September 2023 - 16

IN THE FIELD
Habitat is key for mule
deer success
Game and Fish is involved in numerous projects each
year to help Wyoming's iconic species
By Robert Gagliardi
T
he Wyoming Game and Fish Department
implements numerous projects
annually to benefit mule deer. Work
includes collaring efforts to monitor
movements and calculate population estimates,
wildlife-friendly fence construction
to improve migration between important
habitats and overpasses and underpasses to
lessen the danger for deer and people along
busy Wyoming highways.
Some of the more extensive work throughout
the state involves improving important
mule deer habitat. Habitat work includes aspen
enhancement, weed treatments and conifer
removal projects. Some of that is done by
prescribed fire - often by Game and Fish
personnel or contract crews who complete
these tasks by hand and machine.
Another area of emphasis is riparian restoration.
A big part of that is the construction
of beaver dam analogs, which are man-made
structures designed to mimic the form and
function of a natural beaver dam. In the case
of riparian restoration, BDAs increase the
water table and allow vegetation to grow in
those areas.
" Riparian restoration has really taken off in
recent years, " said Ian Tator, Game and Fish
statewide terrestrial habitat manager. " Whether
it is beaver dam analogs, Zeedyk structures,
exclosures, removing noxious and invasive
weeds, replanting shrubs or deciduous trees in
riparian areas, we've been doing a lot of these
projects lately. "
Tator added Game and Fish completed more
than 225 habitat-related projects throughout
the state last year and is on pace to meet or
exceed that total this year.
An important aspect of habitat improvement
for mule deer involves sagebrush. Mosaic
16 | September 2023
Beaver dam analogs are man-made structures that mimic the function of natural beaver dams. They can boost the water table,
create new flood plains, allow for woody vegetation growth and can attract beaver activity. (WGFD photo)
Zeedyk structures like this one in the Pinedale Region are constructed to help slow the erosion of wet-meadow habitats. These
structures slow water flow and trap nutrient-dense sediment which may otherwise get washed away. (Photo by Chris Martin/WGFD)

September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2023

September 2023 - 1
September 2023 - 2
September 2023 - 3
September 2023 - 4
September 2023 - 5
September 2023 - 6
September 2023 - 7
September 2023 - 8
September 2023 - 9
September 2023 - 10
September 2023 - 11
September 2023 - 12
September 2023 - 13
September 2023 - 14
September 2023 - 15
September 2023 - 16
September 2023 - 17
September 2023 - 18
September 2023 - 19
September 2023 - 20
September 2023 - 21
September 2023 - 22
September 2023 - 23
September 2023 - 24
September 2023 - 25
September 2023 - 26
September 2023 - 27
September 2023 - 28
September 2023 - 29
September 2023 - 30
September 2023 - 31
September 2023 - 32
September 2023 - 33
September 2023 - 34
September 2023 - 35
September 2023 - 36
September 2023 - 37
September 2023 - 38
September 2023 - 39
September 2023 - 40
September 2023 - 41
September 2023 - 42
September 2023 - 43
September 2023 - 44
September 2023 - 45
September 2023 - 46
September 2023 - 47
September 2023 - 48
September 2023 - 49
September 2023 - 50
September 2023 - 51
September 2023 - 52
September 2023 - 53
September 2023 - 54
September 2023 - 55
September 2023 - 56
September 2023 - 57
September 2023 - 58
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/wyoming-wildlife-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2024-e-edition
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-iak-special-issue
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/dec-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/January2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/December2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/September2020
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com