Wyoming State Wildlife Action Plan

Wyoming's State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) is a comprehensive strategy to maintain the health and diversity of wildlife within the state, including reducing the need for future listings under the Endangered Species Act.

What is Wyoming’s State Wildlife Action Plan? 

Wyoming’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) summarizes the status of wildlife and fish within the state, provides a blueprint for conserving these species and their habitats and unlocks federal funding through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program.

 

Every state is responsible for developing a SWAP, and in so doing, every state contributes to a nation-wide strategy for conserving at-risk species and their habitats. SWAPs are created by bringing together the many agencies, organizations and stakeholders that work on conservation in the state. Through this work, SWAPs provide priority actions for groups across the entire state, including government agencies, nonprofits and conservation districts.

 

SWAPs seek to conserve species and habitats before they are at risk, which can save resources in the long run as SWAPs include conservation actions to prevent the need for future listings under the Endangered Species Act. Through the federal State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program, Wyoming receives an average of $860,000 each year for conservation of species of greatest conservation need and their habitats. 

 

SWAPs include 8 federally required elements that summarize the status of wildlife and fish and their associated habitats, identify challenges and associated conservation actions to manage those challenges, develop monitoring strategies and involve participation from partnering agencies, stakeholders and members of the public. 

 

The 2027 revision timeline

SWAPs must be revised every 10 years to incorporate new evidence and consider emerging challenges. Wyoming’s first SWAP was created in 2005. It was revised in 2010 and again in 2017. The current revision was initiated in fall 2024, and it is planned to be finalized and submitted to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service by June 30, 2026. 

 

How to get involved

Public, stakeholder and partner engagement is a key component of the SWAP. You can share how you used the 2017 SWAP and identify ways to improve the 2027 SWAP through a survey. The survey will take approximately 7 minutes, and it will be available until 5 pm on June 6, 2025.

 

Complete the survey

 

In spring 2026, we will make a complete draft of the plan available for public comment. 

 

If you have comments or questions, please reach out to the State Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator Rhiannon Jakopak at rhiannon.jakopak@wyo.gov. 

Success stories

  • Supporting recovery efforts

    Black-footed ferrets were nearly extirpated, but conservation efforts have supported recovery of the species. State Wildlife Grant funding has contributed to a multi-agency effort to recover black-footed ferrets in Wyoming. This funding has helped with survey efforts using scent-detection dogs and spotlighting, as well as management practices like releasing captive-bred ferrets and applying insecticide to manage plague.

  • Fish passage
    Evaluating management actions

    Fish passage structures like bypass channels and rock ramps can improve connectivity in streams where man-made barriers can prevent movement of fish. State Wildlife Grant funds made it possible to evaluate whether bypass channels restored connectivity for native fish. Biologists found that many native fish, including sauger and goldeye, readily use these bypass channels. This information will help improve connectivity in other waterways.

  • Addressing public concerns about population trends

    Members of the public became concerned about eastern spiny softshell turtles in the Bighorn and Nowood Rivers. State Wildlife Grant funds supported surveys to learn about the distribution, population trends and movement patterns of this species, and citizen science observations informed surveys. These surveys provided will help inform conservation efforts by providing information on habitat preferences and population status of the turtle.

  • Contributing to conservation collaborations

    Conservation work takes the coordinated effort of many agencies, organizations and funding sources. State Wildlife Grant funds have contributed to many broader conservation efforts throughout Wyoming, including the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions, Rocky Mountain Amphibian Monitoring Program, North American Bat Monitoring Program and more.

2017 State wildlife action plan

 

Access the entire SWAP file.

 

 

 

Preface

Foreword
Table of Contents
List of Tables and Figures
Acronyms
SWAP Developments
Conservation Approach

 

Wildlife conservation challenges

Introduction

Rural Subdivision
Invasive Species
Climate Change
Disruption of Historic Disturbance Regimes
Energy Development

Terrestrial habitat types

Introduction

Aspen Deciduous Forest
Cliffs, Caves, Canyons, Rock, Outcrops
Desert Shrublands
Foothills Shrublands
Montane and Subalpine Forest
Mountain Grassland and Alpine Tundra
Prairie Grasslands
Riparian Areas
Sagebrush Shrublands
Wetlands
Xeric and Lower Montane Forest

Aquatic basins

Bear River Basin
Green River Basin
Northeastern Missouri River Basin
Platte River Basin
Snake Salt River Basin
Yellowstone River Basin

 

Additional resources

2017 Revised List of Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Reviewing and Updating the SWAP

Public Participation

burrowing owl

Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Wyoming is home to over 650 birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish species. Learn more about species of greatest conservation need in Wyoming including the black-footed ferret, Canada lynx, northern long-eared bat, and Preble’s meadow jumping mouse.

2017 Species of Greatest Conservation Need

SGCN

View the list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need broken down by amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fish, mammals, mollusks and reptiles.

Introduction