Big Game Research & Monitoring

WEST has combined statistical and ecological expertise to design and conduct a wide range of big game species, including Dall sheep, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, elk, moose, and also several large carnivores including grizzly bear, polar bear, and mountain lion.  Our ecologists are experienced with study design and data collection for a variety of studies, species, and geographic areas. 

Additionally, we are familiar with the latest capture techniques, field equipment and study methodologies.  Our biometricians have many years of experience designing studies and analyzing data for a variety of big game issues and utilize state-of-the-art statistical methods and computers. 

Big game management is often a top priority for agencies, industry and to the public.  WEST uses a statistical and ecological approach to provide clients with objective and scientifically-credible results to address big game concerns.

Representative Projects

- Dall Sheep Survey, Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska - designed and conducted helicopter surveys for estimation of abundance; U.S. National Park Service.

- Dall Sheep and Mountain Goat Survey, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska - designed survey protocol and analyzed survey data; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

- Developed Northern Great Plains Mule Deer Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model using Habitat Evaluation Procedures; U.S. Forest Service, Nebraska National Forest.

- Mule Deer Sightability Study, Central Wyoming - used double-sampling procedure with ground and helicopter surveys to evaluate techniques used by agencies to estimate sex and age composition; Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

- Compendium on Management and Research on Mountain Lions in Wyoming; Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

- Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) radio-collars to identify timing and routes of mule deer migrations in western Wyoming. GPS collars provide large and precise data sets ideal for identifying migration routes, timing of movements, and habitat selection patterns. These GPS units collected locations every two hours for six months with a 99% success rate.

- Kenai Brown Bear Resource Selection; developed resource selection models for brown bears on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska; Chugach National Forest.
Mule Deer Impact Assessments; designed protocols and implemented long term study to assess impacts from energy development on western Wyoming mule deer herds; Questar, Bureau of Land Management and Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

- Moose Abundance and Resource Selection; developed and participated in implementation of study protocols for moose population size and resource selection at several National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.

- Pronghorn Response to Wind Power; designed and conducted a study to determine the spatial distribution and behavioral response by pronghorn to a wind plant in southern Wyoming.

- Use of satellite imagery and GPS technology to evaluate potential effects of oil and gas development on mule deer in the Green River Basin of Wyoming.