A UW-published documentary highlights the deadly obstacles in migratory paths across Wyoming and what is being done to combat these obstacles.
The Wyoming Migratory Initiative (WMI) at the university released the documentary “Barriers” giving viewers insights into the dangerous routes ungulates must take when moving between summer and winter ranges.
“We were established in 2012 with the goal of collecting the location data for migrations of deer, elk, and other big game animals, and then sharing that information with the public,” Gregory Nickerson, a co-producer of the short film, said of the mission of WMI. “The goal is to publicize this information so that migrations can be a bigger part of the management of wildlife across the state.”
The film highlights three common obstacles animals come across in their travels: roads they must cross, fences they must find a way over or under, and the urban sprawl taking over their natural habitat.
“The American West and especially the Mountain West is really rapidly growing in human population, so there are more barriers happening all the time,” Nickerson said.
Data collected by WMI shows that over time these barriers to migration can contribute to an overall loss of habitat and result in a declining population of ungulate species.
“I obviously see animals as I am driving around the state, but had never really thought about some of the bigger impacts we cause,” Joey Antonovich, a junior majoring in communications, said after watching the documentary.
The film features a large collection of footage shot across the state of Wyoming. Much of it comes from motion-activated cameras set up along fences and roadways by current or former students.
At times, the clips contain purposefully graphic scenes. Including deer getting caught in fences, and a dead carcass of an animal hit by a vehicle.
“We are trying to give people a view of how animals experience these barriers. And some of it is hard to watch.” Nickerson said, “We hope the scenes are dramatic enough that they show people the seriousness of the challenges these animals are facing.”
The film made a big impact on Antonovich, who said, “The graphic clips really made me realize how big of an issue these things can be,”
Sophomore Isaac Palomo, a business major, shared a similar takeaway, “I had always kind of known fences could be a problem, but after seeing video of it, it makes it seem much more real.”
The film goes on to illustrate the way landowners, hunters, conversationalists, etc. are combating the issues that arise from barriers in migratory paths.
“GPS data can fix fences to make them more wildlife-friendly, build wildlife overpasses, and help private landowners with conservation easements,” Nickerson said. “There is more development happening, but if we do it right, we can have that development coexist with intact migratory corridors,”
For more information about the Wyoming Migration Initiative, click here.
To stream the documentary “Barriers” click here
