One of Wyoming’s major mule deer herds is the focus of a $3 million dollar habitat improvement project that will be completed over the next 10 years.
The movement arose after the Wyoming Game and Fish reported that Wyoming mule deer populations have declined by roughly 33 percent of what they were 20 years ago. The Game and Fish Department attributes this to a number of causes, competition with Whitetail deer for food sources and predation from different sources.
In response to the decline the proposed project will use mowing, chemicals, and other treatments in an effort to improve the ecosystem. Pinedale habitat biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Jill Randall believes the project is fairly unique.
“I would say this is one of the larger scale projects as far as looking at a landscape in a holistic way,” Randall said in an interview with the Billings Gazette.
The cost of the project is being dissipated through many funding sources, some of them private organizations. They include the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative, the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Fund, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Wyoming Game and Fish and the BLM.
Mariah Strike, a senior in international studies, environment and natural resources (ENR) and Spanish, believes that the project should be supported.
“Mule deer are a large part of the ecosystem and with the amount of damage we have already caused to mule deer populations; I think it is reasonable to spend the money to improve their habitat,” Strike said.
Carolyn Smylie, a junior studying political science, secondary education and history, believes that the cause is worthy but the approach could be better.
“I think that they have good intentions, but I do not believe that the money is being spent as effectively as it could be.” Smylie also appreciates the funding coming from outside organizations, but is unhappy with the government involvement in the project.
The portion coming from taxpayer dollars I do not condone. I think that it is the game and fish using their funds irresponsibly for this cause,” she said.
A senior kinesiology major, Hunter Perala believes that the initiative is important due to the outdoor culture in Wyoming.
“Due to Wyoming’s interest in hunting I believe that this effort is beneficial to the Wyoming community.”
In the end, it comes down to the future of Wyoming for Perala, “I hope that his money could establish a habitat that could benefit the community for the next 20 years or longer.”
