Tennessee Watson, a reporter for Wyoming Public Media; UW Research Scientist Samantha
Dwinnell; and Anya Tyson, a naturalist and adventure scientist based in Montana, carry
their packs through the Wyoming Range during an 85-mile-long journey following Deer
139’s migration path. They appear in a UW-produced documentary film that will be screened
at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 in the UW College of Education auditorium. (Jayme Dittmar Photo)
Two adventure documentary films detailing University of Wyoming biologists following
the migration paths of mule deer they studied in Wyoming will screen on the UW campus
Thursday, Nov. 7.
The free public screenings of “92 Miles: A Migration Story” and “Deer 139” are scheduled
for 7 p.m. in the UW College of Education auditorium, followed by a question-and-answer
session. Speaking about their respective films will be UW Research Scientist Samantha
Dwinnell and Patrick Rodgers, a UW graduate research associate at the Wyoming Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, along with other members of the films’ teams.
“Deer 139” follows Dwinnell and two friends as they hike, packraft and ski the migration
route of a GPS-collared mule deer in search of deeper understanding about the connection
these animals have to the landscapes where they live.
Dwinnell, along with Associate Professor Kevin Monteith and Communications Coordinator
Emilene Ostlind, all in the UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, produced
the film. Filmmakers Morgan Heim and Jayme Dittmar directed the documentary. In addition
to Dwinnell as the main character, the film also stars Tennessee Watson, a reporter
for Wyoming Public Media; Anya Tyson, a naturalist and citizen scientist project manager
based in Montana; and Deer 139 herself.
The 53-minute-long film follows the three adventurers as they travel Deer 139’s migration
path on foot from her winter habitat in the Green River Basin, through the foothills
of the Wyoming Range, over a high mountain pass to the Greys River, to summer habitat
in the Salt River Range.
In between twisted ankles, David Attenborough impressions and mountaintop dance parties,
the three women experience the challenges of long-distance migration in the modern
world and gain new perspective about the value of interconnected landscapes. By considering
the story of one specific animal, the doe known as Deer 139, they learn to see Wyoming’s
backyard as not only a natural resources and recreational playground, but also a place
where wild animals have honed their existence over millennia to perfectly synchronize
with a rugged and unforgiving landscape.
The Monteith Shop and the Ruckelshaus Institute, both within the Haub School of Environment
and Natural Resources, produced the film as part of its mission to share new scientific
understanding with a broad audience.
To view the film trailer and for more information, visit the website at www.deer139film.org.
“92 Miles: A Migration Story” follows Haub School alumnus Rodgers, from Casper, as
he ultra-runs the migration path of one of his study animals and faces the grief of
losing his father, Neil, to cancer. The documentary started as an idea to give audiences
an on-the-ground perspective of mule deer migration through the lens of long-distance
running. The film details Rodgers’ journey through grief and the challenges of running
a 92-mile deer migration route.
Along the way, audiences will learn about the science of migrations and the challenges
migratory deer face. The half-hour film details the importance of wild, connected
landscapes for humans and wildlife alike. Rodgers graduated from UW with a zoology
degree (2014) and is completing his master’s degree in zoology at UW.
To view a short promotional video of “92 Miles,” visit the Wyoming Migration Initiative Facebook page.
For more information, call Ostlind, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources
editor and communications coordinator, at (307) 766-2604 or emilene@uwyo.edu.
