Pronghorn Passage

A stormy spring

2011-05-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

As far as snowfall in the Rocky Mountains goes, this has been a weird winter turning into a fluky spring. Southern Colorado and New Mexico are way below their typical snowfall levels and wildfire season is already kicking into gear. Meanwhile, spring storms are resulting in an above-average snow pack reaching from northern Colorado up into northern Montana. That's good for backcountry skiing, which has been keeping me entertained in western Colorado, but it's turning into a recipe for severe flooding in some areas.

What does this mean for wildlife life the pronghorn that are getting ready to migrate to their summer ranges and give birth to their fawns? The promise of warmer weather and green grass offers a chance to start replacing the fat that was burned trying to survive the winter, but cold, wet spring storms threaten animals whose energy reserves are depleted. Wildlife managers in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana have reported high winterkill amongh deer, elk, moose and pronghorn as a result of "a harsh season of unusually heavy snows and sustained cold in the Northern Rockies," according to Reuters. Pronghorn were hit the hardest in eastern Montana.

Still, we can expect the hardiest prongies, the ones that survive the snowy winter and cold spring, to start giving birth to their fawns later this month. Though I'd rather see fawns out cavorting in the sagebrush rather than cooped up in captivity, I can't help but smile at this photo of two peninsular pronghorn fawns that were born at the Los Angeles Zoo on March 1. These little guys belong to a subspecies of our pronghorn that lives on the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.

Joe and I would like to thank Jeffrey Jacquet, Dr. Jeff Tester, the Cornell University Department of Natural Resources and the David Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future for hosting our recent Pronghorn Passage presentation at Cornell University. And thanks to all the students who came to our talk and lunchtime conversation.

Plus, there is a shout out to Pronghorn Passage in the latest issue of High Country News!

The pronghorn with the Easter basket lives in the Natural Resources building at Cornell University.

Pronghorn Passage goes on tour!

2010-05-11T12:54:00.001-07:00

Joe is back in the West after months abroad, snow is melting off (and falling back onto) the high country of western Wyoming, and we are taking Pronghorn Passage on the road.

Emilene and Joe's article about the highway crossing at Trappers' Point was published this morning on WyoFile. Read the story here.

Spread the word about these upcoming presentations. All events are free and open to the public. Hope to see you there!

Monday, May 17, 7pm
White Mountain Library in Rock Springs, Wyoming
Hosted by the Wyoming Association of Churches

Wednesday, May 19, 7pm
Domek residence in Cora, Wyoming (call 367-6832 for directions)
Hosted by the Upper Green community

Thursday, May 20, 7pm
Dubois Town Hall in Dubois, Wyoming
Hosted by the Dubois Wildlife Association

Friday, May 21, 7pm
Central Wyoming College, 427 Main Street, Lander Wyoming
Hosted by the Nature Conservancy

The tour is sponsored by the Wyoming Humanities Council.

Upcoming Pronghorn Passage events

2010-03-31T10:11:00.000-07:00

With winter slipping toward spring Joe's and my thoughts are turning back to western Wyoming and pronghorn migration that will start in about a month.

In the meantime we'll both be busy before and during the migration. Joe is in Asia camera trapping tigers with Steve Winter and National Geographic. Back in Wyoming, my Creative Writing masters defense of my book about Pronghorn Passage will take place this afternoon.

And we're gearing up for more presentations around the state. I'll be presenting in Cody, Sheridan, and Saratoga in April. When Joe returns to the U.S., we'll present together in Rock Springs, Pinedale, and Dubois. Keep an eye on our presentation schedule at the Pronghorn Passage website. And you can read about the upcoming Cody and Sheridan presentations today in the Casper Star.

Thanks and keep an eye on those pronghorn in your area to see if, when, and where they undertake their own spring migrations.

Presentation at UW

2010-02-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

Talked to Joe for a while on the phone yesterday. He is in New York City preparing camera equipment to go on assignment with National Geographic photographer Steve Winter, the same photographer I was assistant to for the snow leopard story in India three years ago. Tomorrow they fly for Thailand. Joe is one step closer to his life dream of becoming a National Geographic photographer. Can't wait to hear about his adventures with Steve in Asia.

Meanwhile, back in pronghorn-land, I want to invite you to come one, come all to a showing of Pronghorn Passage in Laramie!

Wednesday, February 10, 7pm
UW campus, Classroom Building 310

Spread the word. I am hoping for a big turnout.

Presentations and the Domek Fam

2010-01-17T21:55:00.000-08:00

Hello,
It's been awhile so here are the latest Pronghorn Passage happenings. I had a great fall migration fieldwork season, here are two of my favorite pictures. Both of these pictures are from locations that Emilene found during the fall 2008 migration. So I had to wait a year and then set up cameras during this past fall 2009 migration.

These pictures are special to me because they highlight the partnership Emilene and I have on this project, there is no way I could have made either one of these pictures if it wasn't for Emilene showing me where to set up my camera traps. Also, I had a camera at each location for the entire fall migration period and got one "good" picture at each location. It took a long time to get each picture, but in the end, it all paid off.

There are multiple Pronghorn Passage presentations planned for February and this spring, check out this one at the University of Wyoming on February 10th. If you live in Wyoming, you can schedule presentations through the Wyoming Humanities Council. Emilene will be giving the majority of the presentations as I will be out of the country on a different assignment this spring.

And finally, I want to tell you about a family that has helped Emilene and I throughout the course of our project. They have become dear friends to both of us. The Domek family (Mark, Pat, Callie, Sara) live in the Upper Green River Basin in a small cabin that Mark built with local timber. Whenever I was in the southern part of the corridor I stayed at their home, they fed me home cooked tasty meals every single time I showed up. I will never forget the wonderful conversations that we had by their woodstove with tea or wine in hand, these moments will stay with me well beyond Pronghorn Passage.

Here is a picture from this past summer, Sara Pat Callie and I having dinner at the sheep camp near their cabin. Some people say that your life can be measured by the friendships you make, and I believe it.

Best,
Joe

Antelope on the run...

2009-11-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

Last weekend the wind was so strong that even the turbines along the Interstate were shut down to avoid spinning so fast as to come apart. After a long drive west and north I pulled off the highway on a piece of state trust land along the New Fork River. I zipped up my down coat and walked from my car down to the river. Sheltered from the wind by a stand of aspens and willows, I made a little nest in the grass and laid down for a nap. The sound of splashing water woke me up and I lifted my head to see this little group fording the river on their way south to the winter range. Best of luck to you over the coming months, prongies!

Prongie Flight

2009-10-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

The fall migration has been moving for the past couple weeks. I've been on the ground and in the air, watching hundreds of animals move south. Last week I flew the corridor with LightHawk and Chris Boyer. Check out this short video I made from the flight.

I wouldn't have the opportunity to photograph the corridor without Chris Boyer and LightHawk, they donate their time and money to get me up in the air so I can photograph and show the general public what the pronghorn encounter during their migration.

Tomorrow Emilene and I are walking deep into the core of the corridor, in the mountainous section of the migration path, we'll probably spend a couple days with a spotting scope watching the antelope move south to their wintering grounds. Most of the leaves are on the ground and winter is coming, this is my favorite time of the year.

Thanks for reading,
Joe

Early Snow

2009-10-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

First snowstorm of the season ... I left Laramie this morning to drive up to Big Horn where I'd been invited to give a presentation about Pronghorn Passage to three high school science classes. I zipped out of town on wet highways with patches of ice. The farther north I drove toward the Shirley Basin, the more snow-packed the road surface became. Herds of antelope were bunched up along the highway, their tan and white markings blending into the gold grass and white snow on the ground. By the time I reached the little town of Rock River, the light was entirely flat, the surface of the highway entirely white, and the air filled with feathery snowflakes. Because I still had over 250 miles ahead of me and the weather was only getting worse, I decided to cancel the trip and head home.

The sudden turn of seasons that comes with the first snowstorm of the year bends time. Overnight the brisk sharpness of autumn has transformed into a deep winter blizzard. The antelope mark this change in weather by moving from their summer grounds to new territory, as if the year for them is laid out not in months or days, but in passage from foothills to basins.

Joe is already setting his cameras up north in the corridor of the Teton herd, and I'll be heading up there in a couple of weeks to join him. That is, if the weather breaks enough to let me make the drive.

New Video

2009-06-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

The spring migration is over and I am waiting for the antelope to start birthing, it's been a great couple months. We made a short video for you, check it out if you have some extra time.

Right now Emilene is canoeing the Jago River in ANWR, hoping to catch a glimpse of the caribou migration. She'll be back in a couple weeks. I had to stay here in Moose, WY for the birthing season, Emilene watched the birthing last summer. I've been working on my computer here in my cabin a lot lately, here is a photo of my pad!!

Thanks for reading, best, Joe

Into the Mountains

2009-05-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago the Teton antelope had pushed far enough north to follow the Green River up into the Bridger-Teton National Forest. However, one impenetrable barrier still prevented them from continuing to their summer range in Teton National Park: a deep snowpack blanketed about six miles of their migration corridor over the 9,000 foot pass they have to cross in the Gros Ventre Mountains.

Thanks to a week of clear, sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s, the snowpack softened and diminished. My brother and I were camped in the forest near the pass and watched each afternoon as strings of antelope punched their way up through the snow drifts, making trails from one patch of sagebrush to the next. Afraid of spending the night in the snow, at sundown they would turn and run all the way back to the dry land at lower elevations.

Finally, on a Sunday evening, the lead group of antelope reached the pass. My brother and I sat perfectly still next to our tent while 150 antelope quietly flowed past us through the snow. They moved head to tail at a steady pace as if pulled along by their yearning for the summer range. To see antelope in a snowy forest high in the mountains is very unique. We couldn’t believe our luck to observe the heart of the migration happening around us. At the pass they disappeared into the trees. What had been a perfectly smooth snowfield before was stitched with their narrow winding trails.

The next morning I followed the antelope towards Teton Park, while my brother returned south out of the mountains. Check back soon for a video of antelope adventures in the springtime journey to the summer range!

Green River Crossing

2009-04-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

I've dedicated the past couple weeks to photographing the Teton herd cross the Green River, it's been quite the fulfilling experience to say the least. Yesterday evening, my good friend Callie and I watched the last band of pronghorn nervously cross the river. Right now, all the Teton pronghorn are preparing to enter the forest. In a month from now, the pronghorn will enter Grand Teton National Park and give birth to twins in the lush sagebrush flats of the park.

In my mind, it's the rivers and the forests that the Teton herd moves through that makes them distinct from all other pronghorn on earth. This herd of 300 are the only pronghorn that travel through thick timber and swim swelling rivers like the Green and the Gros Ventre. Pronghorn like to see far and run fast, river bottoms and timber are not usual habitat for these hooved speedsters.

I am at the Murie Ranch right now, getting ready to pack deep into the Gros Ventre with my cameras. The Murie Ranch is truly inspiring, it's the former home of Olaus, Mardy, Adolph, and Louise Murie. Olaus was one of the first field biologists and was the first president of the Wilderness Society. I feel lucky to be able to base out of here, I hope I can help continue the Murie legacy.

Pronghorn Passage event in Sheridan, Wyoming

2009-04-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

Pronghorn Passage is finally getting off the ground. Joe and I will be publicly presenting our work for the first time this coming Thursday, April 23 in Sheridan as part of an Earth Day celebration hosted by the Wyoming Wilderness Association!

Joe and I have been creating our presentation via phone and email from opposite corners of the state (I'm in Laramie and he is in Jackson) over the last couple of weeks. We can't wait until this Thursday when we'll both drive to Sheridan (with a bunch of friends and supporters in tow) to start spreading the word about the amazing journey of the Teton antelope herd.

The event will take place at the Wyo Theater in downtown Sheridan, Wyoming, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm and will include an art auction, live music, food and drink, the Patagonia Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival, and our presentation. Tickets are $10, so come support the conservation efforts of the Wyoming Wilderness Association. We hope to see you there!

Emilene's Snow Leopard Video

2009-03-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

This post really isn't about Pronghorn Passage, but it's important.

I need to tell you about this, because I know Emilene won't. First of all, Emilene is the most inspiring and humble person I know. With that said, check this out....

Emilene worked with National Geographic Magazine photographer Steve Winter in 2007 on his snow leopard story in India. Steve and Emilene spent the majority of that year tracking and photographing the snow leopard, which is one of the most challenging and elusive species to photograph. While there, Emilene decided to film the experience.

In my opinion, the snow leopard pictures from this project formed the best wildlife photography story ever made. This year already they have won two of the most prestigious photography competitions in the world. And, just announced this morning, Emilene's video won the prestigious MPA award for "Best Online Standalone Video".

You can view her video here: NGM Snow Leopard Video

Congratulations Emilene!!!

PS- Emilene and I will be presenting our Pronghorn Passage project in Sheridan, WY on April 23rd at the Patagonia Wild & Scenic Film Festival. The event will be in the evening at the WYO Theater, sponsored by the Wyoming Wilderness Association.

National Geographic Wild Chronicles

2009-03-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since the last post, don't worry though, Emilene and I are busy working on Pronghorn Passage. We've been brainstorming ideas the last couple weeks and are excited for the upcoming year. I am heading back out in the field for the spring migration in 2 weeks!

Our good friend Rick Ridgeway is addressing the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands today at 2pm EST on "The Role of Federal Lands in Combating Climate Change." Rick will present wildlife corridors across public lands as a solution to wildlife habitat shifts due to climate change. He will suggest that the federal government should create a legal definition for corridors, identify critical corridors across the United States, designate key corridors, and create funding sources for their protection. And he is using Pronghorn Passage pictures to move the point across to our nations leaders!!

Below is the YouTube clip of a recent NG Wild Chronicles TV feature...

Photo by Stephani Gordon

Bacon Creek

2008-11-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

I spent last week walking along through the antelope migration corridor with a big, heavy backpack on and mud on my hiking boots. A few days into the trip I followed the Bacon Creek drainage up toward the high pass the antelope cross in the Gros Ventre mountains. By late afternoon, I was getting pretty tired, but needed to push on just one more mile to keep to my schedule. As I came over a small hill, I saw my shadow cast way up the valley by the setting sun (and took this picture). By the time I reached my campsite in a meadow along the creek, set my tent up, prepared a place to hang my food bag, and started cooking supper, the last of the sunlight was gone. I ate my noodles and had some tea in the dark with glittering stars overhead.

Sometime in the night I woke up to the sound of ice on the creek breaking. I grabbed my bear spray and held my breath, straining to hear any more sounds in the night and imagining the giant grizzly I thought must be crossing the creek to come get me. After a while, I realized the ice had only shifted as the temperature changed and I relaxed enough to fall back asleep until morning.

Though I was scared at the time, I relish that deep humility that comes from venturing into bear country, the feeling of vulnerability in the presence of another creature that is bigger, stronger, and keener than myself. Humility seems to be in short supply in a time when any mention of reconsidering our consumption of resources, slowing growth and development, or leaving habitat untouched is construed as a threat to our economy. I wish more people could spend a cold, dark night alone in a place like Bacon Creek, listening to the ice crack and holding their breath. That taste of humility can keep us in check, help us recognize the wonderful things we already have, and reveal our entanglement in a wild and complex world where human control is often a myth.

About a week later, with blisters on my feet, sores on my hips, and a journal full of notes I returned to Laramie. On Tuesday night the humility I carried from Bacon Creek was replaced for a while with swelling pride as I watched Barack Obama win his election as the new president of America. This is a very exciting time to be thinking about how the future in our nation may be shaped. I hope that sharing stories about the wildness of the antelope migration corridor will help protect it for upcoming generations (of antelope and people alike) to enjoy. I can't wait to get writing.

Emilene starts her walk...

2008-10-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

I just dropped off Emilene near Blacktail Butte in Grand Teton National Park, she had all her gear and is ready to walk the path of the pronghorn. She is doing the 125 mile walk mostly solo, but with journal and pen in hand. I will pick her up near the town of Farson WY on November 8th, I can't wait to hear all her stories and experiences!!!

It's been a busy month for me, photographing everyday for almost 5 weeks now. Right now I am sitting in my truck on the side of hwy 89 outside of Jackson WY ( I think I am getting wireless internet from some motel or inn, so thanks to whoever is letting me write this blog entry).

I walked the 125 mile path of the pronghorn with Rick Ridgeway in early October, it took 11 days, we had some good weather, and some really bad weather, which was good weather because some pronghorn migrated early and we were immersed in the pulse of life and energy that surrounds this migration. I'll show you all photos from the trip when I can, hopefully sooner than later. On our last day of the walk, we watched between 700-900 pronghorn travel through Trapper's Point, roughly half of the entire pronghorn population that summer north of Pinedale WY. It was by far the best day of my photography career to date. When I look at the images I got, I still cannot believe that I was behind the camera documenting the event, it was truly beautiful. Then in mid October a film crew from NG Wild Chronicles documented my work for a couple days, in addition, I flew the corridor to do some aerial photography with Chris Boyer from LightHawk.

This past week I have been busy keeping all of my remote camera systems functioning and in front of the pronghorn. I am looking forward to showing you the images I get of this migration, I know it will inspire you to do your part.

I hope you all are enjoying these fall days. I know Emilene is, she is probably listening to howling wolves and buggling bull elk right now, waiting to move with the pronghorn in the morning. All the best, Joe

Corridor access

2008-10-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

In the last week of September I strapped a gigantic red canoe on top of my tiny red Ford Escort and drove up to northwest Wyoming from Laramie. I met up with Joe at Trapper's Point outside of Pinedale. Trapper's Point is a historic monument commemorating a rendezvous of mountain men in the 1800s. It is also a bottleneck where migrating deer and pronghorn are funneled between the Green River and some subdivisions when they cross Highway 191. Joe and I had a lot to talk about, as this was the last opportunity for us to get together before the fall migration starts.

Joe had a remote camera set near the fence. A few groups of pronghorn had started slowly filtering through. After sitting on the tailgate of Joe's truck, looking at maps, eating crackers, and catching up about our project for an hour or so, we went in to Pinedale to get some information about canoeing a section of the Green River that flows out of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, across a stretch of private land, and onto some Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in the pronghorn migration corridor. The guys at the Great Outdoor Shop warned us that the water might be pretty low, but said they thought otherwise the canoeing would be fine.

On Saturday morning we set up a vehicle shuttle and pushed off into the current. We had about the most perfect day imaginable. It was a warm day with clear, blue skies. As the river curved through oxbows to the left and right the view shifted from the rugged high country of the Wind River Mountains to the tree-covered slopes of the Gros Ventre Mountains. Thousands of ducks of several different species including mergansers and trumpeter swans coursed up and down the river, chopping the air with their wings. The crisp September sunshine lit up the turning aspens. We even drifted quietly past a cow moose and her calf resting in the shade of some willows.

In the afternoon we met with a landowner who was very interested in our project and granted us permission to walk across his property. This felt like a big victory, as access to private property has proven to be the biggest challenge to our planning so far. "Pronghorn Passage" feels like more and more of a reality as we get closer to the fall migration. In camp that night we poured over the maps and shared ideas around the campfire. The turning of the leaves, plus the heavy frost on our vehicles and tent in the morning, were a reminder that the migration will be in full swing very soon.

"Drill Baby Drill"

2008-09-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

I've been in the Gros Ventre Mountains for the past couple days, mainly just trying to find pronghorn in the high mountain meadows and locating spots where I will set up remote cameras in a couple weeks. I spent last night camped on a high mountain pass with the Wind River Range to the east and the windswept sage steppe of the Upper Green River Basin to the south. This local is equally beautiful as it is full of untapped oil and gas deposits. About 50 miles farther south near the town of Pinedale, energy exploitation is full on and evident.

Before I went to bed last night, I drove up to a hilltop so I could tune into NPR to hear the Republican national convention coverage. It made me tear up as I listened to the crowd at the convention in downtown Minneapolis chant "drill baby drill." I wandered if any one of those people chanting have seen the landscape that I am in, and if it would have changed their opinion on oil and gas exploration. I wish they could see what uncontrolled natural gas drilling looks like, as well as experience the wildness of a place like the undeveloped northern part of the Upper Green River Basin that is currently under siege to be developed. I understand that we need energy resources to continue our way of living, oil and natural gas drive our society. But when are we going to draw the line? I am looking forward to showing you images that will inspire you to draw that line. Until then, best wishes, Joe.

Finally...

2008-09-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

Make sure to read Emilene's first post listed below...

Today marks the start of my Pronghorn Passage field work. I've been planning and researching this pronghorn migration with Emilene for almost one full year now and finally I am doing what I like doing, wildlife photography! I spent the past couple days in Laramie going over last minute details with Emilene as well as making field work plans with my photographic assistant, Jeff Jewell. Jeff will be helping me keep all 8 of my remote cameras running smoothly, as well as watching for migrating pronghorn and relaying information to Emilene.

I will spend the first part of the Fall in Grand Teton National Park and the Gros Ventre Mountains just to the east. Then later this Fall I will move down into the Upper Green River Basin as the majority of the pronghorn move south towards more favorable climates. I will be living full time in the corridor with exception to a few Pronghorn Passage related obligations. On September 20th, I am giving a Pronghorn Passage presentation at Duke University for the National Geographic Society, then a couple media related obligations later in the Fall. Other than that, it's full time photographing pronghorn until Santa arrives.

I look forward to telling you about some of my field experiences. Until then, enjoy these wonderful Fall days and thanks for reading.

The end of summer...

2008-08-27T17:53:00.001-07:00

First of all, if you don't know about our project already, check it out at http://www.pronghornpassage.com/. The website explains our mission and will teach you about who we are. This blog won't really make sense unless you already know about our project.

In late August it's time to wake up from the long warm nap of summer and start getting ready for the coming autumn. I recently returned to Laramie, Wyoming, after spending the last few months with the pronghorn of Teton Park. I followed along as they arrived in the park in late spring. I watched as they gave birth to fawns, chased coyotes away, and gained weight eating the lush grass and sagebrush in their summer range. Now I am switching gears from my life as a pronghorn to my life as a student. Being a student entails lots of sitting at a desk indoors, but it also means sharing ideas with my classmates and feeding off the creative energy at the University of Wyoming. I'm glad to be in classes where I have an attentive audience for my writing and an opportunity for lots of feedback.

Like the pronghorn, Joe and I are using this time between seasons to prepare for the fall migration. We're building our website and blog so that people can stay informed about our project and find out what we are up to. Joe has been packing his truck with all the supplies he will need when he moves to the Teton Park next week. He's well-stocked with camera equipment, non-perishable food, and camping gear. He's plastered a giant map of the migration corridor to the ceiling of his camper shell as a reminder of where he'll be spending these coming months.

Meanwhile, 400 miles to the northwest, the pronghorn of Teton Park are weaning their fawns and getting fat and sleek as they graze among the bison in Jackson Hole. I know Joe is excited to get up there to see what they are doing, and I can't wait for the fall migration to start so I can go out among the pronghorn again. We hope you'll check in regularly to read about the adventure and follow along.