WASHINGTON – After requesting states' input on the conservation of big game migration corridors, winter range, and research needs in eleven western states, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced the Department will begin the next steps in the conservation of these important routes and areas. The announcement comes just ahead of National Hunting and Fishing Day, which is celebrated on September 22 this year. The feedback provided by the states will be used to create state-by-state plans for Interior and partners to fund research priorities and conduct conservation activities on key migration corridors and winter range for antelope, elk and mule deer.
"National hunting and fishing day is an important day to remind everyone that American hunters are the backbone of big game conservation efforts, generating over a billion dollars each year for conservation," said Secretary Zinke. "When it comes to wildlife and habitat conservation, we all know that animals go where animals want to go, and more often than not that's dependent upon natural features like watersheds, rather than whether land is owned by the BLM, state, or private landowners. Which is why we are starting to manage habitat at a bigger landscape scale. My goal is healthy herds for American hunters and wildlife watchers, and this feedback will help identify and protect migration corridors for iconic big game species like elk, mule deer and antelope. We’ve already seen early success working with the State of Wyoming, and now I’m looking forward to working with 10 more states to protect even more habitat.”
In an exceptional example of Federal-State communication and cooperation, all 11 western states identified in Secretarial Order 3362 submitted their priorities to the Department. This feedback ranged from identifying routes to impediments to migration to what the State and Department could do to address the impediments.
A common risk and threat identified in every state submission was wildlife/vehicle collisions. In every state, highways (and some states railroads) create a barrier to big game migration, and therefore impede genetic exchange among populations and access to better winter range in times of harsh weather or create direct mortality.
Beyond highways, other threats/risks to corridors and winter range that multiple states identified include:
* Invasion of noxious weeds (5 states);
* Exurban and suburban development (5 states);
* Fencing creating a barrier to movement (4 states);
* Recreation timing during sensitive times (4 states); and
* Habitat destruction caused by feral (“wild”) horses (3 states).
Only one state identified energy development; another specifically oil and gas development; and two states identified wind and solar development as threats/risks. Action on state identified risks/threats are underway. For example, following through on his commitment to work with states to prioritize big game migration corridors, Secretary Zinke has deferred leases and put in place innovative lease stipulations in Wyoming.
“Cooperation between state and federal agencies, landowners and the conservation community is critical to providing hunting opportunity and conserving wildlife resources and habitat ,” said Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation President Jeff Crane. "The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds Secretary Zinke and the Department of the Interior for their commitment to partnerships that will create a brighter future for the antelope, elk and mule deer that are cornerstones of our nation’s western hunting heritage."
“This collaborative work in the west is in keeping with a recent Association Resolution that states in part, ‘State and federal agencies with management responsibility for fish and wildlife should be considered as peers and integral to development of an initial framework, boundaries and priorities for landscape-scale conservation partnerships.’” said Ed Carter, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “I am glad to see this important step of setting priorities for migration corridors unfolding with a high level of state and federal coordination.”
The state plans will be finalizes in early to mid-October and they will be shared with partners across the west for them to step forward and help states address their priorities.
Secretary Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3362 on February 9, 2017, which aims to improve habitat quality and western big game winter range and migration corridors for antelope, elk, and mule deer. The order fosters improved collaboration with states and private landowners and facilitates all parties using the best available science to implement conservation activates that help ensure that robust big game populations continue to exist. The order seeks to improve wildlife management and conservation and expand opportunities for big game hunting by improving priority habitats within important and migration corridors across the West. Priority states currently include Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Source: Department of Interior
