Foraging-vigilance trade-offs in a partially migratory population: comparing migrants and residents on a sympatric range

► We studied migrant and resident elk while they occupied their sympatric range. ► We compare the foraging-vigilance trade-offs made by migrant and resident elk. ► Resident elk had a better perception of spatial variations in wolf predation risk. ► Resident elk were more efficient at reducing the foraging costs of vigilance. ► Overall, resident elk had an advantage over migrants on their sympatric range.