern segments, East of Farson and Purple Desert, weren’t really helpful for designation at the moment. Sport and Fish cited a scarcity of high-use segments, no recognized bottlenecks and restricted menace ranges on this space.
On the assembly, Sport and Fish Director Angi Bruce emphasised that, whereas Sport and Fish was not at present recommending designation for the southeast areas of the Hall, that may not exclude them from designation sooner or later.
“The existence of the organic danger and alternative evaluation on the Purple Desert space would undoubtedly expedite the method of designating it as a migration hall if we really feel this step is important sooner or later,” Bruce mentioned. “Defining a migration hall per the Govt Order in a means that’s scientifically based mostly and safe is one of the simplest ways to maneuver ahead, nonetheless, we wish to emphasize that not designating the hall wouldn’t imply we is not going to proceed to work on migration options within the Purple Desert space or work with stakeholders to make sure the perfect habitat-friendly improvement options are offered for that space.”
Public remark for and in opposition to the designation of all 10 segments was heard by the Fee, who finally voted to approve the whole migration hall and ship the advice on to Governor Mark Gordon for consideration as a chosen hall.
Bruce mentioned that the ultimate resolution is finally a win for wildlife, and the choice helped steadiness the scientific knowledge with stakeholder enter that can make the designation a long-lasting success.
” Bruce mentioned. “Whereas the division’s focus is on offering the perfect out there science for decision-making, the Fee is important in contemplating the broader context and what it means for our stakeholders. The Govt Order is one in every of its type within the nation. Getting this proper is just not solely vital for wildlife immediately, however for future wildlife coverage.
For extra info on Sport and Fish’s work with migration in Wyoming, go to the Sport and Fish’s big game migration information page.
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