The Absaroka Fence Initiative will partner with the community at the Four Bear Trail on Saturday, May 1, for its first public volunteer project. Participants are invited to spend the morning removing old barbed wire fence, which will improve habitat for migrating wildlife.

“From the first conversations about forming the Absaroka Fence Initiative, we were all committed to making it community driven,” said Alicia Hummel, chair of the Absaroka Fence Initiative events committee. “We are looking forward to getting boots on the ground with our partners and the public.”

Volunteers will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Four Bear Trail parking area, located 17 miles west of Cody on U.S. Highway 14/16/20. Turn right at the Four Bear Trailhead sign. Wear good work shoes or boots and bring work gloves, eye protection, lunch, water and fencing pliers if you have them. Participants will receive an Absaroka Fence Initiative hat.

To mitigate risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19, the group will take preventative measures like working in small teams, physical distancing and not sharing tools.

The Absaroka Fence Initiative is made up of landowners, community members, non-governmental organizations and local government agencies in Park County. Collaborators target where fencing can be improved to have the greatest impact on wildlife migration while still functioning to effectively manage livestock.

The group is interested in opportunities to connect with willing landowners and community members. To learn more about this work or getting involved, visit www.absarokafenceinitiative.org, follow @absarokafenceinitiative on Facebook, or email absarokafenceinitative@gmail.com.