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Game and Fish seeks comments on Sublette antelope migration risk assessment; county bottleneck noted at Highway 372
Summary
Wyoming Game and Fish is taking public comment through May 2 on a biological risk-and-opportunity assessment for the Sublette (Mule) antelope migration corridor; the department identified a local 'bottleneck' near Highway 372 related to a solar facility and urged stakeholders to comment.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department briefed the Sweetwater County commission on April 1 about the Sublette pronghorn migration corridor and a draft biological risk-and-opportunity assessment that is open for public comment through May 2.
Game and Fish wildlife coordinator Dr. Sean Yancey said the corridor had been identified by the state commission following an earlier threat evaluation and that the risk assessment expands the record with proposed mitigation, opportunities and a series of mapped "bottlenecks" where migration function is impaired. He said the county portion of the migration route has mostly been stable, but the team identified one local bottleneck on Highway 372 where fence and solar-farm layout make passage difficult for migrating pronghorn.
Yancey described the process: the department proposed corridor lines and categorized segments as low, medium or high seasonal use; it also proposed stopover areas and mapped bottlenecks. If the governor elects to designate a corridor under the executive order, a stakeholder working group — typically including a county commissioner, conservation and industry representatives and other local stakeholders — would meet and produce recommendations for implementation measures.
Game and Fish will host public meetings on the draft assessment (Green River April 9, Jackson April 10 and Pinedale April 15) and will accept written comments to May 2. Yancey asked local officials to provide comment and to participate in stakeholder conversations if the governor pursues formal corridor designation. The department emphasized that the executive order does not regulate private land or take away grazing rights; designation primarily provides a framework for avoiding and mitigating impacts on migration routes during permitting and siting decisions.
Commissioners asked about options to maintain movement across Highway 372; Yancey said measures to improve passage include removing or reconfiguring fences, providing set-back corridors around obstructions, or working with the solar site owner to modify fencing. County staff and commissioners said they will consider submitting formal comments to the department.
