May 2025 - The WYldlife Fund

Few things bring us more joy than raising a cold beer in support of conservation—and as of this April, we’re thrilled to have another brew to toast with again. Our longtime friends and partners at Altitude Chophouse and Brewery are back on board with WYldlife for Tomorrow, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue this meaningful collaboration!

A Bit About Altitude

Altitude Chophouse and Brewery has been a beloved Laramie staple since 1999, founded by Karen Robillard and Greg Smith with a vision of blending a relaxed Western vibe with elevated food and drink. Over the past 25 years, Altitude has earned dozens of local, regional, and national awards for its expertly crafted beers. With head brewer Sean Minichiello at the helm, Karen and her team have built a reputation for brewing clean, consistent, and creative beers—and now, once again, we can add conservation-minded to that list.

WYldlife for Tomorrow and Altitude

Our partnership with Altitude began in 2023, when Karen and Sean launched the WYld Amber Ale in honor of WYldlife for Tomorrow. The label, designed by University of Wyoming graduate student Inna Willis, marked the start of a creative collaboration that not only celebrated local talent but also deepened our connection with UW. In many ways, that first beer helped spark our growing series of cobranded conservation products—from coffee and ice cream to hotel rooms and, yes, more beer.

Fast forward two years, and we’re thrilled to build on that momentum with some familiar faces. On April 25th, Karen unveiled a brand-new conservation-minded brew: the WYld Blonde Ale. Sean is still leading the brewing efforts with the help of Assistant Brewer Jovi Inman, and Inna returned to design another stunning label—this time featuring a striking fox illustration. Light, crisp, and perfect for summer, the WYld Blonde Ale is a refreshing addition to our shared mission.

Drink Beer, Support Wildlife

If you missed the launch party, don’t worry—you can still enjoy the WYld Blonde Ale on tap or in a to-go crowler at Altitude Chophouse and Brewery in Laramie. Just like the WYld Amber Ale before it, $1 from every pint sold supports WYldlife for Tomorrow and our on-the-ground efforts to protect Wyoming’s wildlife and wild places.

So here’s to great beer, great people, and an even greater cause. Join us in raising a glass to this renewed partnership—and to the animals and landscapes that make Wyoming wild.

For those following recent conservation successes in Wyoming, the Red Desert likely rings a bell.

At the heart of Wyoming’s legendary pronghorn migration route and home to vital winter range, the Red Desert has long captured the attention of biologists seeking to safeguard the future of this iconic species.

Last year marked a major conservation milestone for Wyoming’s pronghorn, and the University of Wyoming’s new documentary, Unwired—released on April 30—tells the story of how collaboration drove a groundbreaking achievement for the species.

For more than 70 years, biologists have documented the hardships pronghorn face during winter migration, especially in severe winters. Highways and fences pose major threats, with exclusionary fencing proving particularly deadly during brutal winter seasons like 2022–23.

The Sublette pronghorn herd lost 43% of its population – or roughly 4,000 animals – during that notably harsh winter. A major factor? Inaccessible winter habitat in the Red Desert due to fencing that blocks critical winter range. Unwired focuses on a partnership between local rancher Tom Chant and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to find a solution to allow for his ranch to fully operate while promoting pronghorn winter survival.

Last summer, boots hit the ground and shovels hit the dirt as a diverse coalition of partners worked side by side to remove exclusionary fencing and replace it with a wildlife-friendly alternative. These new fences allow pronghorn—poor jumpers—to crawl underneath, while still containing cattle and horses. In just 45 days, 23 miles of fencing were replaced, reconnecting 18,000 acres of prime winter range that had been inaccessible to pronghorn for 75 years.

This story, so beautifully outlined in Unwired, was largely funded by The Knobloch Family Foundation, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, and The WYldlife Fund. The short film itself – winner of The Best Film about Wyoming Award at the Wild and Working Lands Film Festival – can be viewed here.

While the 18,000 acres celebrated in Unwired is a huge success, at least 94,000 acres of critical habitat in the Red Desert remain inaccessible due to more than 50 miles of exclusionary fencing. WYldlife for Tomorrow and WYldlife Fund are actively raising support to continue this important work through the Red Desert Fence Initiative, with phase two set to begin this summer with the additional 15 miles of fence conversion.

Back on Tap: A Conservation Collaboration Returns!

Unwired Documentary Highlights Collaboration as a Cornerstone of Conservation