The 910 Wildlife Society Needs You

Use your voice.

To protect the inherent and legacy qualities of the 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge.

Ensure Summit County proposals, conduct and policies comply with expert environmental reports and large landscape conservation standards.

Serve as an on-going, independent organization to educate and advocate for 910 wildlife and bio-region connectivity.

Speak up for wildlife on the 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge. Email your stories, observations, letters and photos! Then watch for your posts on this website.

What is the 910 Wildlife Society?

We are friends and neighbors who cherish the wild sense of place integral to the 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge

We are a community of local, regional and national wildlife advocates who listen, watch and act on behalf of the 910's wildlife and wild lands.

We welcome individuals and organizations to become part of our coalition and the 910 story.

Our Vision

Keeping the 910 Legacy Alive

Inspiring respect, knowledge and restraint for the everlasting care of the 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge.

What is a Refuge?

“A refuge is a sanctuary and protected area for the needs of wildlife and a place or state of safety.”

Our Vision

Keeping the 910 Legacy Alive

Inspiring respect, knowledge and restraint for the everlasting care of the 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge.

Our Mission

Shaped by Place, Perspective and Experience

Educate and advocate for the preservation, sustainability and conservation of the 910's wildlife and wild lands.

Actively support responsible public policies and practices prioritizing the needs and inherent qualities of the 910.

Promote open public dialogue, transparency and accountability from government agencies and representatives.

Cultivate engagement and meaningful connection.

The 910 Story

Authentic • Wild • Legacy

The 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge is roughly 8,500 acres of undisturbed wilderness in Summit and Morgan Counties.

The historic Jeremy family sheep ranch was purchased by David Bernolfo in the 1980's and operated as the 910 Cattle Company for nearly three decades. During those years only a handful of the owner's friends, family and ranch hands experienced the 910's wild landscape and natural wonders.

After leasing the ranch from the owner for two years, the 910 was sold to Summit County. A Stipulation was the owner’s sale contingency, No Hunting on the 910.

The property was recently purchased by American taxpayers with Summit County Open Space Bond dollars and funds from the federal Forest Legacy Grant program.
910 Ranch-Wasatch Back Forest Conservation Forest Legacy Project

A public right-of-way parallels East Canyon Creek, connecting Summit and Morgan County through the 910. The public is restricted from trespassing on the 910 by use of the existing right of way. The gravel road currently provides pedestrian and vehicle access May-October. Summit County proposes restricting pedestrian use to allow for vehicle traffic only. Until Summit County officials conduct an engineered study analyzing traffic and pedestrian frequency, volume, speed, parking and wildlife safety in the existing right-of-way we advocating to continue current access and use.

While leasing the 910 from the previous landowner, beginning in 2023 and prior to concluding the $55 million dollar purchase in early 2026, Summit County restricted public access. County staff conducted private activities, installations and volunteer programs without government approval of a comprehensive 910 management plan.

Summit County holds title to the deeded acreage while Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands is responsible for enforcing the 910 Conservation Easement. 910 Conservation Easement Report

Summit County holds title to the deeded acreage while Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands is responsible for enforcing the 910 Conservation Easement. Proposed Recreation Management Plan

The 910 is a publicly owned protected landscape intended for wildlife migration, breeding, calving, feeding and resting. All wildlife habitats, including avian and aquatic species, are detailed in BioWest’s resource conservation findings.

BioWest 2024 Baseline Documentation Report.

The 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge is vital wildlife habitat and critical open space in a regional and interconnected western landscape. The property is in close proximity to Parley's Wildlife Bridge and Utah's Wildlife Management Areas. These public properties provide essential migration routes and stop-overs for a wide variety of Utah's wildlife.

“This is how we decide who we are and what we want to be.”

M. Gessen

Public’s Right of Way

A shared interaction of humans and nature

Devoted naturalists and and recreational enthusiasts are frequent visitors to the 910's Summit and Morgan County public access roadway. Birders routinely seek sightings and listen for bird song, artists paint western style landscapes, nature photographers capture images of fleeting wildlife, senior citizens gaze into the wilderness from parked cars, pedestrians walk with kids and dogs, cyclists pedal from Jeremy Ranch to Morgan as motorists drive to their destinations further down the road.

Prohibiting recreational and pedestrian use on this historic connection (original Pony Express route) without an engineered study or plan examining the current and projected uses of a public route lacks credibility. (summit cty rec proposal PDF link)and video link

What’s at Stake Now?

Pedestrian access and existing public uses on the 910 County Road. At a May 20th Summit County Work Session, Resource Manager Jess Kirby, presented her 910 Recreation Proposal. It recommends, among other items of concern, eliminating pedestrian use on the 910 public access roadway.

The First Steps

Maintain auto, pedestrian and (leashed) dog use on the 910 Summit County and Morgan County public access roadway
Conduct an engineering / traffic study on 910 public access roadway to determine scope and ‘adaptive’ future uses for the route
Initiate a Roadway Pet Waste Program for Summit County volunteers
Regularly inform public on status of planning process and outcomes
Gessen Quote goes below

A Path Forward

What Concerns Us?

The consequential impacts to the 910 from Summit County’s proposed plans and activities.

Proposed Recreation Management Plan

What Do We Propose?

Pause and Restraint

Summit County officials restrain from voting on submitted proposals until current and proposed activities on the 910 are thoroughly reviewed for full compliance with environmental reports.
Evaluate risks from wildfire, trespassing, poaching, drought, over-use, parking and programs threatening the 910’s conservation qualities.
Conduct a Needs Survey that examines and prioritizes the needs of 910’s wildlife in contrast to active recreational pursuits.
Develop a Large Landscape Conservation Plan for the 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge with qualified out-side experts.
PAUSE all County activities and programs on the 910 until a Large Landscape Conservation Plan is drafted, publicly disclosed and formally approved.

How to Make a Difference?

Staying silent is not an option when so much is at stake.

Share your 910 story or memory
Post a meaningful comment on social media
Write a letter to the editor and public officials
Show up, speak up for 910 Ranch and Wildlife Refuge to protect its wildlife and it’s inherent legacy qualitites