OutdoorNebraska

2017 Annual Report 37 M O R E A C R E S F O R H A B I T A T M A N A G E M E N T Nebraska Game and Parks Commission manages 215,212 acres of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) which are both owned and leased acres. This land represents less than .4 percent of the land mass in Nebraska. The Commission makes in lieu of tax payments to counties for all WMAs that have been acquired since 1977. In 2017, 1,027 acres were added to three existing WMAs: ● Eighty acres were added to Metcalf WMA in Sheridan County, adding to the already more than 3,000-acre area. These acres will provide additional important habitat for mule deer and white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, bighorn sheep, mountain lions and many other game and nongame wildlife. ● There were 720 acres added to Williams Gap WMA, including much of the rest of an important habitat area for bighorn sheep. This escarpment within the Wildcat Hills in Banner County is home to mule and white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and other wildlife. ● The 227 acres added to Niobrara Confl uence WMA will add to the more than 1,000 acres of wetland habitat located at the confl uence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers. This area is important to a host of wetland wildlife species, including waterfowl, shorebirds and amphibians. F O R T E N B E R R Y C O - I N T R O D U C E S T H E R E C O V E R I N G A M E R I C A ' S W I L D L I F E A C T Congress took a step to address the critical need for wildlife conservation in December. U.S. House Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced a bill to fund state wildlife conservation using existing mineral and energy royalties from federal lands. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act, if passed, would invest in proactive, voluntary, incentive-based habitat conservation projects with private landowners by implementing Nebraska's State Wildlife Action Plan, called the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project. Habitat improvements would benefi t rare species, as well as common species such as turkeys and deer, by enhancing grasslands, combating invasive species, restoring wetlands and improving woodlands. It also would support education and create new opportunities for Nebraskans to enjoy wildlife and wild places. Nationally, more than 12,000 species have been identifi ed as species of greatest conservation need. In Nebraska, nearly 90 species are considered at risk of extinction. The bill is supported by the Alliance for America's Fish and Wildlife, as well as Game and Parks and many other agencies and organizations. CONGRESSMAN JEFF FORTENBERRY WITH BIOLOGIST KRISTAL STONER

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