As stewards of some of the most pristine wild habitats in the world, Wyoming Wildlife Advocates’ (WWA) strives to preserve the state’s wildlife legacy, protect shared wildlife and modernize wildlife management. WWA envisions a Yellowstone ecosystem that leads the nation in exceptional, innovative and science-based wildlife management, fostering ecosystem health and a dynamic equilibrium among species throughout Wyoming. One of the group’s signature programs is its Jackson Hole Bear Solutions. Conserving the bear population while protecting the community, WWA offers expert bear-aware education and free or reduced cost bear-resistant garbage management. They promote proactive bear deterrent strategies that help prevent bears from becoming habituated to human food sources, while also raising awareness that bears’ natural food sources are being negatively impacted by climate change, such as the dwindling of cutthroat trout.
Protesters advocate for the protection of Wyoming wildlife.
Based in Wilson, WWA has been protecting wildlife through advocacy and scientific research since 2014. The women-led, two person staff and host of volunteers focus on numerous issues, including: defending grizzly bears’ federal protection under the Endangered Species Act; raising awareness about Chronic Wasting Disease spreading through elk and deer populations; and advocating for the removal of artificial elk feedgrounds that create unnaturally dense populations. WWA also challenges Wyoming’s 2017 wolf management policy that allows wolves to be shot on sight. They argue that such practices are both ethically unsound and ecologically destructive. Scientific research supports their position, revealing that indiscriminate wolf killing disrupts established pack structures. Such practices can actually increase wolf populations and potentially escalate human-wildlife conflicts. By destroying existing pack dynamics, the current management strategy undermines the natural ecological balance that wolves help maintain in the ecosystem.