What's a Guzzler and how does it work?

Longtime FDB members know what a guzzler is and how much work goes into building one. But folks newer to learning about wildlife conservation are often not familiar with them and the extremely important role they play in Nevada's remote landscapes, especially for the desert bighorn sheep in the southern portion of the state.

A wildlife guzzler is an artificial water catchment system designed to collect, store, and provide water for animals in arid or dry regions where water is scarce. These systems are crucial in sustaining wildlife populations, particularly during hot summers and drought, by providing a dependable, year-round water source in remote habitats.

While they vary in size (100 to over 25,000 gallons), most guzzlers consist of three main parts:

Collection Apron: An angled surface (often metal sheeting) that catches rain and snowmelt.

Storage Tank: A reservoir that holds the water.

Drinker/Trough: A ramped area where animals can safely access the water.

FDB is now adding a fourth component to our guzzler builds- a water level monitoring system (Ranchbot or Track Tag) with a companion rain gauge that is monitored via satellite. FDB monitors tank water levels monthly for over 50 guzzlers across Nevada.

Check out this quick "what is a guzzler" video from the Nevada Department of Wildlife, filmed from one of our builds in the Muddy Mountains:

NDOW IG Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWR6NwQEon8/