East Ward Grazing Agreement
Type of Livestock: Domestic sheep
Type of Conflict: Bighorn sheep disease risk
Size of Allotment: 18,240 acres
Location of Allotment: Nevada
Completion: March, 2023
The East Ward domestic sheep grazing allotment is located just south of Ely in northeast Nevada. The retirement of this allotment will significantly reduce contact, and, therefore, the risk of disease transmission between domestic sheep and the bighorn sheep in the Egan mountain range. This allotment took effect in March of 2023, and is the first of several more that we are currently negotiating in both the Egan and Schell Creek mountain ranges. Our work in Nevada will be an important step forward in our continuing recovery work for bighorn sheep.
Photo courtesy of Greg Russell.
West Fork Madison Grazing Agreement
Type of Livestock: Cattle
Type of Conflict: Grizzly sbar predation
Size of Allotment: 25,00 acres
Location of Allotment: Montana
Completion: August 2022
For nearly five years National Wildlife Federation has been working in the West Fork of the Madison, a critical corridor for expanding grizzly populations west of Yellowstone National Park, to address chronic grizzly bear conflicts with cattle. Historically, bears have been relocated or removed from the drainage. Now, in what was first an attempt to retire grazing from a portion of the allotment transformed into a new model for addressing conflicts on public land grazing allotments. If successful, this agreement could serve as the way forward for addressing conflicts on public lands across the West.
Photo courtesy of Kit Fischer.
Chief Mountain Area Grazing Agreement
Type of Livestock: Cattle
Type of Conflict: Grizzly habitat and future buffalo restoration
Size of Allotment: 24,000 acres
Location of Allotment: Montana
Completion: January 2022
With the support of the Blackfeet Tribal Council, the Chief Mountain Area grazing agreement converts allotments into "owner's use" status for the benefit of fish and wildlife habitat conservation. This wildlife-rich region's biodiversity is unparralled. It is home to elk, mule deer, grizzlies, wolves, and abundant bird life. The Chief Mountain Area is also of special cultural significance to the Blackfeet and preserving and protecting this region has been a priority of the Tribe for years. This work serves as a model for other opportunities to resolve livestock and wildlife conflict on Tribal lands.
Photo courtesy of USDA Montana.
Santos Grazing Allotment Agreement
Type of Livestock: Domestic sheep
Type of Conflict: Bighorn sheep disease risk
Size of Allotment: 8,800 acres
Location of Allotment: New Mexico
The Santos domestic sheep grazing allotment is located just west of the famous Rio Grande Gorge and the town of Taos in Northern New Mexico. This grazing retirement removes the risk of contact between domestic sheep and the very successful bighorn herd that rely on the abundance forage and steep walls of the Gorge and is a significant step in eliminating the risk of disease transmission between domestic sheep and these bighorns. The allotment was officially retired in May of 2020.
Photo courtesy of Taos Pueblo.
Endlich Mesa Grazing Agreement
Type of Livestock: Domestic sheep
Type of Conflict: Bighorn sheep disease risk
Size of Allotment: 11,150 acres
Location of Allotment: Colorado
The Endlich Mesa domestic sheep grazing allotment is located in the southern portion of the spectacular San Juan Range, 20 miles northeast of Durango. This grazing retirement removes the risk of contact between these domestic sheep and Bighorns and is a significant first step in eliminating the risk of disease transmission between domestic sheep and Bighorns across the entire San Juan range. The allotment was officially retired in February 2020.
Crooked Creek, Mahogany Butte, Cedar Point-Eightmile Grazing Agreements
Type of Livestock: Domestic sheep
Type of Conflict: Risk of disease contact between domestic and bighorn sheep, suitable wolf and grizzly bear habitat
Size of Allotment: 143,000 acres
Location of Allotment: Idaho
Located in the "High Divide" wildlife corridor, these allotments are in critical habitat for expanding grizzly bear and wolf populations. Contact between domestic and bighorn sheep in the area also increases the risk of disease transmission, which prompted the National Wildlife Federation to work on reaching an agreement to remove domestic sheep from the allotments that took effect in July 2019.
Upper Crystal River Grazing Agreements
Type of Livestock: Domestic sheep
Type of Conflict: Bighorn sheep disease risk
Size of Allotment: 33,646 acres
Location of Allotment: Colorado
The Upper Crystal River grazing allotment located in the Elk Mountains near Aspen, CO. The domestic sheep allotment is largely in the Maroon Bells Wilderness Area and increased contact between domestic sheep and bighorn sheep, consequently increasing potential spread of disease to the bighorn population in the area. The allotment was officially retired in August 2019.
