In September I stepped into the role as the Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Taking on the role of director presents significant challenges, but there are three primary reasons that have inspired me to take on this endeavor. 

Above all, the 400 employees who make up this agency are incredible. They are dedicated, passionate, talented and extremely knowledgeable. They truly care about what they do and are committed to managing Wyoming’s fish and wildlife resources. They did not get into this field for financial motives. They did it for the ability to make an impact and ensure future generations can enjoy and experience our state’s wildlife. Over the last few months, I have had an opportunity to get to know them better and representing them is an honor that I take very seriously. It is critical to our agency’s mission that our state’s wildlife managers have the resources they need to conduct sound science, provide enforcement and manage wildlife.

The fish and wildlife resources we have in Wyoming are world-renowned. Residents and visitors alike praise our blue-ribbon trout fisheries, and are in constant awe that we hold the longest intact big game migration corridor. We are proud to say we have the most abundant sage-grouse and native bighorn sheep populations in the United States. These natural resources and our wide-open spaces are symbols of the West. It is essential that we maintain these healthy populations and do so under state management. Focusing our work to build resilient habitats will be critical in the coming years. 

Wyoming would not be the same without its wildlife. The people of Wyoming understand this and are invested in their future. The public’s passion is clear and they place a high value on the importance of wildlife in our lives and the state's economy. You see this in their support for wildlife crossings, concerns from effects of bad winters on mule deer and prioritizing funding for invasive annual grasses. There also is a strong desire to have a place at the table and be involved in complex issues, such as license allocations and sage-grouse policy. The desire to be involved is extraordinary and betters Wyoming. Solutions developed collectively lead to long-standing, supportive outcomes. Given the escalating challenges confronting Wyoming’s wildlife, a unified approach will be more important than ever. 

The opportunity to work with Wyoming’s wildlife, lead department staff and work alongside stakeholders and the public was a job I could not pass up. Working through the challenges ahead to find solutions that maintain and protect our wildlife in a way the public desires to see is a challenge I accept. The people have entrusted wildlife management and protection to the department. It will take all of us to continue this legacy.