Influences of Personality on Ungulate Migration and Management

Bolder elk are three times more likely to forego migration and exhibit faster learning responses to aversive conditioning, suggesting that personality traits significantly influence migratory behavior and habituation. This study synthesizes research on wild elk populations in the Canadian Rocky Mountains to propose a conceptual model explaining how anthropogenic changes favor bolder individuals, leading to residency over migration. The findings indicate that bold personalities—defined by seven metrics—are linked to cognitive flexibility and behavioral adaptability, potentially driven by genetic differences or gene-environment interactions. Managers could mitigate habituation and promote migration by targeting bolder individuals with aversive conditioning and reducing anthropogenic food sources in predator refugia.

Found, R., & St. Clair, C. C. (2019). Influences of Personality on Ungulate Migration and Management. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00438