Greater Yellowstone Coalition

For more than 40 years, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition has worked with all people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem — one of the largest intact ecosystems on earth. Park County sits at the doorstep of this remarkable place, and what happens here matters far beyond our backyard.

Recently, GYC reached a milestone that was years in the making on Crevice Mountain, near Gardiner on Yellowstone National Park's northern boundary. This rugged landscape supports habitat for grizzly bears, elk, mule deer, and mountain lions, and is one of the few places outside the park where Yellowstone bison can roam. In 2023, GYC bought a gold mining company that was planning to develop this ground. We acquired the mineral rights, leases, and claims on 1,600 acres and stopped the proposed mine. Still, a single transaction did not fully remove the mining threat. Private inholdings and mineral rights still posed a risk of future development. So, GYC partnered with The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Forest Service to transfer 161 additional acres into permanent public ownership. This land is now permanently protected from mining. Conservation wins like this happen through patience, partnership, and the support of people like you who believe this place is worth protecting.

That's the kind of work your gift to GYC during Give a Hoot makes possible, and it's only part of the picture. GYC's Paradise Valley Brucellosis Compensation Fund supports ranchers whose cattle are affected by elk-to-cattle transmission, turning a source of conflict into a foundation for coexistence. Our partnership with the Tom Miner Basin Association supports range riders who reduce wildlife-livestock conflicts. And through the Park County Water Initiative, GYC funds stream restoration and community outreach that connects people across the county to the waters that define this land.

Right now, GYC is also on the front lines of one of the most consequential conservation fights in a generation. The proposed rollback of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule puts 45 million acres of wild, undeveloped forest lands across the country at risk — lands that filter our drinking water, reduce wildfire risk, and provide critical habitat for iconic wildlife. GYC is fighting to keep the rule intact and protect these Park County landscapes.

Together, we're greater. Visit greateryellowstone.org to learn more about GYC's lands, waters, and wildlife programs.