Wildlife is one of Albany County's most cherished natural resources. At LRCD we work under the principle that our fish and wildlife belong to all Americans, and that they need managed in a way that their populations are sustained forever. Growing human populations put increasing pressure on our wildlife. Wildlife corridors and habitat, particularly near mountains and foothills, are most affected human activity due to increased density, development, and agriculture operations.

We work in partnership with government agencies like Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Game & Fish, and WY Fish and Wildlife as well as non-profit organizations such as Nature Conservancy, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Trout Unlimited in assisting with important wildlife projects on public and private lands.  These partnerships are vital tools that increase access to funding and improve the chances of implementing important conservation practices. Another important relationship is with private landowners, which is critical because private lands support a majority of wildlife populations and the habitats essential for their survival.

WILDLIFE HABITAT ACTIVITIES

Rangeland Improvement: many improvement projects that landowners undertake for agricultural purposes have a benefit for wildlife and their habitat. Along with financial support, through our Rural Cost Share program, our Resource Specialist assists in planning and developing projects.

• Wildlife Friendly Fence - for current information and recommendations, read and/or download Wyoming Wildlife Foundation.

• Riparian area fences - a cost-effective and practical way to isolate a degraded riparian system to enhance its recovery and management.
• Stock Water pumps and tanks - for some great information and tips on this, read or download

• Reseeding - establishing native grasses is beneficial to wildlife populations, providing habitat, protection, and forage.

Wyoming Toad Monitoring: LRCD is involved with long-running reintroduction efforts to ensure the survival of the Wyoming Toad. Through collaboration with U.S. Fish & Wildlife reintroduction program and enlisting Wyoming Natural Diversity Database to perform site monitoring, the Wyoming Toad has a continued place in our local ecosystem. For more information check out:

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife - Breathing Life Into Wyoming Toad Recovery Efforts
• Wyoming Natural Data Diversity Database
• Amphibian Rescue & Conservation Project - Wyoming Toad