This dataset identifies Key Nongame Wildlife Areas for avian and mammalian fauna of interest in Wyoming. This layer was developed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Nongame Program. The 30 delineated polygons identify important areas (e.g., habitats) for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). We identified Key Areas by considering faunal diversity and density, uniqueness of habitat, intactness of habitat, and their importance to maintaining native SGCN fauna in Wyoming. Landownership and habitat vulnerability were only loosely considered. The attributes table of this layer contains a 4-letter species codes for avian and mammalian fauna that are expected to occur within each key area. The 4-letter species codes for avian species are based on the Ornithological Union designation and for mammals it is the first 2 letters from the genus and species name for mammal (e.g., Townsend’s Big-eared Bat = Corynorhinus townsendii = COTO). SGCN designations are based on the 2005 State Wildlife Action Plan designation. Refer to the "Atlas of Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles in Wyoming" for complete list of species codes. The cell location for each SGCN is provided in parentheses.
