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FY24 Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative
Region: Statewide
ID: 6668
Project Status: Completed
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Project Start Date
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Fiscal Year Completed
2024
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Final Methods
The Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative was founded in 2017 by the Division of Wildlife Resources to document, preserve, and enhance movement corridors for wildlife throughout Utah. The Initiative uses state-of-the-art GPS tracking technology to monitor species movements in near real-time. Information generated by tracking collars is used to define critical habitats for species, including migration corridors that provide essential linkages between seasonal ranges. Other products generated by the Wildlife Migration Initiative include maps of stopover sites, bottlenecks, movement barriers, and the identification of mitigation needs such as wildlife crossings that safely move species under or over busy highways.
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Project Narrative
One data specialist and one data technician are needed in order to make sure Wildlife Tracker, Utah Roadkill reporter app, collar recovery app and other essential tools for mapping and understanding migration are up to date and functioning. This includes paying their time, as well as costs associated with their computers, training and development, and other equipment needs. For FY 24, this accounted for roughly one-third of the budget. The remaining two thirds of the budget used for this project were allocated to GPS collars and services ($960/collar + service fees), and helicopter contracting for capture-related work (~$2000/hr + ~$600/animal). Funding for collar projects occurs across multiple budgets, however migration priorities were identified on the following units (with total animals captured): Deer- Oquirrh (Eagle Mountain-10), Pahvant/Beaver (60), Wasatch (47), Anthro (30) Pronghorn-Anthro (51) Elk-Southern Region (92), Manti (71), and Hardware Ranch (91)
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Future Management
Because wildlife migrations often span long distances and cross many jurisdictions, the Wildlife Migration Initiative is building strong partnerships with state and federal agencies, cities, counties, private landowners and conservation groups to accomplish the mission of the documenting and preserving wildlife movement. The mission is critical because Utah is the fastest growing state in the country and infrastructure, which can block or disrupt wildlife movements, is being expanded at a rapid pace. The Wildlife Migration Initiative also complements and supports the efforts of Watershed Restoration Initiative. Information generated by monitoring the movements of wildlife can be used to strategically locate habitat treatments so they provide maximum benefits for target species. Additionally, wildlife tracking data can used to evaluate the effectiveness of habitat treatments, helping land managers justify resources used on habitat treatments. Together Utah's conservation initiatives are building a legacy of high quality habitat, information, partnerships, and technology that ensure fish and wildlife populations remain healthy and productive for generations to come.
Submitted By
Makeda Hanson
Submitted Time
08/29/2024 13:48:23
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