UNTAMING THE AMERICAN WEST

Habitat Works has removed or modified 39.5 miles of barbed wire fence, giving tule elk, deer, pronghorns, kit foxes and coyotes, the freedom to roam throughout their historic foraging and breeding grounds.

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Why is it so important?

     It's true that humanity trumps in most locations where we plant civilization.  But our dependency on ecosystem services (clean water and air to name a few) mandates that we co-exist with the natural cycles and seasons of plants and animals in a way that sustains their existence, and facilitates their freedom to roam, mate, den or incubate, and forage within their remaining native habitat.
     This is especially true in the American West, where ranching activities institutionalized many miles of barbed-wire fencing.  When no longer used or needed, it is simply abandoned, but still has the same halting effect on the migration of wildlife.
     The freedom to roam is also important to the recovery of the California condor, who need readily available sources of lead-free carrion in their habitat. 

What we do

     You truly haven't lived until you've experienced the time-travelin', heart poundin', deep-down satisfaction of removing a barbed wire fence.  It's an experience like no other when you step back and look at wide open space you helped re-create, nearly the way it was centuries before, and where wildlife will return given the opportunity. 
     Habitat Works volunteers have a grand time of this activity, and we don't want to you to be deprived of the pleasure. 
     We use proven techniques to dismantle the fencing in short order.  We'll roll and bundle the barbed wire for recycling and remove the posts.  We end up with beautiful open space, a step back in time to a wilder, freer backcountry. Tah dah!

Habitat works is currently Untaming the American West in several locales. 
Please sign up on our e-list to get current project info. 
We'd love to have you join us!

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