The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) is expanding its conservation work in southern Utah through a new Stewardship Agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. The $2.5 million agreement, supports work that advances the Forest Service and MDF goals to support rural economies by improving forest health, reducing hazardous fuels, and conserving wildlife habitat in this region.
Southern Utah's public lands support valuable wildlife habitat and a rich cultural history that attracts year-round visitors and gateway communities such as Cedar City, and the towns of Escalante and Panguitch. The landscapes covered under this Agreement span three Forest Service districts and are important to mule deer, local communities, and the region's recreation-driven economy.
"The Mule Deer Foundation is a proud partner with the USDA Forest Service, and we look forward to supporting this important work across southern Utah," said Greg Sheehan, the Mule Deer Foundation's President and CEO. "Wildlife habitat depends on healthy, resilient forests, and strong partnerships like this will help deliver lasting benefits for these unique landscapes that rural communities depend on."
Activities may include fuels treatments, reforestation, and reseeding to support ecological recovery and establish healthy vegetation, with some projects focused on areas affected by wildfire, including the 2025 France Canyon Fire. Together, these efforts will help restore wildlife habitat, reduce the risks of post-fire flooding and future severe wildfires, and better serve communities and recreationists that use these landscapes.
Mule deer require healthy, connected landscapes, and wildfire, drought, changing forest conditions, and other challenges continue to affect wildlife habitat across the West. This collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to address multiple needs at the same time by restoring resources that make these landscapes irreplaceable. This work builds on MDF's ongoing impact in Utah to strengthen the state's mule deer populations and advance its broader mission to conserve mule deer and their habitat across the West.
