Wildlife Migration

Deer and other wildlife have been migrating across our state much longer than humans. But the introduction of fenced highways and their increased speed and traffic can interfere with migration.

Twelve million birds stop at Great Salt Lake every year to refuel on their migration along the Pacific Flyway.

The federal government issued a Memorandum of Instruction on Tuesday declaring wildlife corridors a priority for the Bureau of Land Management. The move is being praised by conservation groups, but brings up questions about upcoming plans to offer new oil leases on public land.

The U.S. Geological Survey has been mapping migration patterns for big game species like pronghorn. Those efforts need funding from Congress to continue.

Wildlife migrations are a part of the American West's lore and history, but many of those centuries-old passages are now obstructed by modern…