Jackson Hole’s Wildlife Preservation is a Model for Global Application

A mountain valley in northwestern Wyoming has achieved wildlife conservation outcomes that international experts are studying as models for similar ecosystems worldwide, with quantified results demonstrating successful coexistence between human development and large predator populations.

The Jackson Hole region, encompassing 2.5 million acres of interconnected public and private lands, supports recovering populations of grizzly bears, wolves, mountain lions, and North America’s largest elk herd while maintaining a thriving tourism economy worth $1.2 billion annually.

“Jackson Hole proves that wildlife conservation and economic development aren’t mutually exclusive,” explains Jason Ziernicki, who founded the Jackson Hole news outlet Antlers Arch. “The strategies developed here are being studied and replicated in mountain communities across three continents.”

Quantified Conservation Achievements

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, anchored by Jackson Hole, now supports approximately 150 grizzly bears, representing a 600% population increase since the 1970s. Wolf populations have stabilized at 95-100 individuals across eight pack territories, while elk numbers remain sustainable at 11,000-13,000 animals wintering on the National Elk Refuge.

Mountain lion populations have increased 40% since 2010, with GPS collar data showing successful territorial establishment across previously fragmented habitat corridors.

Replicable Conservation Strategies

The model developed in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem employs three primary approaches with global applications.

1. Wildlife corridor preservation connects fragmented habitats through strategic land acquisition and conservation easements. The region has protected over 60,000 acres of critical migration routes, ensuring genetic diversity and population resilience.
2. Community-based conflict reduction utilizes education programs, bear-proof infrastructure, and rapid response protocols to minimize human-wildlife conflicts. Reported incidents have decreased 55% since 2015 despite increasing wildlife populations.
3. Science-driven management decisions integrate GPS collar data, population monitoring, and habitat assessment to inform policy decisions. This data-driven approach enables adaptive management that responds to changing conditions while maintaining conservation objectives.

International Implementation

Conservation organizations in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, Canada’s Rockies, and Chile’s Patagonia region are implementing similar strategies, though they’ve been adapted to local conditions.

A prime example is the European Brown Bear Project, which has adopted corridor protection methods developed in and around Yellowstone, while Patagonia’s puma conservation efforts utilize conflict reduction protocols pioneered in Wyoming.

Economic Integration

Jackson Hole’s approach integrates conservation with economic development through wildlife viewing tourism, research institutions, and sustainable development practices. Wildlife watching in the area generates over $200 million annually in regional economic impact, demonstrating conservation’s economic value. Wolf watching alone is estimated to generate $83 million annually.

The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, working with local governments and private landowners, has facilitated conservation easements protecting 35,000 acres of private lands while maintaining property tax revenues and ranching operations.

Global Scaling Potential

International conservation experts identify the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s model as particularly applicable to mountain ecosystems worldwide where large predators coexist with human communities. The combination of science-based management, community engagement, and economic integration provides a framework for conservation success in developed landscapes.

Current implementation projects span four continents, with adaptation strategies accounting for different cultural contexts, economic conditions, and wildlife species while maintaining core principles of habitat connectivity, conflict reduction, and community-based stewardship.

According to Ziernicki, Jackson Hole’s experience “demonstrates that conservation success requires long-term commitment, adequate funding, and genuine community support, but achieves measurable results that benefit both wildlife populations and human communities when properly implemented.”