CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recognized three partners for their work in 2025 to help conserve wildlife throughout Wyoming.

Black Hills Energy was the recipient of the Industry Wildlife Stewardship Award. Safari Club International Foundation and Wyoming Department of Transportation were awarded the Excellence in Wildlife Conservation Award. The award presentation was made by Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce at the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s July meeting in Sheridan.

Industry Wildlife Stewardship Award

This award recognizes private companies in Wyoming that have significantly contributed to wildlife stewardship projects and have collaborated with Game and Fish to go above and beyond standard regulatory requirements to help conserve habitat and wildlife in the state. Recipients for this award are selected from nominations by Game and Fish personnel.

Black Hills Energy is a natural gas and electric utility company that serves Wyoming and seven other states.

“Black Hills Energy has demonstrated a long history in Wyoming of ensuring their energy infrastructure is cited responsibly, and impacts to wildlife and habitats are avoided, minimized or mitigated to the extent possible,” Bruce said. “Prior to the initiation of construction projects that may have the potential to impact wildlife habitat, Black Hills Energy regularly and proactively consults with the department to determine the appropriate types of pre-construction surveys it should complete in order to inform infrastructure citing and timing of construction.”

Examples of Black Hills Energy’s wildlife stewardship include the Ready Wyoming electric transmission line project, which connects the Cheyenne area with substations near Glenrock. Black Hills Energy conducted aerial surveys for sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse leks, along with occupied raptor nests, to inform route planning and seasonal avoidance of these habitats.  Additionally, Black Hills Energy voluntarily curtailed transmission line construction activities in pronghorn and mule deer crucial winter range habitat during the department’s recommended winter stipulation period.

Black Hills Energy has an internal avian protection plan, which provides guidance to mitigate the impact of company operations on avian species. In addition to the various regulations and guidance to protect eagles, raptors, migratory birds and endangered species, it has incorporated voluntary actions into these plans that help reduce bird mortalities.

The company has built nesting platforms and boxes for species such as osprey and owls to provide alternative, long-term nesting locations in areas where nesting raptors have been observed near its infrastructure. It also has an internal pollinator plan that promotes the use of planting pollinator species for reclamation and restoration work when construction is completed.

“These conservation efforts by Black Hills Energy represent how this industry partner's commitment to responsible and meaningful wildlife stewardship goes well beyond that which is required by industry  regulators,” Bruce said.

“We find our partnership with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department really valuable,” said Nathan Groh, Black Hills Energy environmental engineer. “Everything we’re doing as far as permitting and compliance strikes a balance between conservation and ensuring we’re also following the rules.” 

Excellence in Wildlife Conservation

Safari Club International Foundation

A major accomplishment of SCIF in 2025 included helping coordinate and secure funding for the Game and Fish’s spring and fall bear spray training programs. The award was presented by Dan Smith, chief of wildlife for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. These programs provide bear safety training for anyone who recreates in areas of Wyoming where grizzly bears are present. These events consist of department and U.S. Forest Service personnel on-site to answer questions and provide information  about bear safety and attractant storage methods and regulations. At the conclusion of the training, participants were provided with cans of bear spray, free of charge.

Maria Davidson, large carnivore program manager for SCIF, provided funding for the purchase of thousands of inert and live canisters of bear spray, the remote-control bear, and the enclosed trailer to transport all the necessary equipment for the events. More than 12,000 people benefited from this program in 2025.

Davidson and SCIF provided funding to install more than 40 bear-resistant food storage boxes at Game and Fish wildlife habitat management areas and U.S. Forest Service campsites.

Davidson and SCIF were the major contributors to the production of three bear safety videos. A short bear safety video that was played in the Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody that was viewed by more than 72,000 people. A short video played on gas station pumps that reached more than 2 million people, and a video specific to hunting safely in bear country.

“The conservation efforts of Maria and SCIF have done more than simply promote bear safety; the interactions provide the people of Wyoming with information that promotes conservation, awareness and enhances support for Game and Fish projects and personnel,” said Brian DeBolt, Game and Fish large carnivore conflict coordinator.”

Wyoming Department of Transportation

WYDOT has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to wildlife conservation through a long-standing partnership with Game and Fish in planning and the construction of wildlife crossings across Wyoming.

“This collaborative effort has earned national recognition and significantly improved wildlife conductivity, reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions and enhanced public safety,” Bruce said. 

The two agencies have worked together on wildlife crossings since the 1950s. The partnership increased those efforts after the Wyoming Wildlife and Roadways Conference in 2017 that resulted in a comprehensive approach for wildlife crossings throughout the state.

Some of the significant and recent wildlife crossing projects in the state include the South Kemmerer, Dry Piney and Kaycee-to-Buffalo Interstate 25 projects.

“All of these large projects are significant, but really, it is the day-to-day work helping with the smaller projects across the state that have a lot of impact as well,” Bruce said. “Whether it be doing a joint press release with us or educating people at presentations, WYDOT is always right there at the table. WYDOT is a national leader in balancing transportation and infrastructure with wildlife conservation, and its commitment to collaboration, innovation and science-based solutions has produced measurable impacts for Wyoming wildlife and public safety.”

– WGFD –