Western Newsroom

Western graduate student Chloe Beaupré—alongside Western faculty and Colorado Parks & Wildlife partners—led a rigorous camera‑based study in the Upper Gunnison Basin that reveals elk avoid high‑traffic trails, exhibiting a significant drop in presence within ~600–655 meters, whereas mule deer tend to appear more frequently near busy trail corridors, likely benefiting from a “human shield” effect. This research highlights WCU’s leadership in science‑based recreation planning and underscores the importance of trail design, seasonal closures, and wildlife‑friendly management to preserve healthy ungulate habitat in Gunnison Valley.

Western researchers from the Clark School of Environment and Sustainability, in collaboration with Colorado State University and the U.S. Forest Service, analyzed over 300 wildfire incidents across the Four Corners region and demonstrated that in landscapes where aspen trees composed at least ~25% of vegetation, wildfires spread approximately one‑third as fast as in areas with less than 10% aspen. The study confirms that aspen stands—due to their moisture-rich foliage, elevated branches, and less flammable chemistry—can serve as natural firebreaks, offering a science-backed strategy for land managers and fire planners to encourage aspen growth as part of wildfire mitigation efforts.