Fremont Ridge is right in the middle of one of the largest mule deer migration corridors in the United States. This migration route is critical for mule deer, elk, and pronghorn in Western Wyoming. These animals sometimes travel up to 160 miles from their summer range down to their wintering grounds. More now than ever these animals are finding more and more obstacles in their path with new developments and private land purchases. These types of things can make it more difficult to safely manage the migration routes. There are opportunities to help and that is what we were able to do with this project. We partnered with the Pinedale BLM and were able to identify and remove a problem section of barbed wire fencing that was directly in the migration corridor.
We couldn’t have done the project without the help of our volunteers. We had a great turnout and were able to remove a one-mile section of problem fencing. With the help of Pinedale BLM and SOS Wells and Services we were able to help clean up the migration route for our Wyoming herds.
Image courtesy of Wyoming Migration Initiative
Projects like these are important to help aid in the migration. When a key section of land became available on the market near Fremont Lake The Conservation Fund jumped right in and with the help of private donors and other wildlife foundations. Had this section of land been developed it would have created a block to the migration route that would have cause the animals to find a different path. The area is known as the Luke Lynch WHMA and is a great resource for our animals as they pass through the area annually.
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