Pronghorn Fund Grant Supports Critical Pronghorn Migration Bottleneck on New Fork River

October 12, 2026 – Boulder, WY

The WYldlife Fund is proud to announce the first grant awarded through the Pronghorn Fund, a restricted endowment dedicated to pronghorn conservation in Wyoming. In partnership with the Green River Valley Program (GRVP) of the Jackson Hole Land Trust, a permanent conservation easement has been placed on Wild Horse Ranch, a 233-acre working ranch located southwest of Boulder along the New Fork River. The easement permanently protects a critical pronghorn migration bottleneck that encompasses both agricultural land and diverse wildlife habitat. A portion of the funding for this conservation easement was granted through the Pronghorn Fund.

“Pronghorn are an iconic American species, and conservation easements are one of the most important and impactful tools we have to conserve them,” said GRVP Director Kerry Schultz. “They evolved across these big landscapes and need to migrate great distances to thrive. In the Green River Basin, where pronghorn migrate from the Red Desert to Grand Teton National Park, private lands create crucial connective tissue between large swaths of public lands. Protecting Wild Horse Ranch ensures that one of these known critical connections is forever protected so pronghorn can prosper and bounce back from disturbances.”

Established in 2024 by Rich and Mary Guenzel of Laramie, Wyoming, the Pronghorn Fund drives meaningful improvements in pronghorn habitats, supports species-specific research, and fosters educational programs that enhance public appreciation for these remarkable animals.

“This is truly fitting that The Pronghorn Fund’s first-ever grant goes to the Wild Horse Ranch Conservation Easement,” said Rich Guenzel. “Pronghorn have long been taken for granted. This conservation easement will help permanently protect a vital and vulnerable migration bottleneck on private lands within the Designated Migration Corridor.”

Wyoming is home to the largest pronghorn population in North America and accounts for roughly half of the species’ total global population. Through the generosity and vision of the Guenzel family, the Pronghorn Fund is committed to ensuring a sustainable future for Wyoming’s pronghorn and preserving their legacy for generations to come.

“It makes a difference when funding sources are dedicated to supporting a species, to which the Pronghorn Fund was established to do,” said Schultz. “The Guenzel Family and The WYldlife Fund’s understanding of how important this migration bottleneck is, along with their financial support of this perpetual protection effort, will make that difference for our amazing wildlife resources both today and for future generations.”

To learn more about the Pronghorn Fund, or to make a gift in support of pronghorn conservation efforts across the state of Wyoming, please visit this The WYldlife Fund’s Pronghorn Fund page.

To read the inspiring conservation story surrounding the Wild Horse Ranch Conservation Easement, please visit the Jackson Hole Land Trust website found at this link.