Welcome - to the Gallatin Wildlife Association website.

We certainly hope you become more knowledgeable about GWA as you wander through the pages of our website. We are a small, but vocal non-profit organization located in Bozeman, Montana advocating for wildlife, their respective habitat, and migration corridors across southwestern Montana, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the northern Rocky Mountains. We advocate for wildlife and fisheries by utilizing science and the law. GWA, founded in 1976, has long recognized the intense pressures on our wildlife from habitat loss and climate change, and we advocate for science-based management of public lands for diverse public values, including but not limited to hunting and angling.   


To learn more about GWA, who we are, and what we've done: click here                                                      

A Note about the Election:

The recent death about Grizzly bear 399 is a sad tale, but unfortunately it seems to be indicative of the status of wildlife in our country. The fear that many citizens of this Nation have after this recent election is also real and poses a real threat to our society. Both story lines follow the same line of tragedy. That's true, however, if they were allowed to play out and nothing was done to change the trajectory. We can't undo the death of Grizzly Bear 399, but we can still fight to prevent that scenario from playing out in other environments and for other wildlife.


Many people are apprehensive about what is to come in terms of our natural world, our forests, our wildlife, and our climate. Those fears are real, but they are not insurmountable. But having said that, this is no time for people to sit on the sidelines, to give up, to become complacent as to what lies before us.


Everyone needs to do a little bit more, become a little more involved, and to become a lot more informed over the next four years. Already we have hints as to what is to come. 


- The election has altered the landscape on "Forest Health" -


Legislation that is in Congress right now will become more likely to pass such as "Fix the Forest Act", H.R. 8790. This new threat passed the House of Representatives with broad support, but it is a horrible piece of legislation, one that is the antithesis of what the name implies. Now that legislation moves to the U.S. Senate. More on that within this website, click here.


The NOGA amendment will be put on hold until the next administration comes into office, hopefully one more in favor of our environment. To move ahead now will almost certainly doom its future, possibly forever, due to the Congressional Review Act.


Another real threat is the ongoing lawsuit brought by the state of Utah to sue the Federal Government over the ownership of federal public lands. This effort will undoubtedly get more attention and support by conservative western states, counties, and NGOs to sell or transfer federal land over to the states. The incoming Administration will undoubtedly be in support of such action.


Folks, we cannot let up. There are even threats that the incoming administration will try and invoke oil and gas drilling on federal lands such as National Parks and Monuments, National Wildlife Refuges, and the list goes on and on.


We certainly urge all members and new members to come together, to do their part, to write your Congressmen and women, state officials, etc, etc, - whenever you are asked to do so. We also have the 2025 state legislature to begin their work in January of 2025. Please, we urge one and all to step forward to help protect wildlife. It is all of our responsibility. GWA is only as strong as our membership is active. 

We still have the lofty goal of protecting the Gallatin Range. The Hyalite-Porcupine Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area is long over due for that protection. The Gallatin Forest Partnership is making a play to undercut the existing Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo-Horn Wilderness Study Area by reducing the size of wilderness, to set much of the existing prime wildlife habitat aside for recreation. We must shout loud and clear, once again,


RECREATION IS NOT CONSERVATION!


We're living in a period of time that demands each of us to use our voice to speak out on behalf of wildlife, wilderness, and forest integrity. The appeal to write letters to the Chronicle, Senators Tester and Daines needed more than ever. See how you can help by becoming an advocate below.


We need to be mindful that one of the most fundamental environmental laws, the Wilderness Act, has just passed its 60 year old anniversary. Have we taken this law for granted? Are we still honoring that legacy today? When was the last time a piece of Montana wilderness legislation was passed before Congress?

Wildlife Need Connectivity -


As stated above with the caption, this is a rendition of a potential wildlife crossing right here in the Gallatin Valley on Hwy 191 near Gallatin Gateway. We must give credit to CLLC and Jacobs Engineering Group for this rendition, design, and work and for submitting the application for funding via the  Federal Highway Administration. GWA has agreed to donate some funds toward this effort to help secure the necessary funds.


If you agree, perhaps you would like to contribute to GWA so we can increase that potential of obtaining federal funds. At this point in time, we are just making the pledge that we will contribute; it all hinges upon the fact if this project is approved by the Federal Government. This area along the Gallatin Front is in dire need of wildlife protection as elk, deer and other wildife can use this corridor for free and natural movement without fear of becoming another highway statistic in wildlife/vehicle accident. It is our wildlife that are telling us that "Yes" this is their natural corridor. GWA wants to put our money (all donated by our contributors) where our mouth is. Thank you for our generous donors and members for allowing us to contribute as much as we have.



For More Information To Contribute

It is past time to

protect the Gallatins!


We urge all viewership to watch this 20 minute video produced by Adam Bronstein under the auspices of the Gallatin Yellowstone Wilderness Alliance, of which GWA is and has been a supporter and contributor. There is an alternative to the Gallatin Forest Partnership's proposal called Gallatin Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act (GYCRA). This is one proposal that should and needs to be considered in order to provide a better future for the wildlife and the ecological integrity of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The Gallatin Range:

An ecosystem truly in danger of losing its value as Wilderness! We must not let that happen!

Wildlife don't have a Voice in this Scenario.

We have been highlighting forest health in our more recent newsletters, but an issue which has been unresolved for decades, has gained more attention as of late and deservedly so. It is that concerning the future of the Gallatin Range. Events once again have seemed to spiral out of control,  something they seem to do quite often. 


The Gallatin Forest Partnership is making a play to undercut the existing Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo-Horn Wilderness Study Area (HPBH WSA) by reducing the size of wilderness and taking much of the existing prime wildlife habitat out of protection. See how you can help.


We Need Help in Keeping the Gallatin Range Wild as in True Wilderness!


We are asking all to help participtate in a letter writing campaign to write letters to the Bozeman Chronicle Opinion Page and to Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester urging them to support the minimal standard of wilderness, the HPBH WSA. The Gallatin Forest Partnership (GFP) is trying to undermine the existing HPBH WSA by minimizing the size and designating land uses toward recreation rather than leaving the existing land classification as wilderness. 


Make no mistake, the HPBH WSA has all the characteristics of true wilderness. In fact, there are an estimated 270,000 acres of potential wilderness lands within the Gallatin Range, but the GFP is only recognizing 102,000; leaving the remainder of landscape for potential recreation. This is exactly the opposite of what is needed.


Wildlife within the Gallatin Range are getting squeezed out from all of the increased recreation and visitation use. It is time, once again, to make our wishes known. Here are the links to Montana's Senator's web page and the Bozeman Chronicle to send a letter to the editor.


Bozeman Chronicle:

BDC - Letter to the Editor


Steve Daines:

https://www.daines.senate.gov/services/email-steve/ 


Senator Jon Tester:

https://www.tester.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/


Here are some bullet points to include as well.


Here is where the Gallatin Forest Partnership (GFP) wilderness proposal falls short compared to the current Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo-Horn Wilderness Study Area (HPBH WSA).


  • It has been determined that the GFP wilderness proposal will contain 102,000 acres compared to the current 155,000 acres.
  • There is an estimated 270,000 acres that could be designated within the Gallatin Range.
  • The GFP proposal leaves out two critical areas of the current HPBH WSA.
  1. Buffalo Horn Porcupine region and the West Pine.
  2. These two areas are designated as “Wildlife Management Areas” of which there has not been a previous designation that has been time-tested and there is no legal precedent.  
  3. Even though they say they limit recreational use, there are no assurances the Forest Service will do so or that they can be enforced. 
  4. The Buffalo Horn Porcupine region is prime habitat for elk and many other species such as grizzly bear, wolves, bighorn sheep and wolverine, species that do well with some seclusion.
  5. West Pine region offers a corridor, a very important corridor for wildlife to migrate to the north from the Gallatin/Yellowstone region of the GYE. To open this area up to the possibility of mechanized or motorized recreation could all but completely diminish the potential of wildlife, making that connection to the north via this well documented and scientific route.
  • At the northern most part of the Gallatin Range, the GFP have designated this area as the “Hyalite Watershed Protection and Recreation Area”. This designation would essentially make recreation the primary use for visitors, thereby once again, displacing wildlife and leaving very little chance for wildlife to safely inhabit this landscape.
  • The Gallatin Crest is run amok with those willing to exploit the landscape for personal enjoyment, without giving thought to the wildlife that inhabits the area. Wildlife needs more than just “rock and ice” landscapes for existence. The best wildlife habitat is found at the mid and lower elevations, of which many of those elevations have been removed away from the HPBH WSA. 

WRITE TODAY!

Register your Voice in Wildlife Protection:

Take this Survey -

GWA has joined forces with the Buffalo Field Campaign to support wildlife infrastructure at the Madison River Crossing at U.S. Hwy 191 south of West Yellowstone. The number of wildlife deaths and injury from wildlife/vehicle collisions (WVC)s has increased greatly over recent years. Wildlife are on the move and the crossing of mobile wildlife and vehicle traffic are becoming more and more problematic at this natural wildlife corridor, threatening the lives and property of our society in the process.


We're trying to judge and gain support from the local residents and the general public of this project, search out the science, and gain the necessary financing. We need all hands on deck as we work with fellow NGOs in the region trying to make progress in the mitigation of WVCs.


Please take this brief poll by either using the QR code or the link below and answer the few questions on this potential and future project. More information on our coalition, a coalition entitled the West Yellowstone Wildlife Crossing Coalition, can be found here.


Here is the link if you prefer. 


bit.ly/WildlifeCrossingSurvey

Montanans for Safe

Wildlife Protection: MSWP


Most of you should know, GWA has been involved with and are supporters of MSWP for several years now. Being as one representative on the MSWP Steering Committee, we try to propagate the energy and resources for wildlife infrastructure across the state of Montana.


Below is their most recent website:


Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage


There is much to do in this realm of establishing wildlife connectivity across highways and railways, etc. Please help out in any way you are able.



Link Button

Climate Forest

Coalition:


Another alliance that GWA is participating in is that of the Climate Forest Coalition, an organization of likeminded NGOs across the country that are trying to change forest policy. We're trying to promote policies of protecting mature and old-growth forests in order to preserve biodiversity, ecological integrity and to use our forests as a mitigative approach fighting climate change by carbon sequestration. Here is their link:


https://www.climate-forests.org/


There is much material here for references and they have already testified before Congress.


We urge all members to follow this group and follow us as we try to incorporate their strategy into ours as appropriate.

30 by 30: 
What's it mean to you? 

By the way, we received notification and acknowledgement from the U.S. Forest Service of our proposal. That was goal one - to inform them of the importance of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and to not forget the importance of the biodiversity and the potential of mitigating effects of climate change found in the region.

On January 27, 2021 President Biden signed Executive Order 14008, an order entitled “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad”. Within that order, President Biden has committed his administration (in Section 216) to a conservation goal of protecting 30 percent of land and 30 percent of ocean waters by 2030. According to Ryan Richards’ article: “Measuring Conservation Progress in North America” published in Center for American Progress, currently 12% of lands are protected, and 26% of ocean waters. Scientist believe that 30% is what’s necessary to fight climate change and protect species from extinction. Protected lands increase resilience to the impacts of climate change and better conserve the biodiversity of our lands. 

 - - - - - -

In the recent news, Governor Gianforte has told the Biden Administration they did not want to participate in the Admins proposal to help secure lands and waters to the objective goal of this program. See link here!


Montana Free Press - Amanda Eggert


To Learn More

This is why wildlife

connectivity is so important.


View this link and see how

this grizzly bear is wanting

to cross I-90.


The Link is here!



GWA's Facebook page is Going Strong!

Check us out - 

Thanks to Angelo Roman for managing our Facebook page.

GWA's Podcast on KGVM - 

Wildlife and Wilderness - 
take a listen!

After Christmas of last year (Dec. 30, 2020) Clint Nagel of GWA was fortunate enough to be interviewed by J. Shell, host of the program Wilderness and Wildlife on KGVM, 95.9 on the radio dial. 

 

Wilderness and Wildlife, presented by the Gallatin Wildlife Association, features discussions of issues involving the wildlife of southwestern Montana, and the wilderness habitat that makes this area appealing to adventurous people from around the country. You'll hear interviews with wildlife experts and naturalists reporting on species they have studied, which are threatened by the pressures of a rapidly growing populace in the Greater Yellowstone Region. 
 
For other shows presented, simply click the following.


The Gallatin Wildlife Association also produces the short Wildlife Capsules. 

Thanks to John Shellenberger for taking the initiative to establish this mechanism of outreach for GWA. 
Share by: