From Staff Reports
The Bureau of Land Management Cody, Wyo. field office is observing National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 15, with a project that will benefit sage-grouse and other wildlife in the area.
Volunteers will modify net wire fencing in a greater sage-grouse core habitat and wildlife migration corridor on Emblem Bench, just south of the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Herd Management Area.
Efforts by volunteers to make the fencing more wildlife-friendly will make it easier for sage grouse and pronghorn antelope to move through the area, according to a statement released by the BLM Cody public affairs office.
“Sage-grouse collide with fences like these and pronghorn need space to crawl under fences,” said BLM wildlife biologist Destin Harrell. “Volunteers can help us realize our goal of making BLM fences more wildlife-friendly.”
National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with 700 volunteers and three sites. Last year, more than 170,000 volunteers worked at over 2,067 sites across America. They collected an estimated 500 tons of trash, removed an estimated 23,000 pounds of invasive plants, built and maintained an estimated 1,500 miles of trails, planted an estimated 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants and contributed an estimated $17 million to improve public lands across the country.
Volunteers will depart at 7 a.m. from the Cody field office at 1002 Blackburn St. Participants should bring lunch, water, gloves, eye protection and wear long sleeves and boots or sturdy shoes. Those who have fence pliers should bring them.
Participants can also meet at the work site.
For additional information, call Destin Harrell at 307-578-5900.