Wildlife Campaign Success Stories

The National Parks conservation Association has a long history of working to protect the wildlife of our national parks. NPCA championed its first major park issue 90 years ago. In December 1919 NPCA advocated for the Park Service provide food for the elk that live inside Yellowstone during the winter, to prevent the elk from wandering outside the park in search of food and being killed by hunters. We are proud to continue our wildlife protection work today. Here are some of our recent wildlife successes:

Protecting the Brown Bears of Katmai National Park
In 2007, NPCA generated over 11,000 letters in support of closing 92,000 acres of state land within the boundaries of Katmai National Park to brown bear hunting. NPCA’s Alaska office coordinated a comprehensive Katmai bear protection plan. The effort was successful in halting the plan to open 92,000 acres of state-owned land in Katmai National Park to bear hunting for the first time in 20 years.

Ensuring the Buffalo National River Runs Freely
NPCA blocked proposals for a dam on Bear Creek, a tributary to Buffalo National River, one of the country's last remaining free-flowing rivers and important habitat for many freshwater species, especially mussels. An important legal precedence was established thereby providing watershed-wide protection of national wild and scenic rivers that extends beyond National Park boundaries.

Reintroducing the Fisher to Olympic National Park
In December 2008, the Fisher, a member of the weasel family, has been successfully re-introduced to Olympic National Park. “Our hope is that the successful reintroduction of the fisher can be used as a model for the future return of other historically present species in Olympic National Park,” said David Graves, NPCA Northwest Field Representative. “NPCA is currently looking at other species we believe should be returned to national parks in the Northwest. Starting with the fisher is a good beginning.” Learn More > >

Creating a Corridor for Bison
NPCA, Along with other conservation groups and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks negotiated a 30-year agreement with the Royal Teton Ranch to end cattle grazing on the ranch and to create a vital corridor that will allow Yellowstone bison to reach critical Gallatin National Forest winter range north of the park.
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Protecting Pronghorn Antelope Migration
NPCA has worked to secure a dedicated pronghorn antelope migration corridor across public lands to preserve migration into Grand Teton National Park. The corridor includes Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, and the National Elk Refuge. The Bureau of Land Management also removed 9,000 acres of land proposed for oil and gas leasing from a crucial portion of the migration corridor through an area called Trappers Point. Cooperative work continuing with oil and gas companies and private landowners to preserve key parcels along migration with conservation easements. Learn More >>

Wolf Delisting
NPCA is hoping for a victory on the wolf delisting issue. The Obama Administration may throw out the Fish and Wildlife Service wolf delisting rule and return wolves in Montana and Idaho to the endangered species list until adequate protection for the subpopulation in Wyoming and other wolf populations can be achieved through state management plans.