Elk NetworkArizona Volunteers Adopt a Ranch to Help Wildlife

Conservation | March 17, 2017

For Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteers in central Arizona, rolling up their sleeves isn’t just satisfying—it’s habit-forming. Members of the RMEF Red Mountain Chapter held their annual adopt-a-ranch project in 2016 south of Winslow.

More than two dozen volunteers, including 10 youth, teamed up with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the owner of the Chevelon Butte Cattle Company to carry out three separate projects.

One group removed damage fencing, including barb wire and posts, and hauled the materials out of the forest.


A second group repaired damaged fence and installed elk jumps.



The third group erected wildlife water drinkers out of large tractor tires and also repaired a leak in a water storage tank.

The seven-hour work day began after a breakfast in the morning. It included lunch and snacks in the field and a pulled pork barbecue dinner back in camp at night.

In the end, those on hand headed home with a sense of satisfaction knowing they worked together with a landowner to benefit the landscape and the wildlife that use it.