Safeguarding people, pets, and wildlife, Wyoming Untrapped (WU) has been tackling the dangers of trapping on public lands, especially near popular recreation areas, since 2012. With over 100 pets reported injured or killed by traps and snares in Wyoming, and traps set close to trails where families hike, the need to value, protect and coexist with wildlife has never been so critical. WU informs the public about the hazards of inhumane trapping practices, encourages wildlife management agencies to modernize the state’s outdated regulations, and mobilizes citizens to advocate for safer outdoor spaces and stronger regulations, particularly in areas where families and pets are most at risk. The warming climate, reduced snowfall, and longer, hotter summers are stressing the health of the landscapes, and the ability for wildlife to roam freely and access safe habitats is becoming more difficult. Surrounded by Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge, WU is committed to addressing these challenges by advocating for all species in a changing environment.
Photo Source: Wyoming Untrapped Facebook video January 27, 2025
Wyoming Untrapped is a small, but mighty grassroots organization, making a significant impact in the region — and beyond. With a staff of one, a network of volunteers, and a vast social media following, the group has helped create trap-free zones on public lands, developed educational workshops that have saved dozens of pets, and documented over 200 trapping incidents that have informed policy. They’ve secured three county-level trapping regulations, established buffer zones near popular trails, and pushed for stricter trap-check times. Through initiatives like “Awareness Through Art” and “Engagement Through Film,” they’ve reached thousands, using sculpture, poetry, film, and a recent two-wall mural, “Wild Journeys,” to highlight the critical role each species plays and how unlimited trapping adversely affects all. On the advocacy front, WU is currently opposing Wyoming’s House Bill 0286, which threatens protections for mountain lions, allowing unrestricted trapping and snaring and undermining the role these apex predators play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Wild Journeys, a mural series in downtown Jackson Hole, brings together stories of Wyoming’s native wildlife and pathways they take across the landscape of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The project is a collaboration with Wyoming Untrapped, Yellowstonian, an initiative of the nonprofit Artemis Institute, and artist Helen Seay. Photo Source: WU website