Wildlife

The Valley is a seasonal home to free-roaming herds of prized big game animals. Elk, pronghorn, mule deer and moose winter here, and disperse into the surrounding mountains every spring. Among the Valley's 45,000 pronghorn are bands that trek the longest overland migration of any animal in the lower 48 states, roaming between summering grounds in Grand Teton National Park and their winter range in the Upper Green. The Valley is one of the last strongholds for sage grouse, a signature game bird species of the West's high deserts. Industry is building drill pads, roads and pipelines in the heart of this crucial habitat, even though emerging studies clearly show harm to sage grouse.

An ongoing study has documented that mule deer avoid areas near drilling activity and a 46 percent plunge in wintering deer on the Pinedale Anticline. And a recent analysis of the valley's transportation network indicates roads associated with oil and gas activity have already fragmented key habitat for antelope, elk, grouse and mule deer to the point of causing harmful impacts.

The Coalition urges BLM take a more cautious approach toward drilling in sensitive habitat. It's easier to avoid harming wildlife than to fix the damage after it has already happened. Unfortunately, the agency has a record of paying little heed to the needs of game animals and their importance to Wyoming's heritage.

In 2002, for example, BLM attempted to lease the narrow migration corridor at Trappers Point, traveled biannually by thousands of pronghorn and deer to access the Pinedale Anticline. It routinely grants exemptions to winter drilling closures, designed to protect wildlife during their most vulnerable season.