The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is testing virtual fencing technology to improve grazing management in Central Washington.
GRANT COUNTY, WA — Ranching plays a vital role in many communities across Washington State. It drives local economies, shapes growth and land management practices, and influences local government decisions. These communities provide essential livestock and agricultural products for Washingtonians and influence state policy. Our department is committed to maintaining working landscapes in wildlife refuges that are consistent with community values, as long as the ecological integrity of the land is maintained.
In central Washington, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and permittees, with financial support from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), are partnering to improve grazing management using virtual fencing technology. This cutting-edge approach is currently being tested at Columbia Basin Wildlife Refuge in Grant County, marking the first deployment of virtual fencing on a wildlife refuge in Washington state. The effort aims to open up shoreline habitat that benefits waterfowl by reducing invasive, tall emerging plants such as common reed (Phragmites australis) and promoting short emerging, seed-producing annual plants. These annual plants provide feeding and resting areas for all life stages, especially ducks and geese during the breeding stage.
Virtual fencing uses solar-powered towers and GPS-enabled cattle collars. With 20-foot-tall antennas, these towers communicate with the collars to track and manage the location of livestock. Although the towers are small, they have a large range, sometimes reaching a line-of-sight of over seven miles depending on the terrain. Range varies across ridges and valleys.
Virtual fencing allows for real-time monitoring of cattle to ensure herds remain within designated grazing areas and also allows for the movement of cattle in and out of areas over time. This reduces the risk of overgrazing and protects sensitive areas such as dense nesting cover essential for the nesting success of endangered hen species such as sage grouse, as well as burn scars that may take time to recover before grazing can resume.
Ranch and WDFW Lands
WDFW has a long history of partnering with ranching families for over a century and recognizes the importance of integrating livestock grazing and conservation goals to maintain functional landscapes that support both local communities and wildlife.
WDFW permits livestock grazing on WDFW-managed lands when it is consistent with ecological goals or the Department's strategic plan. Each grazing permit is accompanied by a detailed management plan developed in collaboration with producers. These plans outline conservation measures, responsibilities and monitoring protocols to ensure grazing practices positively impact the health of the landscape.
The ecological benefits of grazing
Habitat Improvement: Strategically managed grazing can improve wildlife habitat. In the Columbia Basin, grazing can be used instead of mowing, disking, or harrowing to balance wetland successional stages and promote wetland seed production. Invasive Species Management: Grazing helps manage the height and spread of invasive plant species such as common reed and reed canary grass, making wetlands more suitable for waterfowl and shorebirds. Landscape Connectivity: Grazing helps maintain open space, preventing land from being developed for purposes other than conservation. This open landscape is critical for wildlife movement and habitat connectivity.
To ensure grazing remains beneficial, WDFW staff continually monitor rangeland leases. They evaluate compliance with management plans and, as needed, implement adaptation strategies to address new challenges. This approach ensures that grazing contributes to, rather than detracts from, the ecological integrity of the land.
Integrating virtual fencing with other options such as wildlife-friendly fencing and strategic grazing management (such as deferred grazing to allow land time to recover after fire) offers a promising path to sustainable ranching.
Virtual fencing allows livestock to better manage areas used by the livestock, prevents overgrazing, and promotes soil health. Meanwhile, well-managed grazing practices support wildlife habitat, contribute to integrated pest management, and maintain open landscapes. A wildlife-friendly fence is one that contains livestock while allowing other species to move through the landscape unharmed. WDFW offers wildlife-friendly fencing alternatives to land managers through the Washington Shrub-Grassland Restoration and Recovery Initiative (WSRRI). Deferred grazing is a good option for moving livestock from areas that have recently burned and need time to recover before grazing can resume, but it is often an expensive alternative. WSRRI provides resources, such as pasture rental assistance and hay, to mitigate the impacts and costs of deferred grazing.
Leveraging these innovations, land managers can create balanced land-use approaches that support both agricultural productivity and ecosystem conservation. As virtual fence pilot projects like the Columbia Basin Wildlife Refuge demonstrate their effectiveness, they pave the way for broader adoption and a more sustainable future for ranching in Washington state and beyond.
Read this story map to learn more about how WDFW manages grazing on WDFW lands.
For information about virtual fencing, visit Conservation Northwest.
WSRRI is a joint initiative between WDFW, the Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
This story originally appeared on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife blog.
