Juniper removal for improving wildlife habitat and promoting natural regeneration

RAWLINS/BAGGS, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is partnering in a collaborative juniper removal project with the Little Snake River Conservation District (LSRCD), and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). 

Aggressive wildfire suppression has allowed juniper encroachment to become widespread in Wyoming and many western states. In some cases, juniper has expanded or “encroached” into other vegetation communities that provide habitat to important Wyoming wildlife species with a focus on Mule Deer and Greater Sage Grouse.

The Baggs Juniper treatment area, encompassing 5,404 acres, receives high winter use by mule deer, which along with juniper encroachment, has resulted in downward trends in shrub community health as documented through monitoring since 1988.

Maintaining and/or improving these shrub communities for mule deer has been a priority for this area since the 1990s. The primary goal would be to restore the sagebrush steppe/mixed mountain shrub communities by removing juniper and create conditions that promote natural regeneration of mountain shrub species.

Wheeled equipment with cutting/masticating heads would be utilized where terrain allows, and hand-crew personnel would be utilized to remove vegetation in designated areas where equipment cannot reach. Treatments will be implemented all summer as long as fire conditions remain safe and favorable. 

For more information, please contact blm_wy_912@blm.gov or call 307-775-6328.

Photo 1 - Mastication equipment staged and ready to begin habitat treatments

Photo 2 - Overlook of Baggs Juniper treatment area

Photo 3 - Overlook of Baggs Juniper treatment area