January 2023 - 16

IN THE FIELD
Hooray for habitat
Game and Fish, along with partners, did a lot of work in
2022 for aquatic and terrestrial habitat
By Robert Gagliardi
T
reatment of invasive grasses, beaver
dam analogs, fish passage and
stream restoration. All were points
of emphasis and highlights for
aquatic and terrestrial habitat personnel at
the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
in 2022. Game and Fish is tallying the final
figures in terms of the number of acres
treated, stream miles restored, etc., but in
a nutshell it was a good year for habitat
conservation and restoration around the state.
" It was a result of several things coming
together, " said Ian Tator, Game and Fish terrestrial
habitat manager. " All of the delays
from the COVID-19 pandemic are pretty
much in the rear-view mirror now. We were
able to get the contractors we needed, along
with the funding.
" Another important aspect was this fall.
The weather was beautiful and it extended
our season to get work done. Sometimes
by the end of September or beginning of
October we are done due to snow. Last year
wasn't the case, which means our crews were
out there longer. "
Preventing the growth of invasive grasses,
particularly cheatgrass, remains a top priority
for Game and Fish. Treatments were
conducted throughout the state in 2022,
including the first at the Thorne/Williams
Wildlife Habitat Management Area in the
Laramie Region where 5,688 acres were aerially
treated with a helicopter in September.
Tator said conifer removal to enhance
aspen growth continues to be a big part of
terrestrial habitat work, including in the
South Pass area in the Lander Region where
a long-term project continued in 2022.
More than 3,000 acres have been treated
since 2015.
In 2021 Game and Fish, partners and
16 | January 2023
A helicopter sprays for cheatgrass at the Thorne/Williams Wildlife Habitat Management Area in the Laramie Region. More than 5,000
acres were treated via helicopter in September 2022. (WGFD photo)
" All of the delays from the COVID-19 pandemic are pretty much in the
rear-view mirror now. We were able to get the contractors we needed,
along with the funding. " - Ian Tator
volunteers converted or installed 118 miles of
wildlife-friendly fence around the state. Tator
said 2022 had similar figures with hopes of
even more progress being made this year.
Beaver dam analogs - structures built
by people that serve to simulate beaver dams
- hold water, trap sediment and stabilize
water flow. Game and Fish habitat biologists
continued this work in 2022, including
installation of BDAs in the Little Laramie
River drainage to benefit habitat for boreal
toad breeding.
Beaver relocation work where nuisance
beavers are trapped and relocated to areas
where they can benefit habitat should get a
boost in 2023. Tator said the Wyoming Game
and Fish Commission approved money for
the department to buy more trailers, traps

January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2023

January 2023 - 1
January 2023 - 2
January 2023 - 3
January 2023 - 4
January 2023 - 5
January 2023 - 6
January 2023 - 7
January 2023 - 8
January 2023 - 9
January 2023 - 10
January 2023 - 11
January 2023 - 12
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January 2023 - 14
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January 2023 - 30
January 2023 - 31
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January 2023 - 38
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January 2023 - 40
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January 2023 - 44
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January 2023 - 48
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