Fencing is an essential piece of our landscape, yet when wildlife and fences intersect, the result can be costly for both wildlife populations and landowners. A group of landowners, community members, non-governmental organizations – including the Wyoming Wildlife Federation in Lander, and local government agencies in Park County have come together to tackle this issue.
The group, Absaroka Fence Initiative, aims to ensure fences are functional for livestock management and wildlife movement across the landscape through on the ground projects, public workdays, and outreach to the community.
“By bringing together the expertise and resources of our partners into a shared initiative,
we can more effectively enhance wildlife movement and livestock functionality by adding,
modifying or removing fences,” says Tony Mong, Absaroka Fence Initiative Chair.
This initiative is the first of its kind in Wyoming and took over a year of partnership building. The group still has many relationships to build and seeks opportunities to connect with willing landowners and community members.
The Absaroka Fence Initiative is currently working with research partners to complete an analysis that evaluates the most critical areas where fencing needs to be addressed. Simultaneously the group is completing on the ground projects. Their first public event is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2021.
You can learn more about this work or get involved by following the Absaroka Fence Initiative Facebook Page, visiting their website absarokafenceinitiative.org, or send them an email at [email protected].