In Jackson, Wyoming, eight local businesses have taken a significant step toward protecting the region’s wildlife by becoming Certified Wildlife-Friendly Fence Professionals. This certification comes after a training event hosted by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) and Teton County, aimed at educating fence professionals on creating barriers that accommodate wildlife movement without compromising landowner requirements.
Local Businesses Lead the Way
The newly certified companies include Boreal Property Management, Fence Me In LLC, Inside Out Landscape Architecture, Jorgensen Associates, MD Landscaping, Mountainscapes, Valley Landscape Service Inc, and Wyoming Landscape Maintenance. These businesses participated in a comprehensive workshop where they learned about fence regulations, shared experiences, and discussed innovative solutions for wildlife-friendly fencing.
Cody Pitz, Habitat Program Coordinator at JHWF, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The people who design and build fences are the experts on fencing in our community. We wanted to take the opportunity to help educate these businesses on how to make fences wildlife friendlier while still reaching landowners’ goals.”
Expert Contributions
The workshop featured presentations from experts such as Ben Wise, Senior Wildlife Biologist at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Rebecca Sullivan, Code Compliance Officer for Teton County, Kurt Smith, a Research Scientist from the University of Wyoming, and Oliver Klingenstein from Darwin Ranch. Their insights were invaluable in guiding the participating businesses toward more sustainable practices.
The event was generously sponsored by The Mule Deer Foundation, highlighting the collaborative effort between local organizations and businesses to safeguard wildlife habitats. JHWF and Teton County extend their gratitude to all partners involved in making this initiative a success.
For those planning a fence project, more information on wildlife-friendly fencing and certified professionals can be found at jhwildlife.org.
Original reporting: Buckrail (Jackson WY) — read the source article.
