Bipartisan Bill Will Support Wildlife Migrations, Connect Habitat Across Working Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) will help wildlife safely migrate through private, working lands by supporting farmers and ranchers' voluntary efforts to use of wildlife-friendly fencing and other practices. The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act accomplishes this by investing in voluntary Farm Bill conservation programs that help farmers, ranchers, and private landowners to address the growing problem of habitat fragmentation, which can make it harder for wildlife to migrate, find food and shelter, and adapt to the changing climate.

"The bipartisan and commonsense Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act will help wildlife that migrate through private fields, pastures, and forests - and the hunters, anglers, birders, and outdoor recreationists that enjoy them," said Aviva Glaser, senior director for agriculture policy at the National Wildlife Federation. "Thank you to Senators Martin Heinrich and Tim Sheehy for introducing this legislation and highlighting how wildlife and people, including farmers and ranchers, can thrive when we create habitat connectivity."

"Resilient and permeable habitat provides wildlife with the much-needed ability to survive in the face of a changing climate," said Jesse Deubel, executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. "The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act provides a major contribution by prioritizing wildlife corridors and connectivity on working lands, and assisting landowners in accessing important resources to enhance, maintain and restore wildlife habitat on working lands. We thank Sen. Heinrich for his leadership on this critical conservation issue."

"When big game can safely migrate across Montana and the West, everyone wins," said Frank Szollosi, executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation. "This bipartisan solution is common sense, and with large-scale land ownership changes underway, it's needed now more than ever. We thank Sens. Sheehy and Heinrich for helping ensure voluntary Farm Bill conservation programs can help ranchers, landowners, farmers and wildlife thrive in the 21st century."

Heinrich and Sheehy's bill is companion legislation to a proposal U.S. Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) introduced earlier this session of Congress.