By the JHWF Staff As wildlife conservation professionals, we remind ourselves to celebrate the successes. Sometimes we get so wrapped into understanding and mitigating the challenges facing wildlife that we feel frustrated. In these moments, it is sometimes in our...
A SUMMER OF HABITAT IMPROVEMENT
Restoring Natural Landscapes and Preserving Wildlife
This summer, our team embarked on an ambitious journey to improve local wildlife habitats by tackling an incredible 12 fence modification projects and a major weed removal effort. With the invaluable support of 89 dedicated volunteers, we transformed 23.11 miles and acres of land, clocking over 679 hours of hard work and community spirit. Each project contributes to the larger goal of preserving ecosystems and creating safer spaces for local wildlife.
Getting into the Weeds
One of our proudest achievements was at Coburn Meadows, a site in Bridger-Teton National Forest that we’ve adopted for invasive weed removal. This year marked our second year of focusing on this area, where volunteers tackled some of Wyoming’s 372 invasive species. Removing weeds like houndstongue, bull thistle, and musk thistle is vital for restoring native plant life and supporting diverse habitats. We’re excited to expand this project next summer and raise awareness about the impact of invasive species on local ecosystems.
Happy Habitats
We also enjoyed a memorable visit from Ohio University’s honors program, where 15 students joined our efforts to clear 0.2 miles of barbed wire near Stinking Springs. This area, a critical habitat for bighorn sheep, elk, and pronghorn, is now safer for these majestic animals. Wyoming Game and Fish representative Ben Wise joined the team, providing students with a deeper understanding of the history of fencing in the West and its effects on wildlife.
On July 13, our conservation efforts took us to Sublette County, where three staff members and ten volunteers lowered 5.6 miles of fencing to protect the greater sage grouse. Lowering fences is essential to reducing mortality rates for these birds, especially as they gather in winter breeding grounds. These adjustments can make a life-saving difference, safeguarding sage grouse populations for future generations.
Small Actions = Profound Impact for Wildlife
Our habitat restoration work highlights the profound impact that seemingly small actions—such as lowering a fence or removing weeds—can have on the natural world. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or a newcomer, your support is crucial. If you have a fence that needs attention or want to join our incredible community, reach out to Kelsey at kelsey@jhwildlife.org. Together, let’s be the change we wish to see and create lasting habitats for wildlife.
JHWF’s Blogs
Won’t You Join us in Celebration?
Beaver Project
By Jeff Burrell and Hilary Turner Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with beaver researcher and hydrologist Jeff Burrell and a new project for interested Nature Mappers – Beaver Project! In Beaver Project, Nature Mappers will...
A Weekend on the Wind River Indian Reservation
By Charlie Brandin The great debate - bison or buffalo? I spent last weekend at the Wind River Indian Reservation learning how western science (which classifies the animal as bison) and indigenous knowledge (which classifies it as buffalo) come together for an...
Nature Mapper Profile: Meet Kathy O’Neil and John Norton!
By Hilary Turner As Nature Mapping Jackson Hole nears its landmark 1000th certified Nature Mapper, I thought it would be fun to write an article featuring a couple of newer Nature Mappers who were just trained in the last year. Many of you have participated in Nature...
Meet our Summer Bird-Banders
This year, Vicki Morgan and Kevin Perozeni will head up our MAPS bird-banding stations at Boyle's Hill and the Kelly Campus of the Teton Science Schools. Vicki will be returning for her third summer in a row, while Kevin will be joining us for the first time! Vicki...
Nature Mapping Summer Challenge with Maven® Binocular Giveaway
Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation is proud to partner with Maven® Outdoor Equipment Company in a Nature Mapping Summer Challenge! Maven® has graciously donated a pair of C.1 10x42 binoculars (MSRP $425) to the JHWF to be given away to a Nature Mapper who completes the...
Spring Emergents and Arrivals: First of Year (FOY)
Nature Mapping Enews – April 4, 2022 – Written by Frances Clark “I saw my first robin!” “I saw bluebirds!” “Did you hear the sandhill cranes the other day?” “No, but I heard meadowlarks up in Antelope Flats.” “The bears are out.” “Have you seen an...
Moose Day 2022
By Frances Clark A valiant cadre of over 95 volunteers ventured out on a frigid morning to scout for moose with great accomplishment. The latest count, still to be verified, is 94 moose. This compares well with Moose Day 2021 when 109 volunteers recorded 106 moose....
Thanks for a Great Hosted Moose Day!
We'd like to extend a special thank you to all the new participants and visitors who joined us at Rendezvous Park in sub-zero temperatures on the morning of February, 26th for Hosted Moose Day. While only one of our hiking groups spotted a moose, it's important to...
Where does the chicken cross the road? Thoughts on the things we wouldn’t know without your help
By Dr. Hannah Specht, University of Montana Citizen scientists, the world round, invest in data collection on the understanding that this effort will contribute to expanding knowledge and the hope that it will move us forward. The timeline for knowledge expansion, and...
JHWF Receives Bear Wise Jackson Grant
Did you know that Teton County experiences an average of 71 human-bear conflicts per year? Sadly, in 2021 alone, six grizzly bears were euthanized because of human food-conditioning. Now more than ever, we believe bears need our...
Grand Teton National Park’s Bird Program: a Collaborative Approach to Preservation
By John Stephenson, Grand Teton National Park wildlife biologist While people flock to Grand Teton National Park for its spectacular wildlife often hoping for a glimpse of an elusive wolf or grizzly, most visitors are all but guaranteed sightings of remarkable bird...
Why Should I Care About Winter Range?
By Morgan Graham, Teton Conservation District Growing up in Pennsylvania, I was not intimately familiar with the concept of winter range. Seasonal shifts were marked by hundreds of Canada geese gorging on leftover corn and soybeans. Over time more and more of those...
Beavers: We need them but they need our help
By Jeff Burrell - Hydrologist and former director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Northern Rockies Program. Cover Photo from Neil Herbert (Yellowstone National Park) There’s been a growing appreciation of the important role beavers can play in creating and...
Protect our Bears by Keeping Them Wild
Holy cow. I am impressed at the boldness of bear 399. She is a survivor and is imparting this skill and resourcefulness on her four cubs. How did we get from the near extirpation of grizzly bears to bears walking through Jackson? The incredible foresight of the...
Meet the Neighbors to Nature Volunteers
By Hilary A. Turner, JHWF Neighbors to Nature (N2N) is a community science project supported by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) and our partners – The Nature Conservancy of Wyoming (TNC), Friends of Pathways (FOP), and the Bridger-Teton National Forest...
August is for the Shorebirds
Hilary Turner | Nature Mapping Program Coordinator Fall migration is a fun time for birders and it is the only time of year we Wyomingites get to examine many members of one of my favorite groups – the shorebirds. These members of the order Charadriiformes can be...
Help Keep Bears Wild and People Safe on Togwotee Pass
For Immediate Release April 25, 2025 Agencies Call Upon the Public to Help Keep Bears Wild and People Safe on Togwotee Pass Follow Ethical Wildlife Viewing and Photography Practices and Direction of Officials MORAN, WY — —In recent weeks, significant bear jams and...
The Mountain Bluebird: A Welcome Sign of Spring
There are few sights in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem more uplifting than the flash of brilliant blue wings cutting across a wide-open field. That’s the male Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)—a vibrant burst of color against the earthy hues of Wyoming’s...
Moose and Red Fox in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
When people think of wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, they often picture bears and wolves. These apex predators attract thousands of visitors each year hoping for a glimpse. But just as majestic—and often easier to spot—are the moose and red fox. They...
