Prime Elk Habitat Conserved in Wisconsin
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation prevented the development and fragmentation of crucial wildlife habitat in northern Wisconsin by conveying an 80-acre inholding to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
“Whether large or small, every piece of wildlife habitat counts,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “Though small in size, permanently protecting this acreage makes a big, beneficial difference for habitat restoration, especially for the state’s northern elk herd.”
“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a longstanding partner with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest,” said District Ranger Mike Martin. “The new acquisition will protect critical habitat from development, and it will pay huge dividends for elk and other wildlife species for years to come.”
Located in northwest Sawyer County, the Snipe Lake II property lies within the north-central part of the Clam Lake Elk Range. It is about 27 miles from where biologists released 31 elk from Kentucky in 2017 and eight miles from earlier release sites between 2010 to 2012. As such, it offers year-round habitat for elk and non-game species alike.
“The most important factors contributing to a thriving elk herd are food, water, cover and space,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “This northern Wisconsin landscape checks those boxes. As an organization, we remain committed to maintaining and improving this habitat.”
Dating back to 2005 and continuing into 2021, RMEF and its partners provided funding for 39 conservation projects in the Clam Lake Elk Range ranging from forage and meadow enhancement to invasive weed treatment that improved more than 5,100 acres of habitat. RMEF also provided funding for 14 habitat stewardship projects in Jackson County Elk Range as well as funding and volunteer support for the successful restoration of elk to their historic Wisconsin range in 1995 and subsequent elk restoration efforts.
Go here to see a list of RMEF’s latest grants in Wisconsin.
Additionally, in support of Wisconsin’s elk population, RMEF will raffle one license for the upcoming 2021 elk hunt. Applicants previously generated more than $600,000 over the state’s first three elk hunts to benefit elk habitat, monitoring, and research.
This latest Snipe Lake II transaction is a continuation of a 2006 RMEF project, called Snipe Lake I, that conveyed an adjacent 120-acre property to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Founded over 30 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of nearly 235,000 strong, RMEF has conserved more than 7.4 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage.
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