Powder River Fence Initiative rebranded launch to support ranchers and wildlife

Sheridan Community Land Trust has alerted Sheridan Media that a host of local ranching and conservation partners are excited to announce the rebranding of the Powder River Fence Initiative, a collaborative effort to assist landowners in maintaining effective livestock fencing while enhancing wildlife movement across much of Northeast Wyoming’s landscapes.

According to a news release from SCLT, the Bighorn Fence Initiative formed in 2022. The rebranding focuses the group’s efforts and resources on Sheridan, Johnson, and Campbell Counties. 

Fences are essential for marking boundaries and managing livestock. However, traditional fencing can pose challenges for wildlife, leading to entanglements and hindering natural movement patterns. The Powder River Fence Initiative seeks to address these issues by working with landowners to modify, remove, or rebuild fencing in key areas, ensuring both livestock containment and wildlife passage are optimized.

Utilizing research from the University of Wyoming and other sources, the Powder River Fence Initiative collaborates with ranchers, landowners, volunteers, and organizations to implement wildlife-friendly fencing solutions tailored to individual operations. These modifications not only benefit wildlife but also aim to reduce fence maintenance for ranchers.

“We recognize the importance of functional fencing for ranchers and the need for wildlife to move freely across the land,” SCLT Director of Conservation and Powder River Fence Initiative member John Graves said. “Through this initiative, we’re committed to finding solutions that work for both.”

According to SCLT, the group has removed or modified more than 15 miles of fence across private and public lands in and around Sheridan, Johnson, and Campbell Counties – from the eastern face of the Bighorns stretching east into the foothills, high plains, grasslands, and valleys.

The Powder River Fence Initiative includes an ever-growing list of regional ranching and conservation partners, including US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Wyoming State Lands, Wyoming Game and Fish, Wyoming Department of Transportation, The Nature Conservancy, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Trout Unlimited, The Wyldlife Fund, Wyoming Wilderness Association, Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation, Wyoming Sportsman’s Group, Bowhunters of Wyoming, Sheridan Community Land Trust, and Cloud Peak Backcountry Horsemen.

The Powder River Fence Initiative invites ranchers and landowners interested in participating or learning more about wildlife-friendly fencing to reach out. Additionally, community members can contribute by volunteering for fence removal and modification projects.

The Powder River Fence Initiative’s first project of 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, May 31. Volunteers will assist Powder River Fence Initiative members in removing the old barbed-wire fence at the SCLT Big Goose Natural Area to clear a path for a new, wildlife-friendly fence that will be installed this summer. The volunteer fence pull will run from 8 a.m. to noon.

For more information or to get involved, click here.