Photo: Joe Riis
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which spans 22 million acres of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. This region is home to some of the most abundant populations of large mammals in North America. Many of these animals are wide-ranging: they seasonally migrate or range outside national park boundaries onto other public lands and private working lands.
National parks play an important role in conserving biodiversity, yet many parks are too small to fully protect wide-ranging wildlife, such as grizzly bears, wolves, elk, pronghorn, and mule deer. Beyond park boundaries these species face threats, including habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and reduced tolerance among landowners who incur costs from wildlife on their property. These threats affect the ability of wildlife to move across the landscape and reduce wildlife populations.
In this research project, we are surveying visitors to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks about their views related to wildlife conservation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Survey data will be used to explore how those who benefit from wildlife conservation might contribute to conservation and conflict reduction beyond the areas in which wildlife is enjoyed.
Survey results will be shared with the National Park Service, conservation organizations, and policy makers who make decisions about conservation in and around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The results could ultimately influence future wildlife conservation policies in the region.
If you have further questions about the study or your participation, please contact Dr. Byerly Flint (hflint1@uwyo.edu).