“Freedom to Roam” – Grizzly bear in Grand Tetons National Park
I still vividly remember the first time I saw grizzly bears in the wild about 20 years ago. We were traveling through Yellowstone and spent most days looking for grizzlies. On our fourth day in the park, we saw a sow grizzly with three cubs on a hillside in Hayden Valley. They were too far away for photos, but we watched them through binoculars, which was the trip’s highlight for me. I got up early the following day again, and after being stuck with a bison herd surrounding the car for over a half hour, I returned to the site and watched the bears again. Bears have always been one of my favorite animals, but after this moment, they became my favorite wildlife, and I am so fortunate to have seen so many over the years.
The only reason I have been able to photograph them and see them almost every time I am in Yellowstone, Glacier, or Grand Tetons is because of their protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which allowed their species to recover. Grizzly bear recovery in the wild was challenging and took decades due to their slow reproduction rate, habitat loss, fragmented isolation, and human and bear-induced mortality. We may never see their species recover in the western United States if they lose their protection again. The ESA saved grizzly bears, bald eagles, gray wolves, California condors, American alligators, and more animal and plant species. It has a 99% success rate of protecting species from going extinct.
Now, the Trump Administration is on a terror ripping through the ESA and laws and regulations that protect land and marine species, our public lands, and national parks. Elon Musk and DOGE have fired 1,000 national park employees, over 3,400 forest service employees, and hundreds of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) employees. These agencies are already understaffed and critical to the success of our national parks, public lands, and wildlife protection. Now, they are going after laws created in the 1970s to protect species from extinction.
“Donald Trump’s administration, backed by House Republicans and Elon Musk’s Doge agency, are carrying out an attack on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and federal wildlife agencies that, if successful, will almost certainly drive numerous species into extinction, environmental advocates warn. The three-pronged attack is designed to freeze endangered wildlife protections to more quickly push through oil, gas and development projects, opponents say.” – Trump orders likely to drive species’ extinction, wildlife advocates warn, The Guardian, March 11, 2025
“An Uncertain Future” – Grizzly Bear siblings playing in Yellowstone
“Meanwhile, Doge’s cuts to the federal workforce, and Trump funding freezes, are already directly affecting staffing and the solvency of projects to preserve red wolves in North Carolina, ‘akikiki birds in Hawaii, and black-footed ferrets. Greenwald said staff at the fish and wildlife service have learned that the initial cuts that affected hundreds of jobs are just the beginning, and that Trump is planning to cut 40% of the staff. “What Doge is doing will result in species going extinct,” Greenwald said.” The Guardian, March 11, 2025
Daughter of famous 399, 610 crosses the road with her three cubs in Grand Teton National Park
Grizzly sow and cub in Yellowstone National Park
As a conservationist, it is somewhat overwhelming trying to keep up with all the changes happening so fast in the government. I am doing my best to protest, email my representatives, educate others, etc., but it has been challenging to keep up. I hope this list below gives you some idea of how you can help protect our wildlife and public lands. It will be a tough road, and I don’t know where this ends, but we have to keep fighting. I honestly cannot imagine my life these past 20 years without grizzly bears. I am so thankful to have shared them with my boys, and I hope they, too, can share them with their children. And while I focused on bears, this applies to all our wildlife. Once we lose it, we cannot get it back. Please do what you can to help.
Things you can do to fight to protect our species and lands:
- Sign the petitions at NPCA to protect and bring back critical workers and support our park staff
- Send an email to the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, as soon as possible at Secretary_of_the_Interior@ios.doi.gov asking that he reinstate illegally-fired works. Explain why national parks and protecting species matter to you.
- . Give to organizations fighting in court across states to protect critical habitats and species. The courts are one of our best options, and they have had the most success. The links take you to the “take action” pages where you can sign petitions and email legislators. Organizations I recommend:
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- Earth Justice
- Center for Biological Diversity
- Western Environmental Law Center
- NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)
- Pay attention to what is happening in your state and how you can help. Contact elected officials and make your voice heard. Send emails. Sign petitions.
- Peacefully protest—go and be a voice at your nearest park if possible—look for organized peaceful protests at our parks and national monuments.
- Educate others about the importance of our public lands and wildlife and what the Trump administration is doing quietly to get rid of all climate laws, remove protection for endangered species, privatize public lands, and more public firing of park and forest service staff.
- Speak up for your parks and wildlife: share social media posts from conservationists on your story and create your own posts that educate.
- Don’t give up. Take breaks and make sure you are taking care of yourself. This is going to be a long four years, and we need everyone to stay strong.
Sub-adult siblings a few days after their mother left them around age 2 1/2, Yellowstone