 Ask any Wyoming native what one thing is they love about the cowboy state, and they might say open space. Ask any newcomer what one of the biggest adjustments is to living in the cowboy state, and they'll probably say the same thing. By open space, I'm referring to land that is free from development in general. No houses, stores, or busy roads. Open space doesn't just give your eyes a chance to stretch out on the horizon, so to speak. It is actually very important for three main reasons. First, open space provides much-needed habitat for animals. I'm not talking just about living space, but also areas where migratory animals, such as elk, can travel back and forth in between seasons. Habitat restrictions can often affect a species' survival. Open space also provides recreational opportunities. In order to be able to hunt, fish, or hike, you need an area reasonably free from development. Open space can also help people relax. As it provides a place to go and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Open spaces also provide us with clean air. Compare our Wyoming air with the smoggy air found in states like California, and you'll be thankful for all our open space. Also, the snowpack from our mountain ranges supplies us with good water, not only for drinking, but also for irrigating. Wyoming certainly has much more open space than more densely populated areas. The good news is you can enjoy a lot of that open space for yourself. Since about 50% of the land in Wyoming is for public use. From the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, I'm Barton Stamm, exploring the nature of Wyoming.