The National Resources Defense Council recently highlighted Grand Teton National Park’s successful efforts to curb human-bear conflicts

Here’s what they had to say:

“First, Grand Teton National Park deserves a gold star. The park has greatly increased its staff and sanitation efforts as grizzly bear colonize areas south of Yellowstone. Grand Teton has developed a Wildlife Brigade comprised of two seasonal rangers and volunteers who worked skillfully to handle 215 bear jams this year. “Bear jams” are caused by bears being close to a road, where they attract the attention of road-bound tourists. These jams can be very dangerous; it takes careful management to keep people from getting too close to bears and creating risky situations for both people and bears. While this figure pales by comparison with the number of bear jams in Yellowstone (926 this year, a new record), it was still up significantly up from what has occurred in Grand Teton in the past. In addition, Grand Teton Park put out 62 new food boxes and 2,000 food storage notices out at trailheads.

Grand Teton officials are also spearheading an important piece of new work, a social survey, to evaluate the effectiveness of Bear Aware messages. This is important, because no one has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the information and education efforts that bear managers have been pursuing for many years. And the results may show how communications can be improved to foster greater human safety in bear country.

Adding to Grand Teton’s credit is the way the Park handles its annual elk hunt. Unlike other parts of the ecosystem where hunting is allowed, the park has had relatively few grizzly-hunter conflicts, probably due to several factors. First, all hunters are required to carry bear pepper spray —in contrast to the adjacent national forests, where most of the hunter-related bear conflicts occur. Second, “calling” by hunters (so as to sound like an elk) is not allowed, which reduces the chance that a grizzly will be drawn towards what it thinks is an elk – only to bump into a person, sometimes at a dangerously close range. Third, there is no bow hunting season. Archery hunters are especially prone to problems since they tend to sneak around in the woods in camouflage, silent and scentless, where they can easily surprise a bear at close range.”

To view the entire article, please visit The Natural Defense Council’s Staff Blog at (http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/lwillcox/), article “Mounting Human-grizzly conflicts in Yellowstone: what can we do?”.

‘Tis the Season of Giving

Do you know someone who treasures Grand Teton National Park? Why not recognize their passion for this magical place during the holidays with a personalized bear box?

A gift of $1,100 funds a bear-resistant food storage box complete with a 3 x 5 inch stainless steel plaque to recognize the person you wish to honor. We will also send an irresistible stuffed bear with a card and information about why this campaign is so important. The Foundation has funded nearly 100 bear boxes, but 800 frontcountry campsites still need proper storage facilities. With increased visitation, the need for safe food storage is more important than ever.

Grand Teton is a place that restores us all—what better way to celebrate the season than to give back and give thanks for our park and its bears?

Youth Conservation Program: Season Five

Thank you to all who lent their time, support, and even their children to this exceptional program!

Last summer, teens from six states participated in the Youth Conservation Program, a Foundation- sponsored program that employs and educates 16 to 19-year olds for ten weeks in the park. The teens improve trails and historic sites under the guidance of veteran staff, and the unique hands-on experiences develop character and skills as well as instill stewardship and a conservation ethic.

Forty students applied in 2010; available funding allowed for 21 positions to be filled. Increasing interest from applicants and the demand for their work drives the program to continue to grow and evolve. In the five years since its inception, YCP teens have helped ensure Grand Teton’s magnificent trails will be in good condition for many generations to enjoy.

YCP at a Glance
8,000 hours of labor in 2010
32,000 hours of labor since 2006
80 teens hard at work since 2006

Corporate Gifts at Work in Grand Teton

Historically, Corporate America has been good to national parks, offering cash, in-kind gifts, and cause marketing partnerships that fund a wide range of valuable programs. As more companies understand the positive impact national parks have on our country and on the mental and physical health of our population, they see a way to creatively engage consumers while also showcasing their efforts—projects that benefit the environment, protect wildlife, and reconnect youth to the outdoors, to name a few.

This year, the Foundation has begun reaching out to this funding source to help make programs more sustainable and highly visible. Many thanks to our generous corporate supporters!


The Coca-Cola Company
A generous supporter of trail work in Yellowstone, the Coca-Cola Company has now come to Grand Teton to further the Foundation’s trail crew and multicultural program.

Counter Assault
The Montana-based company provides the Foundation with bear spray, storage canisters, and other in-kind gifts. The company is the lead supporter of a new bear spray canister recycling center in Yellowstone.

FedEx Corporation
A longtime supporter of national parks and other wilderness areas, FedEx Corporation funds wildlife research and protection as well as the youth trail crew in Grand Teton.

Grand Fishing Adventures
A local fly-fishing and scenic float outfitter, Grand Fishing Adventures’ gift supports the Foundation’s annual fund.

J Singleton Financial
Local financial-service specialists, J Singleton Financial provides the Foundation with event underwriting.

R&O Construction
A Salt Lake City-based construction company, R&O Construction’s gift benefits the upcoming auditorium.

Stewart Filmscreen
Stewart Filmscreen manufactures top-of-the-line screens for residential and commercial theaters. Their custom retractable screen will be featured in the upcoming visitor center auditorium.

Message from Grand Teton National Park, Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott

This past spring, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis requested that I step in to serve as acting director of the Intermountain Region for four months until a permanent director could be selected. Although it was difficult to leave Grand Teton, I was privileged to lead 6,000 NPS employees working across a vast and varied area that contains 92 park units, 230 national historic landmarks and more than 11,000 properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The region includes 11.1 million acres in eight western states and some of our most iconic places—Yellowstone and Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion, Arches and Canyonlands, Rocky Mountain and Glacier, Mesa Verde and Canyon de Chelly, Big Bend and Padre Islands, plus our very own Grand Teton. You can’t imagine the scope and management complexities of the Intermountain Region until you travel from Canada to the Mexican border as I did during my detail. Among the diverse opportunities that this new assignment gave me was the chance to examine how other parks and their partner organizations were faring; it also allowed me to reflect on the wide range and variety of partnerships that Grand Teton supports. Partners definitely help advance a particular park’s mission and move its long-term goals in a positive direction. Grand Teton could not accomplish some of its critical trail maintenance, visitor service, and wildlife conservation programs without your help.

The very week that I returned to Grand Teton, we conducted the largest search and rescue operation in the park’s history during a complex mission to save 17 climbers hit by lightning on the Grand Teton. This single event brought home in a very tangible way what an incredible team I have in this park. The coordinated and heroic efforts of park staff combined with Exum guides, Teton Interagency personnel and other organizations across Jackson Hole—especially the emergency doctors and medical team at St. John’s Medical Center—absolutely saved lives. This crisis situation demonstrated what extensive training and true cooperation can accomplish. I was reminded again how proud I am to serve with such a talented and dedicated group of professionals and how lucky this park is to receive the support of the Jackson Hole community, its organizations and agencies.

It’s been a rewarding and amazing past few months; however, we now turn our attention to the future. Director Jarvis recently challenged us to foster several key initiatives in the months and years ahead. His four main priorities—stewardship, relevance, education, and workforce—will guide our actions at the park level, as well as in the national arena. In support of Director Jarvis’ platform, we are looking for ways to inspire new stewards and foster the notion of conservation stewardship that is so vital for preserving our priceless resources. We will also take new steps to remain relevant in a digital age, increase diversity in our workforce, and reach out with innovative and compelling programs to enlighten and educate children and adults alike.

We take these next steps, knowing that our partners will join us in providing the support necessary to achieve these worthy goals.

Horace Albright Society

Creating conservation legacies today.

With thoughtful estate planning, you can help the Foundation provide innovative projects and programs in Grand Teton National Park for many generations.

It’s easy. Appreciated assets, life insurance, retirement accounts, or a gift through your will gives the Foundation a solid way to plan for the future.

 Contact Kim Mills at 307-732-4192 or visit www.gtnpf.org/horace.php for more information about the benefits of charitable estate planning.

Leslie’s column

I continue to be fascinated by the people I meet when I travel around the country. They care deeply about Grand Teton and a trip to Wyoming is their ultimate escape; the place where they can truly catch their breath before tackling life again. I’ve lived a few miles from the park for nearly twenty years, and like so many of the local park lovers I know, I’m still struck by Grand Teton’s incredible appeal. For everyone who dreams about the next good hike or the park’s stunning scenery during the morning commute, these mountains provide some of the best moments life has to offer.

One of my favorite park friends lived on the East Coast for most of the year but always had her heart firmly planted in the Tetons. Deborah Howell passed away last winter, and I thought of her and her husband often this summer as I explored the trails they’d hiked together. She was an amazing woman who thrived on reporting a good story, and she will long be revered in the newspaper world. Deborah remembered the Foundation in her will; her presence and kindness will be felt here, too, for a long time to come.


Estate planning is one of many ways our donors are assuring the park will have a bright future and its unique features will be accessible for everyone. In the six years I’ve been with the Foundation, I’ve watched our network of friends continue to grow as more people acknowledge the challenges parks face and choose to improve education, trails, and the experience of millions of people. With our most ambitious project coming to an end this spring—the completion of the visitor center—we’ll not only toast the auditorium’s opening, we’ll celebrating the people who love this park. Thank you all for making a difference in Grand Teton!

Stewardship Begins Early

One of the best parts about supporting the bear box campaign comes when you venture into the woods to see your gift in action. This summer, one of our youngest gift recipients, Max Ozbolt, did just that with his great grandfather who made the gift in his honor. When they found the bear box, campers were using it. This came as quite a shock to 3-year-old Max. He began to sob, believing they had stolen the box his great grandfather gave him. Here’s to a happier hike next time, Max!

Want a bear box of your own? Contact Andrea Deaton at 307-732-0629.

Making a Significant Impact Every Month

“We find that if you make a monthly gift throughout the year, it’s a lot easier than writing a large check at the end of the year.”
Holly and Carlos Ortiz, monthly donors for more than a decade

Join the Monthly Giving Club and put your dollars to work all year long for Grand Teton National Park. By setting up an installment plan, you spread out payments and eliminate the need for annual renewal notices, reducing the Foundation’s administrative costs.

How does it work?

Choose an amount you want to contribute every month, and it will be automatically deducted from your credit/debit card or your checking account. For more information or to download a membership form, visit www.gtnpf.org/join.php

An Inspired Visitor Will Change Grand Teton’s Future: Remembering Deborah Howell

“She loved the place and wanted to leave a lot of what she’d earned for the Tetons.”


For more than 30 years, the Tetons provided the backdrop for some of the best moments of Deborah Howell’s life. A groundbreaking journalist who retired as the Washington Post ombudsman in 2008, Deborah and her husband, Peter Magrath, spent two weeks of every summer on the shores of Jenny Lake. They explored the park’s trails, starting early every morning and savoring every step. “She knew the trails, she was my guide,” Mr. Magrath said. “This was her place.”

 The couple traveled the world, but it was the American West that captivated Deborah. Her enduring love of open spaces, mountains, and wildlife has now transformed into a gift that will help make Grand Teton the best place it can be—a bequest that the Foundation will one day use to continue special projects in the park.

 We all hope to be remembered in some significant way. While many set out to engineer the legacy they are eventually known for, others are destined for the history books because it’s simply who they are. A young newspaper editor at the Minneapolis Star in the 1960s, Deborah remains one of few women to have held the position of city desk editor. “She was a significant American journalist,” Mr. Magrath said. “She smashed the glass ceiling at a time when there were incredible prejudices against women.” Twenty years later, Deborah led the St. Paul Pioneer Press to win two Pulitzer Prizes. She later served as the first bureau chief of Newhouse News and will forever be remembered for paving the way for female journalists today.

 Deborah spent time in the company of things that mattered most to her. By including the Foundation in her will, she’s left the world another legacy that underscores her generosity, spirit of adventure and, most of all, her gift for inspiring others.

 Deborah Howell and Peter Magrath have been longtime supporters of Grand Teton National Park Foundation. Mr. Magrath currently serves as the interim president at Binghamton University in upstate New York.

From Boardroom to Backcountry

One trip to these mountains can change your life forever.  For some who come here, a dose of Teton inspiration leads to great things for the park.

In the mid-90s, Bill Baxter left Tennessee for a hike in the Tetons.  Captivated by that first experience, Bill returned with his family shortly thereafter and later, brought them back for the millennial New Year’s celebration.  They packed their champagne and trekked into the park to ring in a new century.  The night was freezing, but the memory of that special evening was one of many that continues to lead the Baxter family back to these iconic mountains year after year.  In 2004, Bill bought the Wort Hotel and has made it his business to keep Grand Teton National Park firmly in the hearts of guests ever since.

Bill called the Foundation shortly after his first trip to offer his support because he served on the Friends of the Smokies board and understood the positive impact the private sector can have on national parks.  “There’s something to be said for being able to make priorities happen in the park.”  For Bill and his wife, Ginger, the visitor center was the signature project they felt the park needed.

At the Wort, Bill initially sold bottled water and gave a portion of sales to the Foundation.  Now, the $1/night check-off program, an idea conceived by Clay James at Grand Teton Lodge Company to give guests a way to participate in park stewardship, is the Wort’s vehicle for supporting park programs. 

The NPS will always be short on funding for specialized projects and businesses are in an ideal position to make a difference.  In Bill’s view, it’s critical for Jackson companies to support Grand Teton.  “Number one, it’s the right thing to do.  It’s also an intelligent business decision; take care of the drawing card for your local economy.”  By partnering on programs, companies generate goodwill, infuse programs with cash to keep them running, and further the conversation about park challenges.  In a day of heightened awareness about our impact on resources, consumers want to protect wilderness, and they want to work with companies that share their commitment. 

For Bill and many other individuals who are park enthusiasts first and business owners second, a chance to be involved with one of America’s most iconic parks is a privilege beyond compare.  “The Tetons changed my life, it’s an awesome experience in the true sense of the word.  To support this great park—it’s something to be proud of.”

The Foundation thanks the many businesses that generously support innovative projects in Grand Teton.  For a complete list of our local and national corporate partners, visit www.gtnpf.org. Want to get involved?  Contact Leslie Mattson at 307-732-0629.

Reaching Beyond Borders to Protect Species Diversity

Migrations represent crown achievements of adaptation in the animal world and illustrate species’ natural shrewdness as they attempt to use seasonal resources in otherwise inhospitable environments.  Many examples of migration from Grand Teton National Park have been well documented:  short 20 to 60-mile local migrations of elk, moose, bison, and bighorn sheep; longer 75 to 150-mile regional treks of pronghorn and mule deer; and extreme flights of 2,500 miles or more by local red-tailed hawks to southern Mexico. 

Impressively, the now well-known Path of the Pronghorn, originally identified by park and Wildlife Conservation Society biologists, is used by about 300 pronghorn to complete the longest overland migration in the contiguous 48 states—Grand Teton National Park to Sublette County’s Green River basin.  These and other migrations, such as the wildebeest in Africa and gray whales in the Pacific Ocean, are revered wildlife spectacles.

Yet, despite their tremendous value, migrations have received little conservation attention, and losses continue to mount globally.  In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem alone, 75% of pronghorn migrations have already been lost, casualties of land development.  History has shown us that when animals migrate beyond the reaches of protected areas, like national parks, they are vulnerable.  In the case of pronghorn, delineating the migratory path through research resulted in several important conservation measures, including the first federally protected migration corridor in the history of the U.S. Forest Service.  The tie between science and conservation in this case is inextricable, and it provides a conservation model for animal migrations everywhere.  

Thanks to Foundation donors, park biologists are increasing their knowledge of animal migration with two new pilot projects.  The first kicked off in summer 2010 with the help of Craighead Beringia South, a local research and education institution, and will follow an osprey family from their summer home on Jackson Lake to their wintering grounds—likely in Central or South America—and back.  The real-time progress of these birds, fitted with super small, lightweight satellite radio transmitters, can be viewed here.  The second, planned for summer 2011, will follow mule deer from the high elevations of the northern Tetons in summer to their anticipated wintering areas in eastern Idaho and back.  Along the way, important movement corridors through private and public lands outside the park will be identified.

These movements form the cornerstone of migration conservation planning and the start of protection actions.  They are the beginning of a complicated route to success—one that involves many agencies, land owners, and competing interests that must work together to achieve a common goal.  Biologists will use these studies for long-term wildlife conservation planning specific to Grand Teton National Park.  In addition to providing park management with a basis for initiating discussions with stakeholders, these and other animal migration data from the park showcase the important relationship between protecting animal migrations and preserving species diversity in national parks around the globe.  In this way, even small but important local projects can have far-reaching benefits to national park units and the conservation of animal migrations in a broad range of geographical, environmental, and sociopolitical conditions.

Steve Cain

Senior Wildlife Biologist, Grand Teton National Park