BLM WY WLCI Partner Support - Green River Valley Land Trust - Wildlife Friendly Fencing Initiative

archived

A. Project Background Information: This project supports the second phase of a five-year initiative that offers cost-free livestock- and wildlife-friendly fence improvements to interested public and private landowners. Current fence modifications are proposed within a portion of a key mule deer migration route. This migration corridor, as identified in the Sublette Mule Deer Study (Phase II): Final Report 2007 runs from the Hoback Rim to the Big Sandy River in Sublette County, Wyoming, and links important habitat for mule deer, pronghorn, and other species. Improving fencing is critical to the survival of big game, as they must be able to move freely between seasonal ranges. The main purpose of this project is to remove existing woven and multiple strand fences that are difficult obstacles for antelope to negotiate through during the fall/spring migration, especially at corners where 3 or more fences join one another. These fences can become critical bottlenecks during severe fall snowstorms when wildlife need to migrate to winter range quickly. Potential exists for several antelope and mule deer to become disoriented and trapped against the fence during a harsh snowstorm and become severely stressed or perish. The existing fences are also an impediment for big game movements during the summer months, and appear to act as a movement barrier to young mule deer fawns and elk calves attempting to utilize various rearing habitats. This project will facilitate wildlife movement particularly for antelope and deer throughout their respective habitats and herd units. B. Project Objective: The overall, primary objective is to improve wildlife movement, providing for wildlife egress and egress throughout the area along key migration routes, and removing barrie

High