SHERIDAN — On January 25, the Sheridan Community Land Trust will host a Sheridan screening of a new documentary series highlighting Wyoming ranching families who have done everything they can to preserve western ranching and manage the big game populations that depend on working lands.
The three-part series, “My Wild Land,” features ranches from all over Wyoming: Terry Creek Ranch near Laramie, Bischoff Ranch near Lovell, and the Hellyer family ranch near Lander. Presented by the Muley Fanatic Foundation with support from outdoor equipment company Maven and produced by the Wyoming Migration Initiative (WMI) at the University of Wyoming, the series was launched in response to the rapid residential growth of western states in recent years and the subsequent loss of wildlife habitat.
Each film shares the unique perspective of the landowners; his relationship with the land; and the challenges they have faced maintaining livestock operations and promoting wildlife habitat.
“The ranchers and the renters of these properties are the ones who are taking care of the land; they’re the ones doing the water line projects and the fence projects,” says Tyrell Bischoff, Bischoff Ranch manager and one of the featured ranchers in the film series.
“Many of Wyoming’s wild animals move through a mix of public and private ranches,” says Emily Reed, co-producer of the film series and WMI associate research scientist. “The work of ranchers to manage their lands and keep habitats connected is critical to wildlife populations, and we wanted to help tell that story.”
“My Wild Land” will be screened at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center Ja. 25. Doors will open at 6 pm Movies will start at 6:30 pm
This screening is organized by the Sheridan Community Land Trust with local support from The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming and The Wydlife Fund.
The event is free and open to the public and will include a question and answer session with ranchers and/or other partners who work to maintain Wyoming’s working lands, and a social hour with free food and drinks.
Between 2000 and 2020, Wyoming’s total resident population grew 17 percent. Although most of Wyoming’s population growth occurs in urban areas, the footprint of rural housing development can have a major effect on migratory big game hunting.
Some ranchers, like Al and Barb Johnson of Terry Creek Ranch, worry that housing growth will outpace family ranches like theirs and the wildlife that depends on them.
“We’re seeing a lot of subdivisions moving west and taking over habitat,” Barb Johnson said in one of the movies.
Researchers and managers recognize that much of Wyoming’s ranch is wintering or migratory habitat for big game species such as pronghorn, mule deer, and elk.
“These working ranches are one of the main reasons big game are able to move between mountains and lowlands each spring and fall, allowing them to persist in the abundance they have today,” said Patrick Rodgers, co-producer of the films. and WMI Research Associate. scientific.
Jim Hellyer, a Lander-area rancher featured in the series, has witnessed urban sprawl firsthand. One of Hellyer’s properties is a frontage route for mid-distance migrants from the renowned Red Desert mule deer migration corridor to Hoback.
“You can look across the valley and see these houses coming,” Hellyer said. “They come out of the ground like spring grass. If you lose agriculture, then you lose open space.”
But for Hellyer and many Wyoming ranchers, their main concern isn’t just the loss of habitat for big game; is to preserve their livelihood and ranching lifestyle for future generations.
“It’s about conservation, but it’s also about the cow,” he said.
In the film, Hellyer highlights the benefits water projects, fence modifications and other improvement projects have had on his cattle.
“Whether it’s grouse, elk or mule deer, historic trails or riparian areas, it’s all there,” says Hellyer. “If they look good, your cows look good and the field looks good. It’s not that complicated.
In addition to a diverse group of ranchers, the films showcase the vast open spaces of Wyoming through vivid, all-season cinematography.
“We hope that these films will be an experience that allows the viewer to go into the wild places of Wyoming and get a sense of the conditions that ranchers face to earn a living,” said Rodgers.
“I am very excited to introduce the ‘My Wild Land’ series,” said Joshua Coursey, president and CEO of the Muley Fanatic Foundation. “The cherished consideration these families have for their landscapes and the habitat benefit they provide for wildlife are immeasurable. The glimpse of insight these films bring to stewardship responsibilities and efforts to promote active conservation activities is worth celebrating.
“At a time when habitat fragmentation is occurring rapidly, these films offer a breath of fresh air for what we know works to maintain healthy populations of wildlife: great outdoors,” he said.
