Benjamin Kraushaar

The Wyoming Migration Initiative (WMI) is composed of researchers, writers, students, and conservationists who strive to advance the understanding of the state’s migratory deer and bighorn sheep. Increases in private housing developments, traffic, and energy extraction on our public lands have threatened many ungulate migration routes in Wyoming.

For a week in March, photographer Ben Kraushaar shadowed the WMI folks as they captured and collared 35 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and 220 mule deer throughout Wyoming. From the Red Desert to eastern Greater Yellowstone, Kraushaar documented the steps involved in WMI’s efforts to better understand the migrations and health of these animals. Here, Kraushaar shares a behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced life of wildlife biologists collecting invaluable data in the field.

Kevin Coates, who works for Native Range Capture Services, nets a bighorn sheep. Once netted, the mugger (the person who subdues the animal) jumps from the chopper and carefully hobbles and blindfolds the sheep. For deer and sheep, sedation is usually unnecessary. Coates then carefully prepares the animal for transport to a nearby field research setup.

Environment

The Helicopter-Flying Wildlife Biologists Saving Our Wildlife

For a week in March, photographer Ben Kraushaar shadowed the WMI folks as they captured and collared 35 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and 220 mule deer throughout Wyoming. From the Red Desert to eastern Greater Yellowstone, Kraushaar documented the steps involved in WMI’s efforts to better understand the migrations and health of these animals.

Benjamin Kraushaar

Published: May 30, 2017

Spend ten days ripping singletrack and fly fishing through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains with a group of your best friends and you might just have a dream vacation. This August, photographer and rider Ben Kraushaar put together a crew of MTB and adventure junkies to do just that. With Telluride as the jumping off point, Kraushaar was joined by Justin Reiter, Dylan Stucki, Sam Simmons, and Trevor Downing for some high country trout, great riding, and plenty of challenging Colorado weather. Here, Kraushaar shares some favorite shots from their San Juan mission.

Photo: (Left to right) Sam Simmons, Justin Reiter, and Dylan Stucki pedal towards Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest waterfall in Colorado, in Telluride. We started our ten-day bikepacking trip in Telluride with the intention of fishing numerous alpine lakes and streams on our course through the San Juan Mountains.

Destinations

10 Days of High Country Trout and Singletrack in Colorado

Spend ten days ripping singletrack and fly fishing through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains with a group of your best friends and you might just have a dream vacation

Benjamin Kraushaar

Published: Sep 7, 2016