BOZEMAN, MT.- A bill, the “Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act,” was introduced in the US Senate Wednesday by Senator Alex Padilla (CA-D) and Representative Ryan Zinke (MT-1-R), who together hold important committee seats for enacting and funding the habitat improvements directed in the bill.

Wildlife migration and movement have long been a priority for several reasons. In the West, big game is the greatest source of protein for entire ecosystems, and the movement of big game is necessary for their abundance and sustainability. To cover long distances, wildlife needs quality habitat along the way for food. Also, wildlife crossings on highways pose risks to people, vehicles, and wildlife.

“This has been a major objective of the Wild Sheep Foundation since 2020 when the incoming Biden Administration endorsed the Trump Administration’s original program of improving habitat in areas where big game, including wild sheep, move in migrations or other forays,” said WSF President and CEO Gray N. Thornton. “The bill is a great example of bipartisan leadership under the banner of wildlife conservation and teamwork among our many conservation partners. We applaud this bill for protecting property rights and multiple-use management of federal lands, and advancing our on-the-ground work in California, Montana, and across wild sheep country.”

The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act transfers Interior funds from two agencies (Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management) to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for distribution as grants. That is how the funds have been moving since the Secretary’s Order 3362 program began. The bill also allows a share of the FWS Partners for Wildlife Program to be expended directly for eligible migration projects and for the US Geological Survey to assist states in developing maps of critical movement areas.

“This is what was needed to move good intentions to positive results,” Thornton continued. “The bill promotes data-driven, on-the-ground habitat improvement projects guided by state and tribal wildlife agencies. Previous proposals relied on special designations of areas that create conflicts with other land uses. It works by providing funds from existing budgets for grants, enabling state and tribal agencies and private organizations to improve habitat.”

The bill also relies on outsourcing the work from federal agencies to state, tribal, and private habitat specialists for greater efficiency. In 2018, then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issued S.O. 3362, “Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors.” This order piloted a proof-of-concept program that collected existing funds from several Interior programs to focus on habitat improvement. In 2021, the Biden Administration began the America the Beautiful campaign, which endorsed S.O. 3362.

Also, in 2021, Congress passed a pilot program at the Department of Transportation to fund the construction of wildlife crossings on federal highways. The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act formalizes and expands the S.O. 3362 program and complements the wildlife crossings program.

“Credit goes to Senator Padilla and Representative Zinke for finding ways to make good ideas actually work on the ground,” Thornton concluded. “Our wildlife needs to move to make a living. The term ’a shared landscape‘ implies man and wildlife are both beneficiaries. This bill will help ensure our wildlife is getting theirs.”