An emergency fund has been set up by the Reno Chapter of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, in cooperation with the Nevada Department of Wildlife to gather money for use in wildland rehabilitation efforts.

Summer wildfires in Nevada burned nearly 1.5 million acres in 2006, two thirds of which were in Elko County. The Nevada Wildfire Disaster Fund has been set up to allow individuals and interested organizations the chance to donate money to help pay for the purchase of seed and its timely dispersal over scorched winter ranges.

"We lost huge amounts of wildlife habitat in these fires. There is a short window of opportunity to begin rehabilitation efforts as soon as possible," says Dave Pulliam, habitat bureau chief for the department.

The department has already channeled $708,000 of habitat conservation fees from hunting and trapping licenses and Question 1 bond money to rehabilitation efforts.

"Frankly, we need a lot more money to have a chance of being successful," says Pulliam. "The $708,000 will only pay for rehabbing about 5 percent of the burned acreage. We need to do more than that."

"We are reaching out to anyone who loves wildlife," says Bighorn Unlimited vice president Dr. Jim Nelson. "All of the money donated to this fund will go to rehabilitation efforts now and well into the future. Since wildfires are a yearly event in Nevada, we plan on keeping this fund going so we can help the department better react to wildland rehabilitation needs."

Donations can be directed to:

NBU - Nevada Wildfire Disaster Fund

Account No. 3030003481

Heritage Bank of Nevada

47 Damonte Ranch Pkwy.

Reno, Nev., 89521

Donations may be made in person at any Heritage Bank of Nevada branch, or checks can be mailed in.