Agreements Add to Protected Wildlife Habitat

Lander, WY—January 4, 2005—Wyoming’s wildlife, and the abundant natural areas it is dependent upon, endow a legacy we all hope to leave to future generations. Home to both the largest naturally wintering herd of elk in the lower 48 and the largest concentration of bighorn sheep in North America, Dubois is particularly fortunate in its wealth of natural treasures. Humans, too, enjoy the area’s rugged natural beauty.

Two new conservation agreements protect more than 1,000 acres of important upland habitat and encompass a unique canyon exposing the red soils of the Chugwater Formation. The area provides a buffer for wildlife between more developed river frontage and the public lands of the Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area, Whiskey Mountain and private properties already protected by conservation easements.

As important to Wyoming as wildlife is its western heritage and family ranchers have long been stewards of the land. The Nature Conservancy considers grazing by livestock and native ungulates necessary to maintaining the area’s ecology, and works with many ranchers to keep private lands intact. By helping families keep property whole, it also benefits wildlife.

Mike and Sally Pierle, the new owners of the former Anderson Ranch, look forward to continuing current uses of the land, including livestock grazing. New to the area, they are committed to conservation and have a keen appreciation for the small-town atmosphere. “The warm welcome and the striking landscape is what has drawn us to Dubois,” said Mike Pierle.

Nearby, Brian Kahin also believes in protecting his land through conservation agreement. He recently donated a second easement to the Conservancy on his Spring Ranch property, formerly the Diamond A, and commented, “I am delighted with the commitment our neighbors have shown to preserving the historic and natural character of these ranches – and the role the Nature Conservancy has played in the process.”

“Working ranches are a very important key to conserving all that we love about Wyoming”, said Laurie Andrews, Southern Yellowstone Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. “People are an important part of the equation, so economy and ecology must share a common goal in order to be sustainable.”

The Nature Conservancy has worked in Wyoming for more than 15 years to protect some of the areas most critical to supporting this abundance of wildlife, in collaboration with many diverse partners and using a number of conservation tools. Conservancy projects in the Dubois area include two “conservation buyer” properties, the Ramshorn Ranch and the Eastman Ranch, both working ranches available for purchase. The Conservancy has also worked with many willing landowners to protect important natural areas through land conservation agreements such as conservation easements or deed restrictions and has worked with a variety of public partners, too, including the Town of Dubois.