Projects Driven, People Focused

Uniting people to advance Wyoming wildlife habitat, research, and education.

Projects Driven, People Focused

Uniting people to advance Wyoming wildlife habitat, research, and education.

OUR PROGRAMS

We invest in critical wildlife projects which will enhance the great outdoors of the Cowboy State.

ABOUT US

The WYldlife Fund is a home for all people who love the wildlife of Wyoming.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

Inspiring the next generation of wildlife enthusiasts.

The 2022 Maury Brown Kids Fishing day was a huge success! We welcomed over 250 kids for a fun filled day of fishing and education. Thank you Maury Brown and Wyoming Game and Fish Department for making this incredible day possible.

A partner to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and Department.

The WYldlife Fund is a home for all people who love the wildlife of Wyoming. Ultimately, we care as much about people as we do wildlife. While conserving wildlife, we also strive to conserve people’s love for wildlife.

Serving as a partner foundation to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, The WYldlife Fund is uniquely positioned to have profound positive impact. Specializing in grant agreements, the Fund ensures precise and efficient allocation of resources on the ground to advance wildlife projects across Wyoming.

ABOUT US

GRANTS AWARDED

$2,011,710

to Wyoming wildlife projects and initiatives

-as of March 27, 2024

PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES SUPPORTED

64 GRANTS AWARDED

$1,336,262

to Wyoming wildlife projects and initiatives place

-as of May 15, 2023

PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES SUPPORTED

53

Wyldlife for Tomorrow

Kelly Hayfield Sagebrush Restoration

Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) protects large expanses of high elevation, mesic sagebrush-steppe grasslands that support many species of mammals and birds.

Project Details

Wyldlife for Tomorrow

Spread Creek Fish Passage

Our local native Snake River cutthroat trout need “room to roam” to access high-quality habitat so they can grow, survive, thrive, reproduce, and be resilient to environmental changes.

Project Details

Dubois US 26 Wildlife Crossing Project: The Wind River to Grand Tetons – Connecting Wildlife on the Togwotee Trail

This project is east of Dubois from the Wind River oxbow to the National Museum of Military Vehicles (MP 58-67) and meets a major need in protecting mule deer on crucial winter range and during migration.

Project Details

Moose Fund: Helping Beavers is a WIN-WIN

Thanks to a generous gift by Mary and Charlie Rumsey, we have established a fund which directly supports the majestic moose. The first investment supports beaver translocation and expansion across Wyoming in key geographical areas.

Project Details

Wyldlife for Tomorrow

Absaroka Fence Initiative

This initiative brings together a broad partnership of landowners, community, non-governmental organizations, and local government agencies.

Project Details

Hulett Youth Field Days

Hulett Youth Field Days empowers youth through teaching the importance of conservation and shooting sports.

Project Details

Jackson Elk Collaring Project

To better manage the Jackson elk herd, biologists need to gather more robust data, a goal that is achieved through GPS-collaring of individual elk within the herd.

Project Details

Wyldlife for Tomorrow

Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation Trail Cameras: Wildlife Friendly Fencing Research

The Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) continues to cultivate a community commitment that values wildlife migration and movement and protects migration routes.

Project Details

Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Camp Wild

The WYldlife Fund has been proud to support Camp Wild at Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp.

Project Details

Wyldlife for Tomorrow

South Park Wetlands Enhancement

Nestled along the Snake River south of Jackson is the South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA), a beautiful spot that provides important wetland, riparian, and meadow habitat for a wide array of wildlife.

Project Details

Wyldlife for Tomorrow

Sage Grouse Fence Inventory

Through our signature program Wildlife Tourism For Tomorrow we were honored to support important sage-grouse fence inventory work through our good friends at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation.

Project Details

Inspire a Kid Camp

From June 22nd-28th, 2022 The WYldlife Fund was honored to host the first annual Inspire a Kid Camp at the Little Jennie Ranch in Bondurant.

Project Details

Wyldlife for Tomorrow

New Fork River Restoration

The New Fork River is one of the most popular river fisheries in western Wyoming, emerging from the Wind River Mountains and flowing generally south for approximately 70 miles before reaching its confluence with the Green River.

Project Details

Dry Piney Wildlife Crossing Project

The Dry Piney area of US Highway 189 lies in critical winter range for the vibrant Wyoming Range Mule deer herd, which provides world-class hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Project Details

Kemmerer HWY 189 Wildlife Crossing

Wyoming is poised to continue to lead the nation in the planning and construction of wildlife crossings. Annually, there are an average of 6,000 vehicle collisions with big game in Wyoming.

Project Details

I-25 Wildlife Crossing Project

The objective of the I-25 Wildlife Crossing project is to reduce highway caused mortalities of wildlife, particularly mule deer, on a 15 mile stretch of I-25 (mm255-270) north of Kaycee by funneling wildlife to six different existing agricultural underpasses.

Project Details

Moose Fund: Cody Regional Office Beaver Holding Facility

Beavers and moose have overlapping habitats, and Mary Rumsey of Meeteeste loves moose. With this passion, Mary created a restricted initiative within The WYldlife Fund to focus on projects and research that benefit moose and their habitat.

Project Details

Wildlife Friendly Fencing-Red Rim Grizzly WHMA

A gift from the Williams Foundation was used to issue our first grant to install wildlife friendly fencing at the Red Rim-Grizzly Wildlife Habitat Management Area.

Project Details

Aquatic Invasive Species Boot Cleaning Stations-Laramie Region

The Wyldlife Fund is committed to putting money on the ground to advance key wildlife initiatives across Wyoming and we are pleased to provide support to help combat aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Project Details

Maury Brown Kids Fishing Day

Empowering the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and leaders is perhaps the most important thing we can be doing for Wyoming’s natural resources, and The WYldlife Fund is all in.

Project Details

Access YES-Expanding Hunting and Fishing Opportunities

The WYldlife Fund was pleased to help expand Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Access YES Program thanks to a generous grant from the Williams Foundation.

Project Details

Inspire a Kid: Telemetry Devices and Pronghorn Educational Boxes

Through a generous grant from the Wyoming Sportsmans Group, The WYldlife Fund was able to help expand statewide educational offerings for Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Inspire a Kid program!

Project Details

A sampling of projects and initiatives funded.
Map is interactive, click on a dot for a link to the project description.

The Significance of Wyoming Wildlife Crossings

The story of the I-25 Buffalo to Kaycee wildlife crossing project.

Supported Projects & Initiatives

The Pooled Migration Fund: A Commitment to Wyoming’s Wildlife

The WYldlife Fund, in partnership with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), is dedicated to the conservation of Wyoming’s wildlife and their habitats. Through the Pooled Migration Fund (PMF), this collaborative effort unites various stakeholders to protect and enhance the migratory habitats of Wyoming’s big game species. By leveraging resources from diverse Farm Bill […]

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Torrey Rim Prescribed Fire

The Whiskey Mountain herd was once the largest wintering herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in the US, but in the early ‘90s, a catastrophic pneumonia-related die-off occurred and reduced the population from approximately 2,000 individuals to ~630 individuals in 2005.

WYldlife for Tomorrow

South Flat Creek Channel Restoration

Flat Creek is an important Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout spawning tributary that has been adversely affected by urbanization, rural land development, and water management.

Moose Fund makes another incredible investment for Wyoming’s wildlife

Moose Fund Invests in Cody Regional Office Beaver Holding Facility The Moose Fund is a restricted line item within The WYldlife Fund created by Mary Rumsey. To learn more about investing in this fund please reach out to us today! Beavers and moose have overlapping habitats, and Mary Rumsey of Meeteeste loves moose. With this […]

2023 Inspire a Kid Camp

The Inspire a Kid Camp hosted at the Little Jennie Ranch in Bondurant, Wyoming aims to be a transformative and one of kind, wilderness experience for young men and women.

Dry Piney Wildlife Crossing Project

The Dry Piney area of US Highway 189 lies in critical winter range for the vibrant Wyoming Range Mule deer herd, which provides world-class hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities

Success for the Red Rim-Grizzly Wildlife Habitat Management Area

The WYldlife Fund was also proud to partner with our friends at the Williams Foundation to send $10,000 to the Red Rim Grizzly Wildlife Habitat Management Area to create wildlife friendly fencing.

The WYldlife Fund launches initiative, awards first grants to support landowner stewardship, migration corridors

The Pooled Migration Fund serves as a catalyst to significant federal investments in Wyoming The WYldlife Fund, a nonprofit partner of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, announced the first recipients of grant funding from its new Pooled Migration Fund. The grant funding is intended to enhance voluntary conservation of private, working lands and Tribal lands within […]

WYldlife for Tomorrow Continues to Grow with Addition of Program Director Breanna Ball

WYldlife for Tomorrow, a proud signature program of The WYldlife Fund, was started in 2021, and the program’s steady growth has continued since day one. Now, deep into its fourth year of operation, WYldlife for Tomorrow is thrilled to announce the onboarding of its first full-time, paid employee – Program Director Breanna Ball. Following a […]

Inspire a Kid Camps 2023

Wow, it has been a busy year for The WYldlife Fund! Busy is good, right? We like to think so! We have a lot to catch our supporters up on, and we’d like to begin by filling you in on our second summer of Inspire a Kid Camp, which was, in short, INCREDIBLE. The WYldlife […]

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Sagebrush Habitat Restoration

Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) protects large expanses of high elevation, mesic sagebrush-steppe grasslands that support many species of mammals and birds.

WYldlife for Tomorrow

South Park Wetlands Enhancement

South Park WHMA is nestled along the Snake River south of Jackson. It provides wetland, riparian, and meadow habitat for a diverse suite of species, from songbirds and amphibians in the cottonwood galleries to shorebirds and waterfowl in the marshes.

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Jackson Elk Collaring Project

Elk are a primary prey species for grizzly bears and wolves, two animals that are highly sought after for wildlife-viewing and ecotourism in the Jackson area. Elk also provide hunters with a sustainable food source and outdoor experience, as well as support local hunting outfitters, hotels, and other businesses during the fall.

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Lower Snake River Ranch Stabilization

At the downstream end of the Snake River levee system, the Snake River is especially dynamic due to heightened erosive forces from the levee’s straightening and channelization and lack of access to its floodplain.

Wildlife Tourism for Tomorrow

The WYldlife Fund is proud to stand beside our good friends and owner of Jackson Hole Eco Tour Adventures Taylor Phillips in the creation and launch of Wildlife Tourism For Tomorrow. Wildlife Tourism for Tomorrow is Taylor's vision and inspires businesses and individuals who depend upon Wyoming's Wildlife to help fund on-the ground projects that make...

Maury Brown Kids Fishing Day

On June 4th, 2022 The WYldlife Fund partnered with Maury Brown and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to host the first Maury Brown Kids Fishing Day at the Iron Mountain Ranch outside of Cheyenne.

The Moose Fund: A Lifeline for Struggling Moose Populations

In the vast and rugged landscapes of Wyoming, where wildlife thrives amidst stunning natural beauty, moose populations are struggling. These majestic animals are facing challenges that threaten their existence, from habitat loss to warming temperatures. Fortunately, passionate individuals like Mary Rumsey are stepping up to ensure the survival of these iconic creatures through initiatives like […]

Moose Fund: helping beavers is a WIN-WIN

Thanks to a generous gift by Mary and Charlie Rumsey of Meeteetse, WY we have established a fund which directly supports moose and the first investment from this fund supports beaver translocation and expansion across Wyoming.

WYldlife For Tomorrow Job Posting

Job Posting The WYldlife Fund’s (The Fund) signature program WYldlife for Tomorrow (WFT) is complimenting the conservation funding paradigm with a new funding mechanism that allows businesses that depend on wildlife and Wyoming lands to contribute to a sustainable future for wildlife – and ourselves. Title: Program Director (PD), WFT Position structure (contractual or […]

NextEra Energy Resources Invests in Wyoming Migration Corridors

NextEra Energy Resources Commits $50,000 to The WYldlife Fund in Support of Big Game Migration Corridors The WYldlife Fund is proud to announce a $50,000 contribution to the Pooled Migration Fund from the NextEra Energy Foundation, the charitable arm of NextEra Energy Resources, to focus on implementing wildlife-friendly projects. The Pooled Migration Fund is […]

Dubois US 26 Wildlife Crossing

This project around Dubois from Stoney Point to Dinwoody Creek (mileposts 48-73) meets a major need in keeping our wildlife and drivers on the go.

The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the WYldlife Fund Partner to Raise $2.7 Million for Wyoming’s Highway 26 Wildlife Crossing Project

The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the WYldlife Fund have teamed up to raise $2.7 million in donations to contribute to the non-federal, match requirement for the state’s application requesting more than $17 million in federal Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program dollars to keep people safe and wildlife alive along U.S. Highway 26 in Wyoming. This substantial […]

WYldlife for Tomorrow

U.S. Highway 26 Wildlife Crossings

U.S.-26 from mileposts 48-73 has been identified as a priority in the state to address Wildlife Vehicle Collisions.

Supporting The Absaroka Fence Initiative

The WYldlife Fund has been delighted to partner and support the Absaroka Fence Initiative. Working in cooperation with willing landowners and land managers, Absaroka Fence Initiative aims to ensure fences are functional for livestock management and wildlife movement across the landscape through on the ground projects, public workdays and outreach to the community.

Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation Trail Cameras

Announcing The Pronghorn Fund: Safeguarding Wyoming’s Iconic Wildlife Legacy

Pronghorn, often referred to as the crown jewel of Wyoming’s wildlife, symbolize the state’s unique natural heritage. Their graceful presence has captivated generations, embodying the spirit of the untamed West. Wyoming has the largest intact pronghorn herds in North America. In the wake of the massive winter die-off of 2022-23, coupled with habitat loss and […]

Wildlife Friendly Fencing-Red Rim Grizzly WHMA

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Sage Grouse Fence Inventory

Through our signature program Wildlife Tourism For Tomorrow we were honored to support important sage-grouse fence inventory work through our good friends at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation.

South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area Dedicated with Partners and Local Officials.

In late July, The WYldlife Fund and WYldlife for Tomorrow gathered with partners, elected officials, and Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel to dedicate the South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA) Wetland Restoration and Enhancement Project south of Jackson, Wyoming. This project was one of the first to receive funding from WYldlife for Tomorrow, […]

2023 Microgrant Recipients

The WYldlife Fund recognizes that not every important project in Wyoming requires a check for hundreds of thousands of dollars. In this light, we also seek to fund smaller yet impactful projects and initiatives for the good of Wyoming’s wildlife. Every year, The WYldlife Fund awards microgrants to 501(c)3 organizations working to advance Wyoming’s wildlife, […]

The WYld Showdown Has Launched

The WYldlife Fund, Wyoming Craft Brewers Guild, and University of Wyoming’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources Team Up For WYld Showdown Beer Coaster Game Aims to Raise Money for Wildlife Conservation With the launch of the WYLD Showdown, consumers in breweries across Wyoming can participate in a bracket-style competition via a QR code […]

Kemmerer HWY 189 Wildlife Crossing

The forthcoming economic development opportunities in this region, and resulting increase in motor vehicle traffic, has made it imperative that we work together to complete the Kemmerer Highway 189 Wildlife Crossing Project in order to protect human lives and save wildlife.

WYldlife for Tomorrow

New Fork River Restoration

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Kelly Hayfield Sagebrush Restoration

Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) protects large expanses of high elevation, mesic sagebrush-steppe grasslands that support many species of mammals and birds. These resources also connect similar habitats in a large portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

University of Wyoming Recognizes Taylor Phillips – WYldlife Fund Board Member – with Conservation Award

In a state full of passionate conservationists and wildlife lovers, two were individually honored on the evening of Friday September 13th in Laramie. With the sun shining down on the University of Wyoming’s Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, supporters gathered inside to celebrate Charles Preston and Taylor Phillips as they each received recognition for their work […]

WYDOT receives $24.3 million federal grant for Kemmerer wildlife crossing project

We have some exciting news to share in the world of wildlife crossings! But first, a bit of background: According to Dr. Corinna Riginos of The Nature Conservancy, the annual number of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) continues to rise over time, with a current five-year average of 7,656 animals per year. The vast majority of these […]

I-25 Kaycee to Buffalo Wildlife Crossing

The WYldlife Fund (The Fund) embarked on its inaugural large-scale project, the I-25 Kaycee to Buffalo Wildlife Crossing Project, with a remarkable contribution exceeding $350,000. We are elated to share that the project has reached the impressive milestone of 60% completion, with an anticipated finish by fall of this year. Getting to see a project […]

Inspire a Kid Camp

From June 22nd-28th, 2022 The WYldlife Fund was honored to host the first annual Inspire a Kid Camp at the Little Jennie Ranch in Bondurant.

DSC of Wyoming Contributes $41,000 to The Pronghorn Fund

Dallas Safari Club of Wyoming Contributes $41,000 to The Pronghorn Fund Hunting and Conservation Group Augments The WYldLife Fund’s Latest Initiative Casper, Wyoming, November 2024 — DSC of Wyoming, a 501(c)3 Wyoming nonprofit and chapter of the Dallas Safari Club, has added over forty thousand dollars to The Pronghorn Fund, a growing endowment inspired by […]

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Moose Fund: Cody Regional Office Beaver Holding Facility

Beavers can drastically alter river ecosystems by impounding water through dam construction, which can greatly benefit habitat.

The WYld Room: A First-of-its-Kind Partnership with the Riviera Motor Lodge

The idea started just a couple of years ago at the Wyoming Governor’s Hospitality and Tourism Conference in Cheyenne. Kim Hytrek, General Manager of the Riviera Motor Lodge, stumbled upon the booth for WYldlife for Tomorrow – a signature program of The WYldlife Fund – and struck up a conversation with President Chris McBarnes. After […]

Boot Cleaning Stations Laramie Region of the Wyoming Game & Fish

The WYldlife Fund is proud and determined to invest in aquatic habitat just as much as terrestrial habitat. In late 2020, The WYldlife Fund provided a $1,250 to the Laramie Region of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation Trail Cameras

The WYldlife Fund provided our friends at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation with 16 trail cameras and associated supplies in early 2021! Specifically the JHWF will use our donation of trail cameras and supplies to improve and evaluate the work of their Wildlife Friendlier Fence and Give Wildlife a Brake programs.

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Absaroka Fence Initiative

One group we are proud to stand behind is the Absaroka Fence Initiative (AFI). The WYldlife Fund acts as the fiscal sponsor of this collaborative and dynamic group who is performing incredible fence work in and around the Cody area.

Table Mountain Outfitters Hunting Program

Last summer, The WYldlife Fund (The Fund) established a unique partnership with Table Mountain Outfitters (TMO), a full-time guided hunting service based out of Cheyenne. The new program created opportunities for youth, women, and wounded warriors to experience hunting and the numerous steps that go into planning and executing a hunt. This initiative serves as […]

WYldlife for Tomorrow

Spread Creek Fish Passage

The very first project funded in part by WYldlife For Tomorrow, a cutting edge initiative developed by Board Member Taylor Phillips, an initiative underneath the umbrella of The WYldlife Fund!

The WYld Room: A First-of-its-Kind Partnership with the Riviera Motor Lodge

DSC of Wyoming Contributes $41,000 to The Pronghorn Fund

Wyoming summer camp tackles “brain drain” with nature

At the base of the Gros Ventre Mountains in western Wyoming, 17 boys recently spent a week immersed in nature, honing their outdoor skills and building leadership abilities. Part of the Inspire a Kid initiative, this free summer camp is designed for youth who might not otherwise have access to Wyoming’s wild spaces. Over […]