Our study area encompassed approximately 2,300 km2 of the Southern Yellowstone Ecosystem (SYE), inclusive of Grand Teton National Park (United States Park Service), the National Elk Refuge (United States Fish and Wildlife Service), and the Bridger-Teton National Forest (United States Forest Service) north of the town of Jackson, Wyoming (Figure 1 ). Elevations in the study area ranged from 1,800 m in the valleys to > 3,600 m in the mountains. Plant communities included cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) riparian zones interspersed with sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) uplands at lower elevations. At intermediate elevations, aspen (P. tremuloides), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) were the dominant species. Spruce (Picea engelmannii) and fir (Abies lasiocarpa) were the primary tree species at the higher elevations [25 ]. The area was characterized by short, cool summers and long winters with frequent snowstorms. Precipitation occurred mostly as snow, and mean maximum snow depths ranged from 100 cm at lower elevations to > 245 cm at intermediate and higher elevations (2,000 m +).
The study area supported a diverse community of large mammals. Carnivores included wolves, black bears (Ursus americanus), grizzly bears (U. arctos), coyotes (Canis latrans), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Ungulates included elk, mule deer, moose, bison (Bison bison), pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and a very small number of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn exhibited seasonal migrations [7 (link),17 ,18 (link),19 (link)].
The study area supported a diverse community of large mammals. Carnivores included wolves, black bears (Ursus americanus), grizzly bears (U. arctos), coyotes (Canis latrans), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Ungulates included elk, mule deer, moose, bison (Bison bison), pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and a very small number of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn exhibited seasonal migrations [7 (link),17 ,18 (link),19 (link)].
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