Below is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. 

Idaho Fish and Game habitat staff in the Magic Valley Region, working in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Idaho’s Office of Species Conservation, began a large-scale juniper removal project in fall 2022 in the southeastern portion of game management unit 54. 

Juniper removal is a key component of restoring healthy sagebrush-steppe habitat. As junipers expand into these landscapes, they crowd out native vegetation, increase wildfire risk and reduce habitat quality for many wildlife species. Removing encroaching junipers helps reduce fuels, improve plant diversity and restore natural conditions that historically were maintained through periodic wildfire. 

Idaho Fish and Game is committed to improving habitat for fish and wildlife across Idaho, and much of that work is accomplished through broad, landscape-level restoration projects. These efforts are complex, long-term and resource-intensive, making strong partnerships with federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations and private landowners essential. These partners provide critical funding, expertise and on-the-ground support that help bring major restoration projects to life. 

Beyond juniper removal, Idaho Fish and Game implements a wide range of habitat improvement projects across the Magic Valley region. These include cheatgrass spraying, planting shrub seedlings, other vegetation removal to form fuel breaks, aerial seeding after wildfires and using prescribed fire to promote aspen regeneration. Each project is designed with specific goals and requires significant resources and planning to complete. 

By working closely with dedicated partners, Idaho Fish and Game continues to carry out meaningful, science-driven habitat restoration efforts that benefit Idaho’s wildlife and the people who value these landscapes. 

Click here to view a video about the project. 

(Photo credit: Idaho Department of Fish and Game)