The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. That “other wildlife” faction is key and often leads to collaborative habitat enhancement projects with other groups and agencies that benefit a wide variety of wildlife species.
Such is the case in southern Wyoming where the Bureau of Land Management and RMEF are funding work to improve habitat for Greater sage-grouse, elk, mule deer, other animals and it also enhances livestock grazing.
“Junipers are encroaching into sagebrush grassland habitats, degrading nesting and other seasonal habitats,” Jim Wright, BLM biologist, told the Sage Rangeland Partnership.
Crews treated approximately 1,300 acres so far with a goal to eventually treat 12,000 acres.
“These are the kinds of projects the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation enjoys funding,” Blake Henning, chief conservation officer for RMEF, a member of the coalition, told the Sage Rangeland Partnership. “Juniper invasion is a significant problem in several intermountain states so we are using funds from our local banquet program to fund these habitat improvement projects. It’s a great partnership with BLM and others.”
(Photo source: Sage Rangeland Partnership)