USDA and Wyoming partner to help wildlife and ranchers

A new partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State of Wyoming will benefit wildlife and ranchers while also supporting big game migration and conservation efforts. A total of $16 million will go toward preserving the land and avoiding infrastructure changes like the addition of subdivisions, according to Wyoming Public Radio. 

The partnership will begin in the fiscal year 2023 and participating ranchers will be provided with funds to use toward building wildlife-friendly fences or limiting grazing on pastures during specific times of the year. 

“Wyoming leads the nation in our approaches to conserving wildlife, particularly big game migration. We do that with strong landowner partnerships and recognition that habitat conservation can be done on multi-use lands,” said Governor Mark Gordon. “Private landowners have long provided key habitat for wildlife across Wyoming. Offering voluntary funding opportunities to landowners to maintain this valuable space for wildlife is a recognition of their role in conservation.”

According to Marissa Taylor, a rancher in southwest Wyoming and a member of the migrations corridors task force, “Private lands tend to have pretty good access to water and pretty high nutrients. Those private lands not only help connect the corridor between the public lands, but they also offer key resource bases to help the animals survive that trek.”

Providing incentives for ranchers to make adjustments that benefit both wildlife and keep their land healthy is an important strategy to promote conservation efforts. 

If you are a landowner interested in applying for funding, click here.