 One of the great things about Wyoming is the sense of community that thrives here, in our cities and towns and rural areas across the state. Towns are usually located where they are because of the natural setting, availability of water, natural transportation routes, and so on. Although diverse, towns in Wyoming have some common components, grocers, bankers, doctors, teachers, law enforcement officers, and garbage collectors. Wyoming's natural resources exist in communities as well. Just like our towns, these natural communities occur where they do because of environmental conditions, including climate, soils, and the lay of the land. These communities also have predictable components, including a variety of plants, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers, each with their own career or special role in the community. Applying the community concept to natural resources provides us with a useful way to communicate about and study the natural wonders of our state. As you travel, remember, communities exist not only in our towns, but in our many wild places as well. From the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, I'm Paul Myman.