Be Aware. Be Inspired. Be a Voice for the Wild.

Your voice helps protect wildlife and the wild places they call home.
Join the movement—by contributing or staying informed.
Be part of Mangelsen conservation community and help shape a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Current Efforts to Protect the Wild

A Call to Conserve: Keeping Public Lands Wild and Ensuring Humane Treatment for All Creatures

By Thomas D. Mangelsen Imagine a classic Western movie or TV show—one that falls under the genre of “cowboys and Indians”—but with no horses in the scenes. Imagine “ranching culture” without equines. Imagine how different the navigation of the West would have been without horses. Imagine how different life would be for the two million Americans involved with raising and riding their beloved horses. Now, let me take you into the heart of a controversy that isn’t going to end anytime soon. It involves three topics near and dear to my heart: the importance of public lands, keeping them ecologically healthy, and the humane treatment of other non-human sentient beings. While some folks argue whether the horses roaming free across the open rangelands of the West are “wild,” “feral,” or

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A Call to Conserve: Keeping Public Lands Wild and Ensuring Humane Treatment for All Creatures

A Note From Tom Mangelsen in Recognition of Endangered Species Day

Among the pandemic of misinformation swirling out there involving entities trying to gut federal agencies, sell off public lands, leaving public employees traumatized and weakening environmental laws, is this claim: that the Endangered Species Act is dysfunctional and needs to be radically overhauled.

Today, on Endangered Species Day and as we move into the weekend, I want to offer a rebuttal. With so many hard-to-save species, the Endangered Species Act actually has more than done its job well. I am referring here to grizzly bears, wolves and bald eagles in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies. Without the ESA, we would not have these species today in such numbers. That’s a fact verified by science. Having grizzlies and wolves present has also been a boon for our nature tourism economy. The challenge facing us now is to mess up a good thing.

An issue of huge concern to me is the push to remove grizzlies in the Lower 48 from their federal protected status as “threatened” under the ESA and handing management over to states so that bears can be hunted for sport and fun again. In fact, grizzlies in Greater Yellowstone are facing many challenges that make their future less secure— not more promising. The biggest threat is a lot more people developing private lands and outdoor recreationists invading the backcountry. Both are displacing bears and many others species from the secure habitat they need to persist. In the case of private land development, the impacts are permanent.

My friend, the journalist Todd Wilkinson with Yellowstonian, has written this fascinating story about how it’s possible to remove grizzlies from their classification under the Endangered Species Act yet keep them permanently protected. It’s an idea that is picking up a lot of steam and it would enable biological recovery to continue. The gist is that we might find a way forward

based upon how we have approached conservation of our national symbol, the bald eagle.

I hope you will give this a read and share it with your friends. Happy Endangered Species Day. May the spirit of it be present every day.

Do Bald Eagles Provide A Way Forward For Thinking About US Grizzly Bear Recovery? – Yellowstonian

Protect Our Parks

Let’s Stand Together—Not Just Today, but Always.

This is not just a moment in time. It’s a movement.

Our National Parks and the wildlife that call them home—like Grizzly 399 and her descendants—need more than admiration.

They need our voices, our action, and our commitment.

The pressures on these wild places are growing- from reduced staffing in our parks to increased threats to vital habitats.

If we remain silent, we risk losing the very soul of our natural heritage.

Find a rally near you and learn how to get involved.

“Thank you for being a voice for our National Parks”
– Thomas D. Mangelsen

A Tribute to Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons

Join us in honoring the incredible journey of Grizzly 399, matriarch and Queen of the Tetons. Together, we can make a difference in protecting our wildlife and their habitats.

The most famous population of grizzly bears in the world lives in the ecosystem that encompasses Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and the most visible queen of all has been Grizzly 399. During her long life of 28 years, with cubs at her side, she has navigated the intersection between wilderness and people. Her harrowing journey has changed the way tens of millions of people around the globe think of both grizzlies and conservation.

Over the past two decades, legendary nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen has been tracking Grizzly 399 and her cubs, compiling more than one million photos along the way. Tom hopes his images and stories (co-written with conservation author Todd Wilkinson) brings the importance of 399 and the plight of American grizzlies into focus in a way that will move your heart and inspire you to join the army of advocates who want to keep this region of public lands, which belongs to all of us, forever safe and wild.

With thousands of requests for this specific calendar, combined with the growing concern for grizzly conservation and the profound respect for Grizzly 399, we decided to act swiftly to bring this project to life.

“I can’t think of anything better than to have something in the town of Jackson that will be a fitting memorial for her for generations to come and be a reminder of the importance of grizzly conservation and protection. Awareness and education is key to making this happen – Grizzly 399 did not have to die”.

A portion of the proceeds of this calendar will go towards the memorial, while the other portion will go towards actively protecting grizzlies with other conservation efforts.

Celebrating the visionary lens that inspires us to see, understand, and take action for our natural world.

Our dedication to wildlife conservation is driven by a profound love for nature and a responsibility to safeguard its wonders. Protecting wildlife and their habitats ensures that the beauty, diversity, and stories of the natural world endure for generations to come.

Get Involved

Where Your Donations Make a Difference

Your contributions will directly support vital conservation projects and education. Together, we can honor and protect wildlife and their habitats.

A Lasting Tribute to Grizzly 399

We are honored to share plans for a memorial in Jackson, Wyoming, dedicated to the life and legacy of Grizzly 399, the world’s most beloved bear and the enduring Queen of the Tetons.

With your support, we are working alongside different Jackson entities to create a meaningful space where people can gather to reflect, celebrate her extraordinary life, and learn more about grizzly bear conservation. This memorial will stand as a tribute to her impact — not just as an iconic wild mother, but as a symbol of what’s at stake in the fight to protect wildlife and wild places.

Your generosity is helping bring this vision to life.

👉 [Donate Now]
Be a part of honoring Grizzly 399’s legacy and help ensure her story continues to inspire generations to come.

Why Your Participation Matters

Our National Parks and public lands are not only places of beauty and recreation — they are vital sanctuaries for wildlife. From ancient forests to alpine meadows, these landscapes provide critical habitat for countless species, including the iconic grizzly bear.

Today, many of these protections are at risk. Efforts to delist grizzlies from the Endangered Species Act could open the door to trophy hunting, threatening decades of recovery. At the same time, budget cuts and development pressures jeopardize the health of our parks and the ecosystems they support.

Your donation helps safeguard these wild places, advocate for science-based conservation, and ensure that future generations can experience the wonder of thriving parks and wildlife.

The Silent Tragedy of America's Cougars

End Sport Hunting of Cougars

In this video, members of The Cougar Fund Board share their insights on why the sport hunting of cougars threatens the future of these essential predators — and why it must come to an end.
*This video contains graphic footage of a mountain lion being killed by a hunter.

The Thomas D. Mangelsen Wildlife Fund is proud to share this important message in the spirit of public education, which lies at the heart of our mission: to raise awareness, inspire advocacy, and promote the protection of wildlife and wild places.

Learn more about how you can help protect cougars and advocate for lasting change by visiting the Take Action page:
🔗 www.cougarfund.org/takeaction

Your voice matters. Together, we can stand up for America’s wild cougars — and the ecosystems that depend on them.

Our Partners In Nature

Conservation is stronger when we stand united. Meet the remarkable partners working alongside Tom to protect wildlife and wild places. 

Address:

10152 L Street Omaha NE 68127

Contact:

(800) 228-9686 ext 519
conservation@mangelsen.org