EVANSTON — With Gov. Mark Gordon in attendance, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department recognized its annual Landowners of the Year Tuesday at the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission meeting.
“These landowners made the choice to go above and beyond, to conserve habitat, and provide important habitat for wildlife,” Game and Fish Interim Director Eric Wiltanger said.
Landowners recognized in 2026 were:
- Sewell Ranching LLC/McCarty Canyon Ranch.
- Miles and Karen Daily and Wendy Cecil.
- BMG Ranch/J&H Livestock; Gregg Jaggers (posthumous).
- Two Bar Ranch.
- Gary and Carol Thronveit; Mike Ujifusa.
“The kind of partnerships we have that have recognized the value of private landowners in the public wildlife function is something Wyoming has done much better than anyone else,” Gordon said.
During the meeting, the Commission received several updates on projects within the department.
Shawna Svoboda, the department’s fish health inspector, presented an update on the mountain whitefish mortality event in the Salt River. Proliferative kidney disease was determined to be the cause of whitefish mortality. It is a chronic, parasitic disease specifically affecting fish in the trout and salmon families. The unusually hot summer, low water flows and increased water temperatures increased the disease severity and caused a large die-off of whitefish.
“Infections that may be relatively mild at cooler temperatures can become severe when water temperatures reach roughly 59-69 degrees Fahrenheit,” Svoboda said. “In June-August, water temperatures ranged from 62-71 degrees Fahrenheit. As we’ve been dealing with unseasonably warm temperatures, no snow pack, and lower flows, we often see higher water temperatures.”
John Walrath, Green River Region fisheries supervisor, presented an update on projects involving the restoration of native roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker and bluehead sucker in southwest Wyoming. Since 2018, Game and Fish has been working in the Upper Big Sandy River to remove the threat of nonnative species to secure the long-term survival of these fish in their native ranges. In 2024, no nonnative species — with the exception of two lake chub — were detected. The team will continue the project in 2027 on the Little Sandy Creek near Green River.
Deputy Chief of the Wildlife Division, Martin Hicks, updated the Commission on the current statewide weather and habitat conditions. An increase in wildlife conflicts and decrease in forage production are some of the impacts drought has had on wildlife. Drought means wildlife are more than likely heading into winter in poor body condition. But, there is a positive note.
“According to our pronghorn classification surveys, pronghorn fawn production has seen a slight increase compared to the five-year average.” Hicks said.
Wiltanger presented Alan Osterland, Fish Division Chief with an award for his 40 years of service to the Department. Osterland presented Joe Gillis, superintendent at the Boulder Fish Hatchery, with a 25-year service award.
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