Wyoming Researcher Receives Aldo Leopold Award

A renowned Wyoming wildlife biologist and researcher has been awarded the 2024 Aldo Leopold Award for his work in the field of ungulate migration.

Matthew Kauffman, leader of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit at the University of Wyoming, U.S. Geological Survey researcher, and lead scientist for the Wyoming Migration Initiative, was bestowed the prestigious Leopold Award for his pioneering of migration studies, which colleagues say will have a lasting impact on the field.

Awarded annually by the American Association of Mammalogists, the Aldo Leopold Award recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conservation of mammals and their habitats.

Reflecting on his career thus far, Kauffman recalls arriving in Wyoming without any preconceived notion that his career would lead him here. “We were studying mule deer and we kept getting collars back,” he said, “and I was just fascinated by the movement [of ungulates] and where they were going.”

Migration has since become the central focus of Kauffman’s research, emphasizing both conservation and management. His team at the University of Wyoming has explored the reasons behind ungulate migrations, their methodologies, and the various threats affecting their patterns. This research has led to the first convincing evidence of “green wave surfing” in Wyoming mule deer, a hypothesis stating that ungulates follow the seasonal wave of nutrient-rich young plants from low elevations to the mountains. Kauffman likens this forage to the fresh spring greens at a grocery store.

“We’ve used remote sensing and GPS collars on mule deer and figured out how to evaluate how well they match their movements to the green wave,” Kauffman told Mountain Journal. “They essentially choreograph their movement with the best, most optimal forage.”

One of Kauffman’s recent studies examined the impact oil and gas developments have had on mule deer, revealing that they can disrupt migration patterns and a herd’s alignment with the green wave. When deer reach the edges of these developments, they stay in a holding pattern for several days or weeks, and the green wave passes them by. 

In addition to this research, Kauffman is dedicated to mapping migration corridors and making this data publicly available. Collaborating with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and other agencies, his team has developed a science-based approach to monitoring habitats and migration routes. This involves tracking animals with collars, creating detailed maps of their movements, and using this information to inform the placement of fences, crossing structures, and energy developments.

“I’m honored to receive the award,” Kauffman said. “I’ve been really fortunate to be part of this great team, and I will be accepting it on behalf of our whole team. Being nominated and receiving this award has made me reflect on how fortunate I am to collaborate with great people and agencies in a place where we still have a lot of intact landscape that’s still pretty wild and supports migratory herds.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mountain Journal is a nonprofit, public-interest journalism organization dedicated to covering the wildlife and wild lands of Greater Yellowstone. We take pride in our work, yet to keep bold, independent journalism free, we need your support. Please donate here. Thank you.