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!