Longest-Known Deer Migration (242 miles!) near Jackson Hole in 3D

(November 17,2021)
YOU’LL BE AMAZED HOW FAR THIS THIS DEER IN WYOMING MIGRATES…FOR SIX YEARS RUNNING
Across all of the studies of mule deer migration in Wyoming, one deer migrates further than any other. Her name is Deer 255. Since 2016, the Wyoming Migration Initiative and partners have been following her incredible journeys between Jackson Hole and the deserts of southern Wyoming, and sharing them through 3D animations. This flyover animation shows Deer 255’s spring 2021 journey north to the Tetons.
This past spring, University of Wyoming biologist crews working with @wyogfd and @wyoming BLM recaptured Deer 255 near Superior, Wyoming, and waited to see if she would repeat her long-distance migration once again.
Deer 255 has an fascinating backstory revealed by her GPS collar. Biologists first noticed her in the spring of 2016, when she migrated 150 miles from the Red Desert to the Hoback, but unlike the rest of her herd, she kept going into Grand Teton National Park, across the corner of Yellowstone National Park, and settled in for summer near Island Park, Idaho. The total distance traveled was about 242 miles, longer than any mule deer in the United States, as far as we know. Given this extraordinary movement, biologists wondered if she was a dispersing deer and would not return to her desert winter range. They eagerly waited to watch her fall migration.
To everyone’s dismay, Deer 255’s GPS collar malfunctioned on her Idaho summer range in August 2016, and she disappeared for all of 2017. Biologists thought we’d lost her for good. Amazingly, in spring 2018 she resurfaced almost 250 miles away, back on winter range, spotted by the sharp eyes of a helicopter crew.
Since then, Deer 255 has repeated portions of her migration each year, outliving many other deer of her age class, and showing the unique movement patterns of an ultra-long-distance migrator. Deer 255 is also a larger deer than average, which brings up interesting questions about her lineage, and whether her ancestors benefitted from abundant forage that has allowed her to reach her full genetic potential in terms of size. Biologists have been trying to find out if Deer 255 was teaching her offspring this migration route, but so far have been unable to determine that for her or any other deer.
We’re excited to report that Deer 255 had a good summer and is migrating south from Jackson Hole at the present time, leaving behind snowy mountains as she makes her way to the security of the Red Desert winter range.
Thanks to all the partners of the Red Desert to Hoback Deer Study, which has been led by the University of Wyoming Coop Unit Kauffman Lab PhD students Anna Ortega, and now Luke Wilde, who has recently taken the lead in this ongoing project. The study is a collaboration with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, @Monteith.Shop , Bureau of Land Management - Wyoming , and USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units (USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units).
Study funders and partners:
Knobloch Family Foundation
George B. Storer Foundation
Safari Club International Foundation and 100 Hunter Legacy Endowment Fund
Muley Fanatic Foundation
Muley Fanatic Foundation, Southwest Wyoming Chapter
Muley Fanatic Upper Green Chapter
National Science Foundation (NSF)
U.S. Geological Survey
Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition
Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative
Teton Conservation District
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Bureau of Land Management
Muley Fanatic Foundation - 10 Country Chapter
Sitka Ecosystem Grant
Pew Charitable Trusts
Mule Deer Foundation
Sweetwater Royalties

[@ThatJamesGuy88]

I had no idea mule deer would migrate!

[@robertcalamusso4218]

Very interesting Lots of variation in nature Within and among populations

[@jmagana924]

Amazing

[@jaredklein6927]

Great video. Even the music was good. I know that mulies migrate. Now, I just need to know why. Is it associated with weather and elevation?

[@WyomingMigrationInitiative]

Mule deer migrate in fall in response to increased snow depth at higher elevations. They move to lower elevations where snow is less deep and they can access food more easily without the energetic costs of forging through deep snow. In spring, they follow plants as they sprout up in elevation. These more tender, green plants are high in protein and lower in fiber. Deer move to summer ranges where there is better access and abundance of more quality food (than winter range and lower elevations).

[@studhammer]

Wow, now that was cool to see her travel route.

[@studhammer]

Wow! Now that was cool to see her travel route.