A collaborative conservation effort in Wyoming has successfully protected more than 510,000 acres of critical big game migration habitat since its launch in 2021, Wyoming News Now reports.
The Partnership to Conserve Big Game Habitat in Wyoming, spearheaded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and supported by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Wyldlife Fund, has allocated $33.7 million toward preserving key wildlife corridors.
The initiative focuses on five priority areas: Sublette, Baggs, and Platte Valley mule deer migration corridors; the Wind River Indian Reservation area; and the Absaroka Front near Cody. These areas were identified using two decades of GPS collar data to track big game migrations.
Efforts have included fence modifications, invasive weed control, conservation easements, and leasing habitats through the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The program has achieved the following milestones:
- Conservation Easements: Over 29,000 acres of working lands are now protected to ensure open spaces for wildlife.
- Grassland CRP Participation: A 30% increase in participation across Wyoming, enhancing habitat quality.
- On-the-Ground Implementation: Game and Fish provides technical guidance, while federal and private funding, including $1.5 million in private donations, supports local producers and tribal partners in carrying out conservation projects.
The program’s success has been made possible through investments from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, and private donors.
