A huge thank you goes out to the 15 volunteers and partner organizations who helped remove more than two miles of old woven wire and barbed wire fence during the recent Freezeout Stock Driveway fence removal project.
Volunteers worked from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 5, with several returning on Saturday to finish cleaning up piles of posts and complete the project. While some sections of fence could be removed using a skid steer and wire winder, many long stretches of wire had to be rolled up by hand across rugged terrain.
The project took place in an area affected by the Elk Fire. Removing this unnecessary fencing will help wildlife move more freely across the landscape while supporting the area’s continued recovery.
“This is exactly the kind of project that shows what can happen when conservation organizations, agencies, sportsmen, and volunteers work together toward a common goal,” said John Graves, SCLT Director of Conservation and Resource Management. “Every mile of fence removed makes it easier for wildlife to move across the landscape, and these improvements add up over time. We’re grateful to everyone who came out and put in the hard work.”
The Freezeout Stock Driveway project marks the 16th fence removal project completed by partners in the Powder River Fence Initiative, a collaborative effort focused on improving wildlife connectivity across northern Wyoming.
SCLT extends its thanks to the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Wyldlife Fund, North American Pronghorn Foundation, Wyoming Sportsman’s Group, and all of the dedicated volunteers who made this project possible.
Together, they’re helping create a landscape that’s easier for wildlife to navigate and better connected for future generations.
