CODY – After 16 years of service with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department dedicated to the management and conservation of Wyoming’s wildlife resources, Cody Wildlife Biologist Tony Mong has retired.
Mong joined Game and Fish in 2010 as a wildlife biologist in Baggs. In 2017, he transitioned to Cody where he has served as the region’s district biologist for nearly a decade.
Mong’s tenure is marked by significant contributions to wildlife initiatives and research across the state. Throughout his career, Mong was deeply involved in a variety of conservation work, including the Bagg’s Mule Deer Initiative and the Absaroka Fence Initiative, and was instrumental in coordinating the first Absaroka bighorn sheep abundance survey. Tony led numerous collar studies involving elk and deer, often in very remote country. Beyond field research, Mong spearheaded the development of data collection applications for Game and Fish and demonstrated exceptional dedication in every aspect of his job, whether it be while working in Cody’s remote backcountry or giving presentations to the public on animal movement ecology.
“Tony understood that communicating wildlife science was about more than graphs and charts. He knew that the stories behind the data — the experiences, observations and connections people could relate to — were what truly inspired people to appreciate and conserve wildlife.” said Corey Class, Game and Fish wildlife management coordinator for the Cody Region.
Mong was a vital partner to law enforcement as he assisted game wardens in the detection and prosecution of wildlife violations. He also dedicated significant time to hunter education and public outreach as he shared his passion for hunting traditions with youth and veteran sportspersons. “You couldn’t attend one of Tony’s wildlife presentations without recognizing his genuine admiration for Wyoming’s wildlife and wild places. His passion was unmistakable, and his dedication to conserving our natural resources was evident in everything he did,” Class said.
Mong was a critical member of the Cody Region and department. His passion, knowledge, experience and dedication contributed to conservation of wildlife and serving the public. The Cody Region and department thanks Tony for all his meaningful work over the years.
In retirement, Mong plans to continue his work in conservation locally through a non-governmental organization. The Cody Region of Game and Fish looks forward to continuing to work with him as a partner in wildlife conservation.
– WGFD –
