Wildlife Habitat

Hood River Forest Collaborative, in partnership with Bark, Backcountry Horsemen, and Mt. Hood National Forest, are working to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in Hood River. The current initiative focuses on removing old barbed fire fencing and derelict grazing infrastructure in the Long Prairie Grazing Allotment, which overlaps with the Gibson Insect and Disease Project.

Leather gloves and eye protection and critical to ensuring personal safety when removing barbed wire. 

Bark volunteers that were exploring the Gibson Insect and Disease Project identified the problem and worked with the Hood River Forest Collaborative and Mt. Hood National Forest staff to explore options to remove the barbed wire. The Long Prairie Allotment has not been actively used since the early 2000s, and the barbed wire posed a risk to wildlife and public safety.

Rolling barbed wire fencing on a beautiful fall day at Gibson Prairie (September 2024). 

The Hood River Forest Collaborative hosted the first work party on September 28, 2024 to begin removal of derelict fencing. Volunteers removed 1100 feet of four-string barbed wire during the work party.

The volunteer group filled up an entire pickup bed with old barbed wire from the Gibson Prairie area during the first work party in September 2024. 

Additional work parties are being planned for the spring of 2025.

Get in touch or check out our volunteer opportunities to learn more.