Wyoming has seen a rapid increase in outdoor recreation in recent years, and biologists are uncovering new details about how people are impacting wildlife health.

Using motion-triggered speakers and trail cameras, researchers are capturing what happens when wild animals hear humans.

Meghan Riley, public lands and wildlife advocate for the Wyoming Outdoor Council, said hikers or mountain bikers frequently enter what's called a "zone of influence" along a trail, which is especially stressful in winter months.

"An animal might hear or smell you, and bolt, and you might not even see that has happened," Riley explained. "It might not look like a big deal, but that animal is expending energy at the time of year when it most needs to conserve energy."

People making noise in wild spaces can lead to habitat fragmentation, and animals on constant high alert are more stressed and spend less time feeding. The U.S. Forest Service is collecting data on how human sounds affect animals calling the Bridger-Teton National Forest home as it considers revisions to its land management plan.

Riley pointed out the research is important for land and wildlife managers working to ensure Wyoming's wild spaces do not become "loved to death." Earlier this year, state lawmakers created a trust fund to finance recreation infrastructure. Riley added officials can tap the findings as they consider where to install new trails and campsites.

"I think there's a way to make sure that people have the access to the outdoors that they need to thrive, but do it in a way that is intelligent and protective of the wildlife resources that we all cherish," Riley emphasized.

Riley noted officials can also ensure wildlife are getting a break from human disruptions through brief seasonal closures in key areas and at specific times of year.

"Trying to keep people out of big game winter range," Riley suggested. "Or in the summer, when animals are having their babies, keeping people out of nesting areas, places where calves are being born."


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Conservation groups are celebrating a long-fought battle to protect the dwindling population of wolverine in the Northwest and northern Rockies.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced wolverine warrant being listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. There are about 300 left across the Northwest and northern Rockies.

Bethany Cotton - conservation director at Cascadia Wildlands - said the effort to protect wolverine began more than two decades ago.

"It's literally been 20 years of advocacy," said Cotton, "to ensure that these climate-sensitive species receive the protections they need and can get on the road to recovery."

Fish and Wildlife has seesawed on the question of protecting wolverine. Last year, arguing against listing, the state of Idaho said conservation efforts had restored the species to a stable population.

The listing was published today and opens up a 60 day public comment period on the interim rule.

Cotton said listing the species as threatened is a great first step but adds that trapping is a major threat to wolverine that could be allowed to continue under this rule.

"It also has language that allows some activities," said Cotton, "and unfortunately, one of the things in that interim rule is allowing for take or harming or killing wolverine in trapping."

Cotton said the science has been clear that wolverine need safeguards.

"Now, we need to make sure that those protections are meaningful," said Cotton, "that they're followed by state and federal entities, that we get a recovery plan and critical habitat, and that we really do protect these really amazing animals."




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It might not make hearts skip a beat like the sight of a Monarch butterfly or gray wolf, but biologists say a rare flowering New Mexico plant nonetheless deserves endangered species protection.

Inclusion of the swale paintbrush is under consideration by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Michael Robinson, senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the plant historically grew at several Southwestern sites but climate change and excessive grazing have taken their toll.

"We're talking about an extraordinarily arid area in the Bootheel of New Mexico -- it's Chihuahuan Desert -- it's got its own stark beauty," Robinson observed. "But when you see a relatively tall, graceful plant it provides a whole new perspective on the landscape."

He noted the swale paintbrush is one of the rarest plant species in North America. After accepting public comments over the summer about adding the plant to the endangered list, it is now under consideration for inclusion. Should it move forward, the Fish and Wildlife Service will have to develop a recovery plan.

Robinson pointed out the swale paintbrush, also known as the glowing Indian paintbrush, has bright yellowish flowers which produce nectar and support pollinators. Its rarity means not much is known about habitat requirements, but it's generally found in seasonally wet grasslands.

"The Fish and Wildlife Service has had its eye for decades on the need to protect the swale paintbrush, but just always found some reason not to do it," Robinson stressed. "Which is the sad reality for so many imperiled plants and animals that need protection sooner rather than later."

A 2022 study found protections offered by the Endangered Species Act often kick in too late to fully recover declining species. Published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers found over the past three decades, species remained on waiting lists for protection far longer than the Endangered Species Act intends.


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The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is moving forward with the Sublette Pronghorn migration corridor designation process.

Josh Metten, Wyoming field manager with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said the move is an important step to protect key spots along the iconic route between Rock Springs and Grand Teton National Park.

That includes places where animals get corralled and funneled into bottlenecks, and places herds recover from winter by hunkering down to feed on green-up vegetation.

"It's really important for the whole herd, but especially females that are getting ready to have their fawns," said Metten. "So making sure that there is appropriate management of development in these high priority areas, like stopovers and bottlenecks."

A recent threat evaluation released by Game and Fish found that the corridor is at "high risk" of being lost due to human activity.

In just the past three years, high priority areas saw developments - including a 3,500 well gas field, a state gas auction leasing 640 acres for $19 an acre within a known bottleneck, and more subdivisions - according to Wyofile.

Metten said he believes protecting the corridor is not an either-or proposition.

Thanks to advanced GPS collar data tracking herd movements, he said all stakeholders can sit down at the same table and find ways to accommodate multiple uses of adjacent lands - including energy production, housing development, and increased access to outdoor recreation.

"These are all things that we can still have on the landscape, if we do it right," said Metten. "Using a science-based approach to identify what are the most important areas to conserve, and we set appropriate limits in areas that are needed."

Public meetings are set for this Thursday in Pinedale, November 29 in Green River, and November 30 in Jackson. The agency will accept public comments through January 5.

Metten said enjoying wildlife like the Sublette Pronghorn herd is a big reason why hard-working families are proud to call Wyoming home.

"We're thankful to Gov. Gordon and the staff and Wyoming Game and Fish Department," said Metten, "for their commitment to ensuring that this irreplaceable wildlife resource is sustained into the future."