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Elk herd, winter migration

Conservation > Wildlife Management > Movement and Migration > Ungulates Elk Tracking

Brucellosis monitoring in elk around Yellowstone National Park is important to determine prevalence of the disease in elk populations and to identify areas of disease transmission risk when elk and cattle comingle. In 2021, 29 cow elk were fitted with GPS collars in an area north of Manhattan, MT. Collars are satellite-linked to allow location and mortality data to be collected remotely and programmed to collect 24 locations per day for one year. The movement of these elk was interesting as they traveled from their winter range near Manhattan to summer grounds north and east of the Bridger Mountains. Studies like these highlight long-distance movements of animals and the importance of conserving habitat across the landscape.