Archive - Wyoming Wildlife Federation

March 7, 2016

WWF Presents Tim Stephens of Worland with Conservationist of the Year Award

The Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF) selected Timothy D. Stephens as the Wyoming Wildlife Conservationist of the Year. WWF’s Executive Director Chamois Andersen presented Stephens with the award at the organization’s annual banquet March 5th at the Radisson Hotel in Cheyenne.
“We recognize Tim Stephens for his exceptional achievements toward Wyoming’s wildlife, and for championing cooperative working relationships with a variety of interests, including private landowners, state and federal land managers and NGOs,” says Andersen. WWF’s award recipient has been the voice of wildlife for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin. Throughout his 24-year career, he has consistently been tapped as a team member and team leader. “His expertise relative to wild ungulate ecology and habitat needs is renown across the state and region,” Andersen says.
Stephens has spear headed wildlife habitat improvements along the Absaroka Front and the Big Horn Basin, with treatments totaling more than 4,000 acres. He has been a member of the Big Horn Basin Sage Grouse Local Working Group and served as his BLM field office’s Threatened and Endangered Species Coordinator.
In 2000, WWF acknowledged Stephens’ contributions with its Habitat Conservationist of the Year Award, and in 2010 the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation recognized his excellence with their Elk Conservationist Award.
“Especially in these times of almost overwhelming demands being placed upon our natural resources, Tim Stephens is a strong, but reasoned voice for wildlife working from within our management agencies,” Andersen says.

February

Feb. 26 2016

WWF named National Wildlife Federation Affiliate of the Week

In honor of the its 80th Anniversary celebration throughout 2016, the National Wildlife Federation is recognizing Affiliate Partners in a special blog series that showcases the dedicated conservation efforts taking place across the country each day. Read more.
Feb. 24, 2016

U.S. House to Consider Bills to Take Away Public Lands

The U.S. House of Representatives will consider three bills that would take away vast stretches of national forests and other public lands across the country. Two of the bills would impact public lands in Wyoming. The bills, which will be heard in a meeting of the House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, represent an escalation of the political movement across the West to transfer America’s public lands to the states. Wyoming Rep. Cynthia Lummis has a seat on this committee.
Please contact Rep. Lummis today and say vote “NO” on these land grab bills. SEND EMAIL: http://lummis.house.gov/contact/ (select “public lands” under issue field); or call toll free (888) 879-3599 and leave your name and Wyoming town.
On Feb. 12, the Wyoming Legislature heard strong opposition from WWF members and other sportsmen and women who helped defeat two bills that aimed to facilitate a state take-over of public lands in Wyoming. Please email or call Rep. Lummis today.
We must work TODAY to stop this congressional attempt. Here are the bills:

(HR 3650) Rep. Don Young from Alaska (R), would allow any state to seize control and ownership of up to 2 million acres of national forests within its borders — an area nearly the size of Yellowstone National Park. A state would then be able to auction off the lands to private ownership or for mining, logging, and drilling.
(HR 2316) Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID), would give states and counties the right to take direct control of up to 4 million acres of national forests across the country for clear-cut logging, without regard to environmental laws and protections.
(HR 4579) Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), would turn over what the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance estimates to be 6,000 miles of road right-of-ways on U.S. public lands to counties in Utah, opening the door for road construction and development in protected Wilderness areas.

Read more about this issue: Public Land Grabs Move from States to Congress

Feb. 21, 2016

Sportsmen Want Public Lands to Stay Public

Read the opinion column by WWF President Dave Moody, published in the Casper Star-Tribune.
Feb. 12, 2016

Public Lands Bills Dead on Arrival

The fierce opposition to the public lands transfer bills paid off. HB 126 on public lands access failed 52/7, and the public lands transfer bill, HB 142 did not even make it to introduction, house leaders closed down the hearing for all new bills. Thank you for contacting your representatives about these bills. It really made a difference!
Feb. 11, 2016

Wyoming House Bills Aim to Take Away America’s Public Lands

One of the greatest threats facing sportsmen today is this radical idea in the American West to “transfer” millions of acres of federal public lands — owned by all Americans — to the states. Wyoming legislators are forging a path to take over public lands for the state to manage, develop and potentially sell.
Two Wyoming House bills will be introduced this week that would do the following:
– HB 142 – Transfer of federal lands. This bill proposes to seize our public lands in Wyoming and sets up a process for the sale of those lands.
– HB 126 – Public land access. The bill is an attack on public lands management, including the protection of streams and wildlife habitat.
Major points in opposition:

These lands belong to all of us and already support a vibrant outdoor recreational economy for Wyoming.
The state of Wyoming does not have the resources to manage these additional lands without selling or leasing them for development.
Public lands transfers would mean locking the public out of areas that hunters, anglers and others have enjoyed for generations.
U.S. Congress has the only legal authority to transfer federal lands. However, this has not stopped states from setting the stage for this to happen.
The motivation for these lawmakers is transferring public lands to the states means these lands will not be subject to federal processes for regulating and managing these lands, including environmental review and impact processes.

“Transferring public lands to the states, now being considered by Wyoming, would essentially put them on the fast track for energy and mineral development,” says WWF Board President Dave Moody. “Without that federal ownership and designation, the states could do what they want when it comes to how these public lands could be managed, and this means decreasing their values when it comes to wildlife, habitat and recreation.”
Please respond to this email with your comments. Do you support the large-scale transfer of public lands to the state of Wyoming?
Please email your Representative today and ask them to vote “NO” on HB142 and HB126 scientifically manage Wyoming’s wildlife.
Wyoming House of Representatives email addresses: Send your message.

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Feb. 8, 2016

Mountain Lion Trapping Bill is Ill-Conceived

The Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF) opposes legislation that ignores science and undermines the professional management of Wyoming’s mountain lion resource. House Bill 12 will be introduced this week in the Wyoming House of Representatives.
This legislation seeks to legalize the trapping and snaring of mountain lions. A few state representatives claim this measure is necessary to protect declining mule deer herds from predation.
WWF works for science-based management of Wyoming’s wildlife and their habitats. The best science from our wildlife agency and university biologists — through extensive mule deer and predator research — shows no evidence that lions are causing a decline in mule deer populations.
The indiscriminate trapping and snaring of mountain lions is not a scientifically sound management practice and could actually be detrimental to the population. Instead, we should be focusing on restoring suitable habitat for mountain lions and the wildlife they rely on for prey, including deer and elk.
The Wyoming legislature convenes Monday, February 8th, and an initial vote on HB12 is expected this week.
Please email your Representative today and ask them to vote NO on HB12 and scientifically manage Wyoming’s wildlife. Find contact information at http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LegislatorSummary/LegislatorList.aspx
Below are a few points to incorporate in your note about the legislation that can be reviewed at https://legiscan.com/WY/text/HB0012/2016
Thank you for speaking up!
Important considerations of the bill:

Research and monitoring by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) and the University of Wyoming Coop Unit does not indicate that mountain lion predation is limiting mule deer populations. Numerous studies in other western states have resulted in similar conclusions.
Populations are in decline because of habitat fragmentation and degradation.
Trapping and snaring of female lions with young will result in their kittens being left behind to starve.
The large traps and snares that would be needed for lions will also capture, maim or kill pronghorn, deer and elk, domestic pets and livestock.
WGFD already has effective tools in place to manage and harvest mountain lions. The WGFD has increased harvest in recent years; one reason for this increased harvest is due to decreased ungulate populations.
The most common method of harvest with the use of trained dogs allows for selectivity relative to gender and age. Snares and traps are not selective and could indiscriminately kill currently protected females, leaving behind their dependent young.
Common patterns of trapping and snaring would result in unintentional taking of lions over harvest limits, which will lead to exceeding mortality limits.

Learn more about HB 12 and why WWF opposes its passage.

January 2015

WWF 2015 Annual Report Published

The Wyoming Wildlife Federations’s 2015 Annual Report is available for viewing and download. The report looks back on past achievements and presents future plans, such as the Wyoming Public Lands Initiative.

December 2015

Annual Banquet and Fundraiser

It is that time of year when big game animals have come down to the lower elevations to make a living. Big game will inhabit their critical winter range until spring appears. At about time with many animals begin the journey back to their summer ranges, WWF will be holding its annual fundraiser banquet. Income from this event will help WWF continue its work to protect these essential links between big game winter and summer ranges, as well as working on many other wildlife and sportsperson issues.
Get your tickets now for the 2016 Wyoming Wildlife Federation Banquet and Fundraiser, scheduled for March 5 at the Radisson in Cheyenne. The evening affair is a great opportunity to celebrate WWF with other sportsmen and women, while supporting your organization which is dedicated to wildlife conservation and our hunting and angling heritage. Enjoy a formal dinner and participate in a live auction for some high-end sporting gear, wildlife art and other hot-ticket items. The night will also host a silent auction and games. Reserve your tickets today by calling 800-786-5434 or online at www.wyomingwildlife.org.

WWF Names New Executive Director

Laramie resident Chamois Andersen has been named the new Executive Director of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF), the oldest and largest hunting and fishing advocacy and conservation organization in the state. Andersen replaces Steve Kilpatrick, who served as director beginning in 2012, will continue working for the organization as Field Scientist. She previously worked in communications for wildlife agencies in California and Colorado, and for the University of Wyoming’s environment and natural resources program. “Her blend of high-level business experience, scientific writing, and her background with game and fish agencies and nonprofits made Chamois an incredibly skilled and seasoned candidate to lead WWF,” says Dave Moody, president of the WWF board.

November 2015

Board members Janet Marschner and Reg Rothwell, along with Field Director Joy Bannon and Field Scientist Steve Kilpatrick attended the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission meeting in Laramie in early November. Steve and Reg testified in favor of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s proposed revisions to its migration definition in its seasonal range definitions. They also presented testimony in support of the management recommendations that the department is recommending in association with the definitions. WWF has advocated and has participant in the migration definition revisions, a process that has been going on for two years. WWF will continue to work with Game and Fish on this important issue.
Board members Janet Marschner and Reg Rothwell and Field Scientist Steve Kilpatrick attended the forum entitled “Sustaining Big Game Migrations in the West: Science, Policy and People” at the University of Wyoming on November 9-10 in Laramie. Steve was a member of the panel on the Red Desert to Hoback Mule Deer Migration Case Study. WWF has been working with the Wyoming Migration Initiative and on the Red Desert to Hoback Mule Deer Migration Corridor initiative and will continue in this capacity.
WWF was requested by the Western Governors’ Association and by Governor Matt Mead’s office to participate in the Wyoming Workshop of the Western Governors’ Species Conservation and Endangered Species Act Initiative. The workshop, held November 12 and 13, was to discuss implementation of the ESA and to gather information to create an action plan to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the ESA. This is one of several workshops of this type that will be held around the West. Board member Janet Marschner represented WWF at the workshop.
WWF’s Business Administrator, Dot Newton, attended the NWF’s national (chiefs) meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The meeting included several presentations and sessions on communications, priority issues and membership.

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