RMEF & WAFWA Partnership Commits $1.2 Million to Migration Corridor
Adam Scepaniak 11.20.23
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) have committed $1.2 Million to accelerate western big game migration corridor conservation. What is just as important as protecting the home territories of elk and many other big game animals is protecting their migration routes. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) will be doing just that with this grand gesture.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) Coverage on AllOutdoor
- RMEF Achieves $1.45 Million in Grant Funding for South Dakota Wildlife
- RMEF Commits $100,000 to CWD Research – Chronic Wasting Disease
- RMEF Gives $10.7 Million to Wyoming Elk, Mule Deer, and Other Wildlife
- RMEF & Partners Donate $7.8 Million to Rehab Wildfire-Charred Forests
- RMEF Helps Expand Montana’s Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area
The funding will go toward state-led, shovel-ready projects in 11 states in line with Secretarial Order 3362 as well as to the remaining six WAFWA-member states that can support landscape-scale big game movements and connectivity projects. Some of the possible strategies proposed by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) are as follows:
- Arizona – modification/removal of fencing within the Grand Canyon
- Colorado – place GPS collars to initiative a mule deer movement study
- Idaho – repurpose an obsolete vehicle overpass into a big game crossing
- Kansas – develop grasslands for deer, pronghorn, sage grouse and quail
- Montana – use GPS collars to monitor elk movement between Bozeman and Big Sky
- Nebraska – bighorn sheep feasibility study to determine if a crossing structure is needed
- Nevada – implement habitat treatments in areas impacted by wildfire
- New Mexico – assess impact of renewable energy development on big game
- Oregon – assist research projects evaluating impacts of solar installation on mule deer
- South Dakota – identify and map potential barriers to pronghorn antelope movement
- Utah – collar animals to identify possible roadway crossing locations
- Washington – implement virtual fencing for migration-friendly managed livestock grazing
- Wyoming – treat invasive grasses on migratory and winter range
Missoula, Montana – The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation committed $400,000 to reinforce its multi-decade partnership with western states on issues crucial to the movement and overall health of elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and other wildlife species.
“This is not just an agreement with our partners at the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). It’s an action plan,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “The initial three-year allotment of funding will be matched by WAFWA at a ratio of at least a 3-to-1, thus placing more than $1.2 million on the ground for the protection and conservation of critical winter range and migration corridors.”
WAFWA represents 24 states and Canadian provinces, covering nearly 3.7 million square miles of North America, and works under the direction of state fish and wildlife agencies with their jurisdiction over big game herds within their borders.
“State fish and wildlife agencies have long been the leaders of advancing the science and understanding of big game migration needs and challenges,” said Dr. Zachary Lowe, WAFWA executive director. “Our ability to partner with RMEF and grow states’ unique migration priorities is an exciting advancement in landscape conservation for the West.”
“RMEF is once again demonstrating their commitment to conservation and partnership. I am proud to work with them on big game migrations and thank them for their incredible support,” said Brian Nesvik, WAFWA president and director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
