I’m happy to share that I played a role in an ambitious and successful campaign by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC). Thanks to their efforts, nearly 1,600 acres of vital wildlife habitat adjacent to Yellowstone National Park is now safe from the threat of industrial gold mining.

Alongside over 1,200 other individuals and foundations, the Ricketts Conservation Foundation helped the GYC successfully raise $6.25 million to end a significant gold mining proposal along the Yellowstone boundary. This area provides vital habitat for many of Yellowstone’s iconic wildlife, such as grizzly bears, wolves, and the famous Northern Range elk herd. Crevice Mountain also lies within one of the few designated places outside the park where Yellowstone bison can roam.

Ultimately, the GYC’s goal is to transfer ownership of lands and mineral rights to the Custer Gallatin National Forest, making them accessible to the public and permanently protected from future mining through the mineral withdrawal enacted by the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, a law passed by Congress in 2019. As a dedicated conservationist, I’m proud to help this wonderful organization protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.