joe riis

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Photos offer intimate look into secrets of Yellowstone migrations

 

CODY, WYO. — Eagle Pass lies along the southern boundary of Yellowstone National Park, near Eagle Peak, which at 11,372 feet is the highest spot in Yellowstone. It’s not easy to reach, but photojournalist Joe Riis figured it would be a good spot for a remote camera as part of his efforts to document wildlife migrations around the park. Unfortunately, the camera was in operation only a few days before it was disabled. “A grizzly bear had hit it, and the camera was pushed down in the dirt,” said Riis, a National Geographic contributing photographer and photography fellow at the Wyoming Migration Initiative. Continue Reading →

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‘Transcendent’ moments shine light of understanding on pronghorn migration

Pronghorn antelope make one of five river crossings during their migration from Grand Teton National Park to Wyoming’s Green River Basin. ©Joe Riis

Plains dwellers are familiar with the view of pronghorn antelope streaking across sagebrush flats and low grassy hills—camouflaged blurs racing on rawboned limbs at speeds upwards of 60 mph. Yet there's another view of this marvelous critter: fording swift rivers and scrambling up dusty mountain trails. That's the view of some rare souls who have tracked a pronghorn migration between Grand Teton Park and the Green River Basin. Continue Reading →

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‘Pronghorn Passage’ exhibition tells story of long, ancient migration

Pronghorn antelope make one of five river crossings during their migration from Grand Teton National Park to Wyoming’s Green River Basin. ©Joe Riis

Twice each year in Wyoming, more than 300 pronghorn antelope travel 120 miles ore more, moving from summer grounds along the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park to winter range in the Upper Green River Basin. Starting next month, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyo. will host an exhibition documenting how pronghorn use the 6,000-year-old route, which is one of the longest land migrations in North America. Continue Reading →

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Elk migration project wins Camp Monaco prize for biodiversity research, education

An elk pauses in the light of dawn near Sylvan Lake in Yellowstone National Park. (Ruffin Prevost/Yellowstone Gate)

The path to completion for many research and education proposals is often complex and baffling, and a new project to study and document elk migrations around Yellowstone National Park is no exception. It has connections with the most famous man in the world, touches on the inspirational story of a rotting whale and finds fruition through a century-old family legacy involving European royalty. Continue Reading →

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