Big Gumbo Fence Removal - Part 2
June 21st, 2025 - Volunteers from the Montana and North Dakota chapters gathered in the "Big Gumbo" area just south of Marmarth, ND for part 2 of an ongoing stewardship effort in North Dakota's largest continuous swath of BLM land. In 2024 volunteers "inventoried" fence - mapping unknown fence lines on the map, meanwhile noting the composition and condition of the fence. This data was handed off to the local BLM field office, who then determined which fences posed a barrier to wildlife, and/or which fences were no longer relevant to grazing leases. With these prescriptions in mind, BHA volunteers went back out onto the landscape to execute the necessary fence removals.
As to the importance of this region, BLM biologists wrote the following: "Big Gumbo represents the last continuous sage steppe habitat for Greater sage grouse (GRSG) in the state of North Dakota, with the only (2023) active leks found on BLM parcels within Big Gumbo. The area needs habitat restoration to allow for greater meta population movement patterns across the area for many species, including GRSG. Fence inventory, relocations, range water improvements, and removal of unnecessary fencing would also allow for better grazing management practices in the area as well as improved connectivity across the landscape for wildlife species. The last rangeland health assessment of Big Gumbo resulted in a “not meeting standards” finding for the area. The BIG Gumbo area accounts for ~38% of all BLM surface in ND and represents the largest continuous area of BLM managed lands. Fence inventory and modification to wildlife friendly fencing would reduce GRSG mortality to due to collisions and would also allow improved ingress and egress of pronghorn in the area."
Both by hand, and with the help of a gas-powered wire winder, over 2 miles of 5 strand barbed wire fence was completely removed from the landscape, as well as, a half mile of woven/ sheep wire. An additional half mile of the bottom 2 barbed wire strands from a different fence line were removed for later modification to smooth wire with the proper hight off the ground, per wildlife friendly specifications.
Efforts in this region will continue into 2026, with plans to chip away at the over 50 miles of inventoried fence annually.
A special thank you to our partners at OnX Maps, Dometic and Jetboil for their continued support of BHA, especially our boots on-the-ground Stewardship mission!
Andrew Hahne
BHA Habitat Stewardship Coordinator based out of Missoula, MT.
Other posts by Andrew Hahne
Contact author
Full biography
Full biography
BHA Habitat Stewardship Coordinator based out of Missoula, MT.
x