Forest Dell Ranch & Larry Lancaster
Willow Creek Fire
Wildlife & Conservation
This allotment holds important habitat and forage availability for mule deer, elk, and moose.
Social
Virtual fence has allowed the Lancasters to keep livestock off of a nearby highway, where they lose a few head of cattle to vehicle collisions each year.
Goals
This project will use virtual fences to help manage cattle movements, prevent their access to the Willow Creek burn perimeter, implement a grazing plan per the Annual Operating Instructions, and enhance livestock management throughout the grazing season on both public and private lands.
Ranch
Aaron and Larry Lancaster operate near Star Valley Wyoming, managing critical habitats on both public and private land in the Salt River Watershed, within the Yellowstone Ecosystem. On August 22, 2025, the Willow Creek Fire ignited on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, affecting the Forest Dell grazing allotment where Aaron grazes cattle. When contained about one month later, the fire perimeter encompassed approximately 4,065 acres. Approximately a quarter of the perimeter is within the Forest Dell grazing allotment. Because the wildfire did not burn the entire allotment, the USFS will allow livestock grazing on those acres adjacent to the burn, provided that virtual fence is used to exclude cattle from entering the burned area.
Because virtual fence offers the ability to allow for adequate fire recovery and maintain conservation values, RCF values the opportunity to work with the affected producer and partners to achieve these goals.
Project Collaborators
Partnership Journal
Partner since August 2026 · 1 entry
August 11, 2026
RCF visited with two members of the Lancaster family, Larry Lancaster and Jenn Scherbel, to tour the Willow Creek burn and discuss current and future management with virtual fence. The Lancasters have been able to successfully keep livestock out of the burned area and we were all impressed with how well the understory has recovered post-fire. Stands of hollyhock, a highly palatable and nutritious forb for livestock and wildlife, are abundant throughout the allotment, and there is plenty of forage being left to retain ground cover. Larry Lancaster noted that prior to implementing virtual fence, cattle were constantly damaging irrigation pipes and fences. Additionally, he was losing a couple of cattle to highway vehicle collisions every year. Now, he can keep livestock out of these problem areas, spending less time managing crises.