by Sophie Tsairis
The Property and Environment Research Center last week launched the Paradise Valley Fence Fund, a new private endowment and three-year pilot program to help ranchers repair fences damaged by wildlife, transition to wildlife-friendly fencing, and support wildlife migration corridors and habitat connectivity in the Paradise Valley.
The fund is initially capitalized at $50,000 and will cover 30-50 percent of the cost for area fencing projects. Ranchers will be financially responsible for outstanding costs.
Whitney Tilt, PERC impact fellow and Paradise Valley coordinator, told Mountain Journal the organization worked with members of the Working Lands Group, part of the Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group, to create a program that addresses the needs and concerns of ranchers coping with fencing issues. When Tilt asked ranchers what keeps them up at night, he said most responded with “elk.”
According to a 2024 PERC survey sent to Paradise Valley landowners, 93 percent indicated that elk cause the vast majority of fencing and property damage, and 50 percent of landowners estimated their wildlife-associated fencing costs to be between $1,000 and $10,000 annually. Many ranches maintain grain stores, bone piles where carcasses of deceased livestock are left to decompose naturally, and other attractants that can draw in bears. Fencing off attractants decreases the likelihood of conflict with humans and livestock.
“Fencing infrastructure is a critical and costly component of a rancher’s operation,” PERC stated in a January 23 press release. “Financial assistance can help offset fencing costs and encourage greater support for wildlife.”
Tilt said wildlife-friendly fences can save ranchers time and money in the long run because they require less maintenance and are designed to allow wildlife to pass through without damage to infrastructure or animals.
To access the funding, ranchers fill out an application describing their specific challenges, needs and a rough budget. Information about eligibility details and a tiered payout structure ranging from basic repairs to fence conversions is available on PERC’s website.
“The last thing we want to do is dictate to the landowners what they need,” Tilt said. “We’re building a case study with this pilot program, and if we’re successful we will run out of money very quickly.”
The fund is financially supported by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, SITKA Gear, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and the Spruance Foundation.
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