FMO was a mule deer born in the summer of 2017 to her mother, Deer 96. During the first year of her life, FMO learned where her mother migrated, and she followed these movements for the remainder of her life. In other words, migration was passed from one generation to the next.
This map shows FMO and her mother migrating in fall 2018, when FMO was just over 1 year old, from their summer range near Cokeville, Wyoming, south to their winter range. FMO adopted the migratory route of her mother and could make this movement independently, but for this migration, mother and daughter traveled together.
All animals were studied as part of research projects to help us understand mule deer ecology, populations, and behavior. All animals were handled according to appropriate permits and protocols.