Recently, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department conducted a prescribed burn on Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area east of Lovell to benefit migrating waterfowl. 

On Feb. 28, Game and Fish worked cooperatively with the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service to burn approximately 65 acres around Ponds 1 and 2 on Yellowtail WHMA, north of the Shoshone River. 

The prescribed fire burned cattails to increase open water for the benefit of migrating waterfowl. “Yellowtail WHMA is an important stop-over point for waterfowl during spring and fall migration and also provides year around habitat for nesting and brood rearing,” said Habitat and Access Biologist Eric Shorma.   “Increasing open water will provide important loafing and feeding areas for migrating waterfowl.”

“In conjunction with burning, Game and Fish plans to use herbicide treatments and seasonal drawdowns of water in Ponds 1-4 to manage cattails,” Shorma said.  “Next year, Game and Fish hopes to burn cattails in Ponds 3 and 4.”

Yellowtail WHMA is located approximately six miles east of Lovell and comprises 19,214 acres.  Through a cooperative agreement between the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission, National Park Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Bureau of Land Management, this area was established in the early 1960s for the primary purpose of enhancing waterfowl habitat.