Science in Practice Portal

[Updated by BLM-Idaho Technical Bulletin 89-4, Wildlife Watering and Escape Ramps on Livestock Water Developments: Suggestions and Recommendations]

All livestock developments should be constructed to provide water both safely and continually to wildlife. To accomplish this, and to minimize the drowning of small wild animals trapped in deep water, numerous types of exit ramps and floating platforms have been designed for installation in and around livestock watering facilities. Because the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had no standards for such platforms, ramps, and other developments to provide water for wildlife, each BLM district was asked to submit plans, drawings, photographs, and narratives concerning techniques then in use by field offices. This Technical Note was prepared from the district submissions.