Existing comment:
A Year in the Life: Why They Migrate:
Why do Yellowstone's elk migrate? In spring, they follow the melting snowline to higher elevations, where cool air and afternoon rains keep the grass green and nutritious throughout the summer. As autumn returns and snow slowly buries the grass, they journey back to take shelter on their wintry ranges in the foothills. Although these journeys are difficult, they help each individual grow fat and bring new calf into the world -- making for a productive herd, year after year.
Let's follow one individual animal, a cow elk tagged and tracked as "Elk 22" during early 2014, to reveal the typical migration story of a herd. |