Water. Essential to life, elk and other big game included. There’s a shortage of it in the high desert of Utah’s Fishlake National Forest.
“We just don’t have the water,” says Vance Mumford, big game biologist for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) “Especially in the summer, and wildlife need water.”
RMEF and our strong contingent of volunteers recently improved the habitat of Fishlake to help wildlife by installing water guzzlers. Watch the project come together in our latest film, Desert Water: Giving Big Game a Drink in Utah.
Guzzlers are a water-collection system that utilizes rainwater reservoirs and piping to catch, transport and provide water for thirsty animals including elk and other big game. Working with the U.S. Forest Service and UDWR, volunteers installed the containment tanks, aprons to catch and funnel rainwater, and fencing to protect critical components from damage. They also re-seeded each guzzler site for additional habitat improvement.
RMEF, building on past projects, shows continued support by installing guzzlers where elk, pronghorns, deer and other wildlife can drink, sustaining life and providing an oasis of Desert Water.
Head to the RMEF YouTube Channel and watch the film, then find out how you can join us in making habitat better for big game
To learn more about volunteer projects in your area and how you can lend a hand, visit our Events page.