Free talk: From Here to There and Back Again - A Mule Deer's Tale

Join us for the December Lunchtime Expedition, "From Here to There and Back Again: A Mule Deer’s Tale," presented by Tony Mong, Wildlife Biologist with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department.
 

The in-person talk takes place in the Center’s Coe Auditorium, with a virtual attendance option available at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_opFMuRoHQiOuYq3AJFgPkw.
 

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are an iconic species of North American wildlife. They symbolize the diverse landscapes of the western United States and play a critical role as an indicator of ecosystem health. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), home to one of the most intact and ecologically significant ecosystems in North America, has long been a stronghold for mule deer populations. However, recent decades have seen significant challenges for mule deer populations across the GYE, driven by factors such as habitat fragmentation, climate change, disease, and increasing human-wildlife conflict.
 

Through the use of GPS collars, trail cameras and video collar technology, researchers are now able to monitor the migratory patterns, habitat use, environmental interactions, and behavioral changes of deer, providing invaluable insights into how these animals navigate an increasingly fragmented landscape. By understanding the factors influencing mule deer movement, we can better inform conservation efforts and habitat management strategies aimed at ensuring their future in the wild.
 

The Upper Shoshone mule deer herd located west of Cody, Wyoming, is not immune to the increasing challenges facing all mule deer populations. In the minds of many wildlife managers it is at a pivotal point that will impact the management of this herd into the future. This presentation explores the unique challenges facing mule deer populations within the Upper Shoshone mule deer herd and gives the audience a unique view into the life of the mule deer that lives a life of antithesis—immersed in both human development and remote, untouched wilderness.