Migration Corridors, Sec. Zinke’s Order, and What It Means for Idaho’s Big Game
Each year in May and June, pronghorn fawns enter the world. Born among sagebrush flats and ag fields, they’re resilient from the start and can quickly keep up with the herd and outrun predators. Abundant forbs and high protein bunchgrasses feed them through the summer and by October they are almost indistinguishable from more mature members of the herd. This is important for the next stage of life for these animals, as the migration between summer and winter habitat requires travel through public, state and private land. In today’s world of patchwork landscapes, fences and other obstacles, intact migration corridors are more at risk every year.
On February 9, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed an order committing federal and state agencies to collaborate to ensure the health and longevity of these imperative migration corridors and to identify critical wintering habitat. It’s a big step forward in conserving the viability of big game herds and the habitat they depend on.
Idaho is home to impressive big game herds, diverse wildlife and spectacular, intact ecosystems. We are fortunate to have large swaths of public land which provide animals with abundant food and the ability to roam freely. However, in the midst of growth and development across the state, big game herds face increasing challenges to seasonal migrations. Pronghorn of the southern Pioneer Mountains travel as far as 160 miles roundtrip, navigating bottlenecks and highways, among other obstacles. Remove just one link from the chain and the herd faces serious threats to health and longevity. Outside of Idaho, the Wyoming mule deer migration from the Red Desert to the Hoback Basin spans an incredible 300 miles round-trip, data just recently discovered. Clearly exhibited is the fact that we have much more to learn on the subject and to lose migration corridors now would be a loss to both wildlife and humans.
In a recent op-ed piece published in the Idaho Mountain Express, IWF executive director Brian Brooks spoke on Zinke’s order, applauding the initiative and calling for strong collaboration to ensure its success.
“If Zinke makes this important initiative a priority for implementation, this is good news for Idaho’s wildlife populations that face increasing challenges during their seasonal migrations and on their wintering grounds. The Idaho Wildlife Federation has worked closely with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to support many of their efforts to improve habitat: from post-fire sagebrush restoration projects in southern Idaho to Forest Legacy acquisition in North Idaho. Our hope is that this new strategy builds on the great work that Fish and Game and local partners have accomplished and safeguards quality habitat, which is a necessity for healthy wildlife migrations.”
Says Brooks, “As the voice for Idaho’s sportsmen and women, our hope is that this this new policy will facilitate collaborative efforts between the state and feds to protect and strengthen our big-game herds for Idaho’s hunters and future generations.”
Read the full article by Brooks here.
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