The west slope of the Tetons provide premium habitat for bighorn sheep, nesting raptors, and other wildlife — but newly approved development on public land here is likely to make their lives much more difficult. That’s a key impact of Grand Targhee Resort’s expansion plan, which the Caribou-Targhee National Forest approved in early June.

The collaborative Migratory Big Game Initiative increases voluntary conservation and restoration in priority wildlife corridors. What began as a pilot effort has grown into one of the most successful public-private conservation partnerships in the West, with hundreds of thousands of acres of land enhanced to support some of Greater Yellowstone’s most crucial habitat and migration routes. Additional investments have supported wildlife-friendly fencing, habitat restoration, and other conservation practices that improve conditions for migratory wildlife.

Over the last three years, GYC worked closely with our partners and private landowners on Crevice Mountain to ensure the successful transition of land and mineral rights from private ownership to public stewardship. Now we are celebrating 161 acres of new public land in Montana through two transfers: a 148-acre Crevice Mountain Mining Company parcel and the 13-acre Emma parcel.

In February 2026, we witnessed the largest-ever rehoming of Yellowstone bison to tribes. In all, 213 healthy bison – or buffalo – made the 470-mile journey from the park to Fort Peck.

The Greater Yellowstone Coalition opposes the federal executive order and resulting actions that have removed or altered historical signage and interpretive content at national parks and historic sites across the country, including within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Virtual fence is an emerging technology with the potential to transform livestock management and wildlife conservation. To support adoption of this innovative tool, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition has released a new Virtual Fence Resource Guide that consolidates information on funding opportunities, use cases, and available virtual fence vendors. 

For more than 40 years, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition has worked to ensure grizzly bears thrive across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This past year, your support made a real difference. Across the ecosystem, we advanced conflict-prevention strategies, strengthened partnerships with agencies and communities, and invested in practical tools that help people and bears thrive on shared landscapes. 

We recap our 2025 favorite conservation moments and wins in Greater Yellowstone.

When the Roadless Rule was adopted in 2001, it followed one of the most robust public engagement processes in U.S. history. In stark contrast, the USDA initiated the current rescission process in August with a 21-day comment period and no public meetings. 

Before decisions are made that could permanently alter these irreplaceable landscapes, the American public deserves a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

Conserving the vast Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem often starts small. It begins with a conversation, a question, or the spark of an idea that grows into something much larger. That’s exactly what happened to Idaho sixth grader Olivia Nance. What started as a school research project on bison turned into a heartfelt effort that raised nearly $400 to support their conservation. 

A recent water quality study by researchers at Brigham Young University–Idaho found that streams near the Kilgore Gold Exploration site are highly sensitive to acid pollution, underscoring the risks that a potential open-pit, heap-leach cyanide gold mine could bring in this area.

Beaver dams slow water, create wetlands that store rain and snowmelt, recharge groundwater, filter out sediment, and provide critical habitat for Greater Yellowstone’s wildlife. In short, beaver activity makes landscapes more resilient to a changing climate—benefits Montana needs now more than ever.