Here in western Wyoming, we are a part of an ecosystem unique to the nation, known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). This ecosystem is a vast area, spanning over 23 million acres across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Ecologically, the GYE is considered primarily intact, remaining wild and open space, as over 70% of the land within it is owned by the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. Most of this public land is considered high elevation with a short growing season. The higher elevation forests and alpine habitats remained unclaimed during the settlement of the West, and after the passage of the Forest Reserve Act of 1891, became protected federal lands and in 1907, National Forests.

Figure 1: Land ownership and its distribution throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).

While private lands in Wyoming make up 13% of the GYE, they hold the key to critical habitat connectivity and health throughout the western half of Wyoming. During settlement of the West in the early 1800’s, settlers established their homesteads at lower elevations along existing streams and riparian areas, allowing them to divert water and create hay meadows to support livestock. When the settlers began irrigating, they inadvertently expanded riparian areas. Their hay meadows not only replenished local aquifers through flood irrigation but have altered the landscape such that they are vital for many wildlife species.

To understand why private lands hold a vital role in ecosystem health in comparison to public lands, one must understand the movements of native wildlife species. Large ungulates such as moose, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and elk have natural migration patterns where these animals travel from winter range to summer range every year. Typically, summer range can be found in the high elevation lands of our national forests and parks. As snow accumulates, these animals migrate out of the high elevation habitats into lower elevations that have typically milder winters, crossing thousands of miles of fence on their journey. These animals depend on the riparian, wetland, sagebrush, and foothill shrubland habitat types that dominate our private lands for survival during the most stressful months of winter. Not only are these lands critical for ungulates, but because they are situated on perennial streams, management of private lands directly impacts the health of aquatic life and fisheries.

Figure 2: Crucial ranges for Wyoming wildlife and their intersection with private lands.

The heart of the Ricketts Conservation Foundation is a belief that conservation is everyone’s responsibility. The Natural Resources Conservation Service defines natural resource conservation as “the careful maintenance and upkeep of a natural resource to prevent it from disappearing. A natural resource is the physical supply of something that exists in nature, such as soil, water, air, plants, animals, and energy.”

Figure 3: Sunset on Tosi from the Hoback in Wyoming

Cumulatively, private lands hold a critical role in watershed and landscape health. Everything is interconnected, from the high mountain ridges to the valleys and open spaces below. Because of this, it is imperative for all landowners to understand the current state of natural resources on their property, no matter how large or small your ownership tract is.

Spring is slow to come at 7,000’ elevation. According to our on-site weather station observations, the average temperature for the month of April was 32 degrees F., and May has had its fair share of snow showers. But as the snow and ice melted we received our first spring arrivals (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Female (L) and male (R ) Barrow’s Goldeneye

Barrow’s Goldeneyes show up as soon as there’s any open water around. These charismatic ducks are more common further north, but like several other species, the southern edge of their breeding range lies within the Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Figure 2: Probable vole nest exposed after snowmelt. Wyoming Mountains in the background.

Other signs of life appear as the snow melts. The nests (Figure 2) and tunnels (Figure 3) that mice and voles created in the subnivean (under snow) zone during the winter are exposed. Surprisingly, the deep snows of winter create a safe and relatively warm habitat for small mammals.

Figure 3: grass-lined tunnels created by mice or voles exposed by melting snow.

Once snow sticks to the ground, the layer in contact with the ground melts or sublimates, and the resulting water vapor rises into the snowpack, where it freezes and forms an icy layer (Figure 4).

Figure 4: The subnivean zone http://archive.audubonmagazine.org/truenature/images/ice_Castle-marcocibola-lg.jpg

The snow above the ice layer provides great insulation, so the resulting space between the ground and snow remains near 32 degrees throughout the winter. Protected from most predators by this blanket of snow, rodents and shrews are free to move around at will. Some species even breed during winters as it can be safer to do so then than during summer. However, life is never risk-free for small mammals. Short-tailed weasels hunt them in their tunnels, while red fox and Great Gray Owls use their hearing to locate and then pounce on them. But on balance, life is safer for rodents in winter, as evidenced by the southward migration of most of the raptor species that prey on them from spring through fall.