WORKING TOGETHER Game and Fish biologists discuss herbivory-threatened aspen habitat near Green River. (Photo by Paul C. Rogers) Aspen Days celebrates 10th anniversary Game and Fish and Western Aspen Alliance help bring awareness to the value of aspen communities By Paul C. Rogers W hen autumn dawns with the first crisp morning of the year hunters and photographers alike are seemingly pulled toward the gently flickering gold of an aspen cluster. Is it instinct or something deeper that whispers a reward in hiding? Not just an expected quarry in the trees but a treasure trove of flora, fauna and aesthetic bounty. An aspen's value truly abounds. Falling leaves enrich the soil which retains more moisture throughout the year, bolsters plant density and diversity and modifies runoff to enhance fish habitat in streams. Aspen communities in 14 | September 2021 Wyoming are second only to riparian forests in total biodiversity. Last month the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Western Aspen Alliance co-hosted the 10th annual Aspen Days in Jackson. The WAA is a science-based organization with the mission of bringing current aspen-related research to practitioners, policy-makers and the public throughout the West. Game and Fish and WAA have hosted this event at different venues around the state and have explored local wildlife issues, management practices and restoration topics under a collaborative framework. The biggest takeaway of this long-term partnership is the key role aspen plays as wildlife habitat. In 2020, attendees examined issues of avian habitat, chemical ecology and positive influences of fire in aspen forests. Aspen Days events spend significant time evaluating the science and practical application of restoration methods that will yield the most benefits for these valuable forest systems. A rich plant assemblage facilitates a broad array of wildlife. That diversity is based on subterranean water retention. Aerial photos of Wyoming forests reveal hidden moisture resources where aspen forests reside. Another focus of the event is on restoring key ecological processes for overall system health. Wildfire, often thought to be bad or damaging, is beneficial for aspen. Following