In the past year, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has worked on 61 terrestrial and 39 aquatic habitat projects to improve habitat conditions for wildlife, according to the 2015 Strategic Habitat Plan Annual Report. The report was recently released by Game and Fish.

The annual report details accomplishments in habitat improvements including the removal of invasive species, prescribed burns, fish passage projects, forb and food plot seeding, mechanical tree removal, shrub planting, mowing, Dixie harrow and Lawson aerator treatments with improvements totaling over 85 stream miles and nearly 450,000 acres. 

In a significant $2.5 million investment by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, several new projects that aim to improve habitat for mule deer were also initiated through the Wyoming Mule Deer Initiative (MDI). The investment will support projects that span over the next five years. Other projects noted are fence conversions to improve wildlife passage and pipelines and farming activities aimed at improving wildlife habitat on Commission-owned lands, as well as creating more access and conserving more lands for wildlife. 

“Funding for habitat projects in 2015 was diverse, and we owe a great deal of thanks to our partners,” said Ian Tator, Game and Fish statewide terrestrial habitat manager. “Outside funding sources contributed approximately $4.45 for every Game and Fish dollar expended for on-the-ground fish and wildlife habitat activities.”

Current and past reports can be downloaded from the Game and Fish website. The mission of the Game and Fish Habitat Program is to promote and maintain the availability of high quality habitat to sustain and enhance wildlife populations in the future.