Fencing helps outline ownership boundaries and keeps livestock from roaming onto other tracts of land, but it can also make it difficult or impossible for migrating wildlife.
In a worst-case scenario, it can be deadly.
From 2020 to 2024, RMEF and more than 50 partner organizations invested $14.1 million to help elk, mule and whitetail deer, pronghorn antelope, moose and other wildlife more easily move across the landscape.
Altogether, nearly 120 projects led to the removal, replacement or modification of 467 miles of fencing across 16 states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
And RMEF volunteers took matters into their own hands by helping with fence improvement projects in 13 of those states.
With a continued emphasis on enhancing wildlife migration corridors, 50 of those projects began in 2024 and entail a handful of innovative virtual fencing projects in several states.
Project partners include the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state fish and wildlife agencies, county or local soil and water conservation districts, private landowners, permittees and various sportsmen and conservation groups.
RMEF also produced a wildlife-friendly fencing resource that’s available on its website with fence design specifications, enhanced modifications for high-traffic crossing areas and more information to help landowners and others.
Restoring elk country is core to RMEF’s mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.
Since 1984, RMEF helped conserve or enhance more than 9.1 million acres of wildlife habitat.