Awarded to Wildsight Creston Valley to identify and remove unmaintained and unwanted barbed wire from properties that is hazardous to wildlife, blocking movement corridors, and where landowners are receptive to having the wire removed.

PROPONENT: Wildsight Creston Valley

Wildsight Creston Valley Photo

DESCRIPTION:This project will benefit local wildlife by protecting them from fencing injury and entanglement and preserving connectivity to habitat by keeping natural wildlife corridors open. From residents’ reports and from previous barbed wire fence work, Wildsight Creston Valley has noticed fences remain even when farming activity has ceased. Often when property owners age, they stop farming operations (i.e., commercial, hobby or homesteading) and can’t maintain their unneeded fencing due to fitness limitations. Senior residents have told us the task of removal is overwhelming, so they ignore it. It’s also been reported to us that its common for new owners of rural properties to discover strands of fallen barbed wire fencing after they move in. These residents say they are ill-prepared to deal with the daunting task involved in removing the wire fencing. Removing unwanted, unmaintained wire fencing is an immediate concern that will be addressed through this project. Residents will also learn about remedies for dealing with hazardous fences and look for wildlife-friendly solutions for accomplishing their yard or farming goals.

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal for this initiative is to identify and remove unmaintained and unwanted barbed wire from properties that are hazardous to wildlife, blocking corridors, and where landowners are receptive to having the wire removed.

Specific project objectives are to:

1) Utilize a rating method to locate, score and identify wire fence removal locations;

2) Plan, coordinate and implement barbed wire removal “work bees” to remove barbed wire from four to six sites, with two from the south end of Electoral Area A, two in the middle of Electoral Area A, and two from Electoral Area A’s north end;

3) Communicate to the public the importance of open and safe wildlife corridors;

4) Record the amount of barbed wire removed and keep a running total for the year; and

5) Monitor and record public feedback and residents’ responses to the work.