Across this alpine ecosystem, red deer migrate along steep elevational gradients in response to changing seasonal snow cover and vegetation. In harsh winters, red deer find refuge in lower elevations close to valley bottoms, bringing them in closer proximity with human development. However, in milder conditions, deer can remain on forested southern slopes at an intermediate elevation throughout the winter. In some more agro-pastoral sections of the area, several groups heavily use agricultural resources close to human development. Spring migration kicks off as green up begins in the valleys. Deer move up in elevation, quickly reaching summer range in high elevation forests and pastures. Their summer range is heterogenous, and deer are able to exploit areas that green up at different times. For example, in the Swiss National Park, deer migrate from winter ranges outside the park to resource-rich spring and summer ranges within the Park, where they also benefit from the park’s strict protection. A similar dynamic occurs in Stelvio National Park. Migration routes are heavily influenced by local topography and seasonal habitat availability. Groups of females and young males often show substantially different migration tactics than groups of adult males.