Wildlife Habitat Partnerships

LRCD works with wildlife partners such as the WY Game and Fish, US Fish and Wildlife, and non-profit groups such as the Mule Deer and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundations.  These partnerships are crucial to wildlife habitat within the district for several reasons.  Partnerships on projects increase the likelihood of receiving funding and improve the chance of projects being approved.  Consenting opinion of several stakeholders usually enhances the outcome for wildlife and their habitat and offers more diverse viewpoints.  Working with private landowners is critical because private lands support the majority of wildlife populations and their habitat.

 

Wildlife Habitat Projects

Many of the district’s wildlife habitat projects complement our rangeland improvement projects.  When district personnel initiate natural resource projects, they look for multiple resource benefits. Rangeland improvement projects for agricultural operations are usually designed around wildlife habitat needs as well. 

The district has assisted in planning, developing, and financially assisting numerous water developments that help improve riparian conditions by drawing livestock away from these areas and onto uplands, thus enhancing wildlife habitat in riparian areas and increasing watering sites.  LRCD aids landowners in designing grazing plans that enhance wildlife habitat.  These are just a few examples of the many ways that wildlife and agriculture can help each other.

Wyoming Toad—Safe Harbor Program Update

LRCD continues to participate in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Safe Harbor” program to reintroduce the Wyoming Toad at various locations in the county. We are the first conservation district in the region to enter into an agreement related to endangered species with the USFWS.   In addition, this is the first agreement of its kind implemented by anyone in the Rocky Mountain region. In spring of 2006 a second Safe Harbor release site was established in Albany County and hundreds of tadpoles were released on private land.  Under the agreement participating ranchers and their neighbors may continue normal agricultural and business operations with out interference from the federal government.

 

Wyoming Toad—Monitoring 

As a part of the reintroduction program LRCD is committed to following up on toad reintroductions by carefully monitoring populations, disease, habitat, and survival.  To that end, LRCD has enlisted the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database to perform detailed field work and to produce annual reports to inform the district, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the participating landowners of the toad population’s progress.