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New UW-Produced Film Explores Barriers to Big-Game Migration
Published January 18, 2022
Three cow elk and a calf dash across a Jackson Hole roadway before oncoming traffic.
The image is a clip from “Barriers,” the new Wyoming Migration Initiative wildlife
documentary released today (Jan. 18). (Josh Metten/JH EcoTour Adventures Photo)A new wildlife documentary puts the spotlight on obstacles that elk, mule deer and
other hooved mammals face during their migrations, and how people are working together
to help animals keep moving.
Produced by the Wyoming Migration Initiative (WMI) at the University of Wyoming, the
short film, “Barriers,” gives close-up views into the struggles of animals, along
with the hopeful story of how migration data and maps can help conserve herds long
into the future.
The film explores three major types of migration barriers: fences that animals have
to jump or crawl under; roadways with busy traffic; and new developments in wildlife
habitat.
Animals often risk injury or death when they encounter such barriers. Over the long
term, migration barriers can contribute to habitat loss and declining populations.
“Almost everyone who spends time in open spaces has encountered the remains of an
animal that suffered from one of these barriers,” says Gregory Nickerson, “Barriers”
co-producer. “We hope this film makes clear that research and technology can help
us move beyond just accepting these losses. People have the tools to help animals
keep moving.”
While WMI produced the film, footage contributions came from dozens of filmmakers
and agencies. It illustrates state-of-the-art migration science, corridor mapping
and collaborative conservation efforts.
The film draws on years of cooperative research findings from long-term trail camera
and GPS collar studies. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and many other public
agencies and nonprofits contributed to these studies. Together, the research has revealed
how our growing human footprint can negatively affect migratory populations.
One of the goals of the film is to help the audience visualize the effects of migration
barriers as if they were right there with the animals. “Some of the scenes are hard
to watch,” Nickerson says.
Viewers will see fawn mule deer and bull elk getting caught in fences, and pronghorn
avoiding fences altogether. A clip showing the aftermath of a deadly elk-vehicle collision
is overlaid with a graph of the upward trend of such accidents in Wyoming.
Some of the barriers can only be visualized through migration maps. Animations produced
by “Barriers” film editor and WMI Research Scientist Patrick Rodgers show how a pronghorn
makes an unexpected detour around a 9-mile-wide natural gas field, and how migration
data can help site wildlife road-crossing structures.
The film documents the teamwork involved in resolving wildlife barriers, whether it
is stakeholders meeting to identify solutions or volunteers retrofitting a fence to
be wildlife-friendly. The stewardship on public and private working lands includes
ranchers, hunters, outfitters, recreationists, biologists and agency managers.
A mule deer buck is caught in a fence during migration on the Red Desert-to-Hoback
migration corridor. Along with roadways and all kinds of development, fences are a
major barrier to wildlife movement. (Tanner Warder Photo)
While much of the film focuses on elk, mule deer and other big game in the American
West, the film also shows how biologists around the globe are using similar methods
to study and conserve migratory ungulate populations.
Migration researchers worldwide contributed to the film, including footage of caribou
in Canada, khulan in Mongolia, wildebeest in Zimbabwe and guanaco in Argentina.
“Barriers” and a companion traveling exhibition were produced with major support from
the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF).
“Increasing our knowledge of migration corridors and movement areas is critical to
ensure the future of elk and other wildlife,” says Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation
officer. “This film highlights the unique challenges faced by wildlife species and
helps identify sensitive areas they use. As a result, biologists and game managers
can take appropriate actions for the benefit of wildlife, ranching, hunting and other
recreational activities.”
Other supporters of the film include the Knobloch Family Foundation and the George
B. Storer Foundation. The Muley Fanatic Foundation’s Southeast Wyoming Chapter provided
funding for motion-activated cameras to document mule deer interacting with fences
and roads.
“Barriers” is available to view on WMI’s social media channels and to stream at:
