The threat to wildlife is clear: when forests become overgrown and unmanaged, the destruction of natural habitat can be devastating.

In many areas, dense forests grow on fragile soils that simply can't recover from high-intensity wildfires. When these fires burn too hot, they destroy not just vegetation—but the entire foundation of an ecosystem. Wildlife is displaced or killed, and in some cases, entire species can be pushed to the brink for years, even decades.

Proper land management isn't just about preventing fire—it's about protecting the balance of nature.

Wildfires don’t wait. Without proper mitigation, our homes, ranches, and livelihoods can be lost in a matter of moments. A single spark can turn into tens of thousands of acres burned in just days—leaving behind devastation that takes years to recover from.

In 2020 alone, over 8.8 million acres were scorched across the U.S. by more than 52,000 wildfires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

The risk is real—but with the right planning, it’s preventable.

Wildfires don’t just destroy land—they pump massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In the summer of 2021 alone, wildfires in the Western U.S. released more than 130 million tons of CO₂, accelerating climate impacts and degrading air quality across entire regions.

By acting proactively instead of reacting in crisis, we can reduce fire intensity, protect ecosystems, and preserve the land for future generations.

Why wait until it’s too late—when the damage is already done?

It may come as a surprise, but many forests in the U.S. are actually expanding—not shrinking. One of the biggest ecological shifts happening today is the slow takeover of native grasslands by conifer trees, a process known as conifer encroachment.

These trees don’t just occupy space—they consume resources far beyond their footprint. Conifers draw excessive amounts of water from the soil, suppressing the growth of native grasses and wildflowers. Over time, this creates a monoculture, drastically reducing plant diversity and disrupting the natural balance of the ecosystem.

This shift has serious consequences for wildlife. Key species like sage grouse and elk lose access to essential habitat as open grasslands disappear beneath dense stands of conifers.

At Yellowstone Land Management, we know how to identify conifer encroachment—and more importantly, we have the tools and experience to reverse it.

Restoring balance starts with reclaiming the land.