Traveling Critters: Toads, Suckers and Cougars, from the Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative

From the Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative:

1000 Mile Journey of Cougar F-66

She completed 1,000 miles in less than 165 days, averaging 6 miles per day — with some days exceeding more than 20 miles of travel! Once up and over the Rocky Mountains, she continued her journey east, crossing 75% of the state of Colorado before her death on Nov. 13, 2022. In conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a biologist and wildlife veterinarian determined she had been killed by another cougar.

“Around 220 miles into her journey, on July 4, 2022, F66 sat on the banks of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming. At that point, F66 could either turn around and return north, or plunge into the cold water and move forward.

Hinton said F66 made the shocking decision to swim at least a quarter of a mile to reach the other side of the reservoir. From there, she continued her journey south.”

Video of Boreal Toad Journey

Tracked toad went five miles across rocks and desert.

Razorback Sucker Migration Animation: hatchery sucker’s nearly 1000 mile journey over dams and through reservoirs.

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