We see protection of wildlife and habitat as imperative, and it is a way we support regional conservation efforts. With careful management, wildlife can thrive within working landscapes.
Goals: Protect and improve wildlife habitats (forests, grasslands, wetlands, and fisheries), migration corridors, and biodiversity.
Recent developments in radio telemetry for tracking ungulate (deer, elk, pronghorn, etc.) migrations demonstrate that open space and unblocked migration corridors are critical for species’ success. Based on this data, internal studies using motion-sensing cameras, and field observations, the Ranch has identified key zones for protection and improvement of wildlife routes.
Some of these activities are documented in the 2024 film, Under the Wire. Produced by Michael Forsberg and directed by Mariah Lundgren of the Platte Basin Timelapse. Other partners included the University of Wyoming, Conservation District of Carbon County, and students and teachers from the local community.
The film was awarded Grand Prize and People’s Choice awards at the 2024 Wild and Working Lands Film Festival, presented by the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at University of Wyoming.
The Ranch has been home to an active bird banding station, led by Dr. Oak Thorne, from 1986 to present. The work helps to identify migration patterns and vitality of a variety of resident and migratory species. Thousands of birds have been banded, but a few stories stand out:
One ruby-throated hummingbird was captured on its northward migration. It had last been captured in Taos, NM (about 400 miles south) just five days earlier. After release, it likely continued toward (or beyond) the Canadian border.
A female red-winged blackbird was captured twice at the A Bar A and a third time in Boulder, CO over an eight-year period—all three times by Dr. Thorne.
One cliff swallow first banded at the Ranch was captured again in southern Mexico on its annual migration to Argentina.
The open spaces and diverse landscapes on the Ranch are critical for nesting birds. Working with wildlife agencies, the Ranch actively protects nesting habitat for Sage Grouse. Partnering with CSU, studies have been conducted to understand how our irrigated meadows and the upland habitats that surround them are used by sage grouse and where opportunities for improvement in agricultural practices exist. Ranch guests participated in a project near a critical breeding area, placing markers on fence lines to help grouse avoid hitting wires in flight.
Managing resources over the long-term for a range of users requires attention to individual, community, and ecosystem needs. We actively collaborate with neighbors, agencies, community leaders, universities, NGOs, and other stakeholder groups to support landscape-wide conservation initiatives.
Well-managed grazing supports wildlife, livestock, soil health, soil moisture, biodiversity, and carbon retention. We use rotational grazing and cutting-edge mapping to help emulate grazing patterns of wildlife species past and present, manage grazing time on pastures, protect sensitive areas, and encourage plant diversity. At the same time, we have an active weed control program.
Goals: Protect and improve range land stability, connectivity, and ecological health while optimizing forage for livestock and wildlife.
Tilling soil degrades soil health. We keep soils intact by focusing on crops and grazing that do not require tilling. In areas where previous land managers tilled sage rangeland, we are experimenting with various ways to return soil health to pre-tilling conditions.
Mowing is one tool we employ. Rather than mowing an entire field, the Ranch uses mosaic patterns that leave taller sage for habitat and to retain its water-holding capabilities. Rather than cutting straight mowed lines, that create “raceways” that help predators catch prey, the rounded corners of mosaics retain cover for prey species.
Proactive control of invasive species and noxious weeds is a critical part of good land management. The Ranch works to quickly revegetate disturbed soils with non-invasive species to prevent erosion and the establishment of invasive species like cheat grass. When established stands of species like thistle, cheat grass, and leafy spurge are found, we actively control them with mechanical and chemical methods.
Cheat Grass Control
Cheat grass is has expanded throughout the western United States since its introduction in the mid-1800s. Native to Eurasia, this annual can produce up to 1,000 seeds per plant. After germination, the plant creates a shallow mat of roots that captures water near the surface and prevents water from reaching other plants. After a short growing season, the grass dies back and provides little soil shading or protection. Over time, cheat grass can take over entire hillsides and eliminate other species. Hillsides become dry monocultures that are prone to fire and provide little forage for grazing species.
In partnership with Carbon County and the NRCS, tens of thousands of acres of cheatgrass-infested lands have been treated to allow native species to recover. While cheat grass will remain in this landscape for the foreseeable future, efforts to limit its proliferation support rangeland health.