Our History

Our wildlife-friendly path from then to now began in 1993, when a small group of passionate citizens aimed to create a more wildlife-friendly community by forming the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation.

In 2018, we celebrated our 25th anniversary working to reduce human-caused impacts on our wild neighbors, right here in Jackson Hole. Though the organization has evolved over the years, we’ve stayed true to our values; a community land ethic in action: creating a better home for our wildlife.

Scroll down to see some of our highlights over the years!

1993

JHWF is founded to promote ways for our community to live compatibly with wildlife.

1994

Give Wildlife a Brake™ begins with an analysis of WYDOT roadkill data and determination of roadkill “hotspots,” enabling WYDOT to place wildlife crossing signs.

1996

The first fence removal project occurs on Fall Creek Rd. in Wilson; JHWF begins collecting roadkill data.

Fence-Wire

1998

JHWF and partners publish the book, Who Ate the Backyard?—still in print and sold through the Grand Teton Association.

1999

Nicole Halpin and the JHWF begin the campaign to bury North Jackson power lines in order to protect trumpeter swans.

swans

2001

With the help of kids from Red Top Meadows, our volunteers of the year, the fence pull program surpasses 30 miles of removed fences.

2003

JHWF celebrates its tenth anniversary and completes a study on the impacts of roadways on wildlife in Teton County.

2006

On September 16th JHWF reaches a major fence removal milestone: 100 miles of fencing removed, ensuring easy and safe movement of wildlife through public and private lands in Teton County.

2006-2008

JHWF buys six portable message signs to inform the public on dangerous wildlife-vehicle collision areas.

Message-trailer

2008

Bear Wise begins as a partnership between JHWF, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

2010

JHWF and Bear Wise partners purchase an educational bear trailer to help our community learn to avoid conflicts with bears.

Bear-Wise-Jackson-Hole-Trailer-Small

2011

JHWF teams up with Meg and Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund to expand Nature Mapping Jackson Hole; on August 27th, another major fence removal milestone is reached: 150 miles of fencing removed!

2012

JHWF establishes a Moose Fund to address HWY 390 moose deaths; JHWF purchases two new portable message signs and two fixed radar signs, and partners with WYDOT and Teton Country on installation and maintenance.

2013

JHWF celebrates twenty years of helping the Jackson Hole community to live more compatibly with wildlife!

2014

Fence volunteers pulled or modified their 170th mile of barbed wire or buckrail fence in Teton County, Wyoming

wildlife-friendlier-fences

2015

JHWF installed two new radar speed signs on Highway 390 and Nature Mappers recorded their 35,000th wildlife observation

2016

JHWF celebrates its 20th year anniversary of the Wildlife Friendlier Fencing program with 183 miles of fence removed or improved; JHWF purchased and installed two RU2Fast fixed radar signs with flashing violator alerts in targeted wildlife movement corridors within Grand Teton National Park with Give Park Wildlife a Brake campaign.

2017

JHWF receives its first WGFD Chapter 33 permit to start banding Mountain Bluebirds; Nature Mapping Jackson Hole surpasses 50,000 observations. JHWF works with partners to reduce speed limit to 30mph on Broadway between Flat Creek Bridge and Budge Drive and adding fixed radar signs.

2018

JHWF assumes responsibility for a Jackson Hole bird monitoring program known as MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). Begins collaboration with other non-profits to help advise Teton County on feasibility of establishing strategic wildlife crossings. Nature Mapping launches Neighbors to Nature in Cache Creek and fence volunteers remove their 200th mile of fence!

2019

JHWF partners with local conservation organizations to advance $10 million dollars in funding for wildlife crossing solutions in Teton County onto the November SPET ballot.