Conservation Partners Launch Yellowstone Ecosystem Virtual Fence Collaborative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2026

Ricketts Conservation Foundation and PERC are investing $600,000 to deploy transformative technology across one of North America's most iconic ecosystems

Bondurant, Wyo. – Two leading conservation organizations are joining forces to accelerate one of the most promising innovations in modern land stewardship. The Ricketts Conservation Foundation (RCF) and the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) today announced the $600,000 Yellowstone Ecosystem Virtual Fence Collaborative, a bold effort to deploy GPS-collar livestock management technology across working ranches throughout the Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Virtual fencing is an emerging technology that replaces miles of traditional fencing, commonly barbed wire, with GPS-enabled collars that guide livestock using audio and mild physical stimulus cues. Managed from a smartphone or laptop, ranchers can create and adjust grazing boundaries almost instantaneously, improving flexibility and adaptability, and reducing infrastructure costs. The technology allows ranchers to remove physical barriers from the landscape, helping wildlife migration. With it, ranchers can also keep cattle out of ecologically sensitive areas and producers can respond quickly to livestock losses, reducing conflict while supporting working ranches.

Located amidst one of the largest and most intact ecosystems in North America, the new initiative will support eight ranches that collectively span more than 366,000 acres with over 5,300 head of cattle across Wyoming and Idaho.

"The Yellowstone region is home to remarkable wildlife and working lands that support both local communities and global biodiversity," said Shari Meeks, project manager with the Ricketts Conservation Foundation. "Partnering with livestock producers who are willing to try innovative approaches like virtual fencing is a practical way to advance conservation while sustaining the landscapes that make this region extraordinary."

RCF is investing $400,000 toward the initiative, with an additional $200,000 in funding from PERC. The Ricketts Conservation Foundation has long focused its work on studying, protecting and enhancing at-risk species populations throughout the Yellowstone Ecosystem. RCF appreciates the value of working private ranching lands and acknowledges the significant ecosystem services they provide. Together with private and public partners, RCF seeks to encourage sustainable grazing management through tools like virtual fencing technology.

PERC brings expertise and experience in funding virtual fencing to the partnership. The Bozeman, Montana-based conservation organization convened the first national gathering of ranchers, technology developers, conservationists and researchers to explore the conservation potential of virtual fencing. In 2024, PERC launched America's first Virtual Fence Conservation Fund, awarding more than $400,000 in grant funding to ranches across six states. Earlier this year, PERC released “Virtual Fencing for Conservation,” a comprehensive roadmap detailing how conservationists can use the technology to create conservation outcomes and support agricultural viability.

"PERC has worked with ranchers, researchers and technology leaders to leverage the conservation potential of virtual fencing," said Travis Brammer, PERC's director of conservation. "This partnership helps turn that vision into action on the ground in one of the most important ecosystems in the world."

Leaders of the initiative designed the cost-share structure to attract additional collaborators and investments to accelerate and scale virtual fencing across the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Several producers have already engaged additional conservation organizations and wildlife agencies to secure further investment and voluntary support, creating a “web of partnerships” to support the effort.

Funding is being awarded now, with implementation beginning later this spring. The initiative will provide continuous monitoring and support over the next four years to quantify outcomes for conservation and working lands.

Projects Across the Yellowstone Ecosystem

The initiative will deploy virtual fencing technology across a diverse set of ranching operations, each targeting conservation outcomes specific to their landscape:

NL Land and Livestock (Riverton, Wyoming): Spanning one of the initiative's largest footprints, this project will use virtual fencing to help elk, deer and other wildlife to move freely across the landscape while protecting waterways and giving the ranch greater flexibility to rest and rotate pastures.
Crapo Cattle Enterprises (St. Anthony, Idaho): Nestled along waterways that support native trout, this project will reduce livestock impact to streams, open pathways for migrating wildlife and reduce costs of managing the ranch.
3D Ranch (Cokeville, Wyoming): This project will halt the construction of new physical fencing, preserve wildlife migration pathways and improve vegetation production through rotational grazing.
XX Ranch (Auburn, Wyoming): Focused on ecological restoration, this operation will use targeted grazing to address invasive weed pressure, improve soil health and remove barriers that impede wildlife movement.
Lucky 7 Angus (Boulder, Wyoming): The ranch will improve range condition, enhance forage quality and protect water quality, while reducing its overall carbon footprint.
Ladder Ranch (Savery, Wyoming): This project will advance rotational grazing, improve wildlife and reduce the operational expenses associated with managing a large, complex ranch landscape.
D Milliron and Slim Ranch (Afton, Wyoming): Partnering with Trout Unlimited and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, this project will protect critical fish and wildlife habitat while improving overall grazing management.
The Goat Guy (Ashton, Idaho): A distinctive project using targeted goat grazing guided by virtual fencing to control invasive plants and reduce fine fuel loads, demonstrating the technology's versatility beyond traditional cattle operations.

About PERC: The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) is the national leader in market solutions for conservation, with over 40 years of research and a network of respected scholars and practitioners. Through research, law and policy, and innovative applied conservation programs, PERC explores how aligning incentives for environmental stewardship produces sustainable outcomes for land, water, and wildlife. Founded in 1980, PERC is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and proudly based in Bozeman, Montana.

About Ricketts Conservation Foundation: The Ricketts Conservation Foundation exists to study, protect and enhance populations of at-risk species through partnering with non-government and government organizations, educational institutions and public agencies to understand the natural processes and human management decisions affecting the Yellowstone Ecosystem.

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For more information or to schedule an interview with a representative from PERC or RCF, please contact Kat Dwyer (PERC) at [email protected] or Shari Meeks (RCF) at [email protected].

Clark's Nutcracker - Spring 2026

This spring, we’ve continued our work to capture and tag Clark’s Nutcrackers around Yellowstone National Park.

In 2020 the University of Colorado-Denver (UCD) and RCF attempted to capture Clark’s Nutcrackers in Yellowstone National Park. Our effort was interrupted when Covid shut down the park, but since then our work has developed into a multi-year project aimed at understanding movement patterns and habitat use of Clark’s Nutcrackers across the Yellowstone Ecosystem (YE). Since 2021, Ricketts Conservation Foundation staff have teamed up with UCD researchers to trap Nutcrackers in the park, from Mammoth Hot Springs, to the Lamar Valley, and south to Canyon Junction. We capture, band, and attach transmitters to individual Nutcrackers so that we can track their movements across the ecosystem in every season.

Figure 1. A newly captured Clark Nutcracker getting fitted for its transmitters by researchers from RCF and the University of Colorado

Our trapping approach remains straightforward and effective. Bait is deployed at selected sites and monitored over several days before traps are set. Steller’s Jays and Canada Jays frequently find the bait first, but once they arrive, we focus our efforts exclusively on nutcrackers. This year, we expanded our effort beyond park boundaries. We established new trapping sites in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest in Montana to expand our banding opportunities. This expansion is important, as the YE extends well beyond the park’s borders, and to understand nutcracker movement we need to sample across that broader landscape. This work proved successful, and we caught five individuals at one of our new locations.

In addition to capturing new individuals, we encountered birds that we trapped previously. Over the years, we have marked each captured bird with a unique color leg-band combination. This allows us to identify birds banded in the previous seasons and recapture individuals with old, non-functioning, transmitters. Upon recapturing these birds, we assessed their body condition and removed their units, reducing the load on the bird and allowing them to continue their lives unencumbered by the transmitter and harness. There’s something unique and special about releasing such a bird back into the wild after it carried a tag that contributed greatly to our understanding of its movements and habitat use.

With a new cohort of seven transmitters deployed in 2026, our project continues to build a growing dataset on annual nutcracker movement patterns and habitat use. As the dataset expands, so does our ability to better understand the ecological role of Clark’s Nutcrackers across the YE. Increasing our sample size will allow us to conduct more robust analyses of how these birds use the landscape and their primary food resource, the whitebark pine.

Clark's Nutcracker with backpack transmitter and color bands.

Snake River Headwaters Symposium

Join the Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group on April 17 for the Snake River Headwaters Symposium. This full-day event will bring together scientists, agencies, nonprofits, businesses, water users, Tribal representatives, guides and outfitters, and community members dedicated to the long-term health and resilience of the watershed.

As SRHWG’s flagship event, the Symposium creates space for learning, dialogue, and connection across sectors. Through engaging presentations, panels, workshops, and networking opportunities, participants will explore critical topics including watershed management, habitat restoration, water quality, recreation, and the cultural and economic value of the Snake River.

Featuring a keynote by acclaimed author Kevin Fedarko (The Emerald Mile), whose storytelling and lessons from the Colorado River will spark conversation about what the Snake can learn from other iconic watersheds.

Together, participants will build understanding, strengthen relationships, and inspire collaborative, science-based action to steward this vital ecosystem into the future.

More information at www.snakeriverheadwaters.org/symposium

Collaboration on the Dollar Lake Fire

Figure 1. Dollar Lake Fire burns along the west shore of upper Green River Lake. Squaretop Mountain is in the background.
Bridger-Teton National Forest (Source: www.wyomingnews.com)

On August 21, 2025, a summer thunderstorm developed across the western Wyoming skies. The area was ripe for wildfire as there had been little rain in the region since spring. We distinctly recall this storm, because the cell moved eastward across Jackson Fork Ranch during the Saving Yellowstone Conservation Summit. Not long into the afternoon sessions, cell phone emergency tones began sounding in the tent, warning of a nearby fire. As the afternoon progressed, Summit participants could see an expanding plume of dark smoke, 28 miles to the northeast of us. While we were not in harm’s way, others were.

As is the case with most late-summer forest fires, the Dollar Lake Fire was most likely lightning-caused. Burning in thick timber on the Bridger-Teton National Forest’s (BTNF) Pinedale Ranger District and driven by strong winds, it burned 600 acres within hours. It eventually grew to over 19,000 acres according to the Teton Interagency Fire incident management page (Figure 2).

The aftermath of a wildfire presents a unique opportunity for positive collaboration among multiple user groups with a strong connection to the resource. Fire is an important part of landscape ecology and must be considered as part of the United States Forest Service’s (USFS) multiple use management mandate. There are many factors that play into fire recovery, where multiple use encourages collaboration, finding solutions that build relationships, exploring different opportunities for wildfire recovery, and leveraging funding from different sources to mitigate or offset costs for lost and damaged infrastructure.

Figure 2. Area affected by the Dollar Lake Fire.

The USFS requires that livestock on permitted grazing allotments be excluded from burned areas for a minimum of two years, or until 60% of vegetative ground cover is achieved in the area burned. However, wildfires often don’t burn landscapes evenly, nor do they discriminate against jurisdictional boundary lines, or fencelines. In the Dollar Lake Fire, the burned area covered only a portion of two different pastures within the allotment, leaving unburned vegetation available for livestock consumption. The fire also burned several miles of physical fencing. Replacing them by the onset of grazing season was unreasonable, which left the permittees with few practical options that would allow them to graze the area in 2026.

One out-of-the-box solution suggested when reviewing options for the 2026 grazing season was the use of virtual fencing. Along with a modified livestock grazing rotation and stocking rate, permittees chose to explore the idea of virtual fence technology to exclude cattle from the burned area.

In 2024, the Ricketts Conservation Foundation established the Virtual Fencing Conservation Initiative and partners with producers on a variety of projects scattered across the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Virtual fencing is where livestock are fitted with a GPS collar that is programmed with “virtual” fences, or perimeters, within which livestock are contained. This prevents them from accessing burned areas, allowing for adequate vegetation recovery.

The Ricketts Conservation Foundation is thrilled to partner with the permittees, the Sublette County Conservation District, and the USFS in 2026 and 2027 on the Dollar Lake Fire virtual fence implementation. Using virtual fence to exclude livestock from grazing the burned area is key. This will result in two years of grazing deferment, allowing for successful wildfire recovery in the area. Equally important, the collaboration creates an opportunity for livestock producers to implement a novel technology year-round. The economic, social, and conservation benefits on private land can be further explored by both livestock producers and the Ricketts Conservation Foundation using the captured results. We hope that this approach of simultaneously addressing the concerns of land managers and producers can become more widely used within the Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond.

2025 Fall Bird Banding Summary

American Redstart- This juvenile was the first of its species documented in the Hoback Basin

Ricketts Conservation Foundation’s 2025 fall bird banding season began on August 25th at our songbird migration station. Unlike over the summer when we catch songbirds using ten nets at nine rotating locations, our fall station is comprised of fifteen nets that are run every day at the same location. In autumn, disturbing nesting birds is no longer a concern, and instead our aim is to discover how migrating birds are using a select patch of stop-over habitat. For our fall banding efforts, a location on Jackson Fork Ranch along the Hoback River is utilized. This patch is comprised of riparian habitat with Willows and Cottonwood trees as well as tall Spruces and some Pines. The diverse flora and fresh water at this spot make it an appealing location for migrating birds to stop to rest and refuel along their journey south for the winter.

Fall songbird migration in western Wyoming is a fairly short phenomenon, with the bulk of the small migratory bird species moving through the region during the month of September. Due to some bad weather in late September and early October, our final morning of songbird banding was September 27th. Despite ending a few days earlier than we otherwise would have, it was an excellent season. The songbird crew banded 739 new birds and had 74 unique recaptures, comprised of 44 different species (Figure 1). Our 2025 total of 813 captures was a new record high, up from 694 in 2024 and 515 in 2023. Our most abundant bird caught in fall continues to be Wilson’s Warbler (113), but we also had a significant increase of Dark-eyed Juncos. In 2025 we banded 109 Juncos, compared to only 16 in 2024. Our 2025 fall season also had a few exciting first-time species captured- American Redstart, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Townsend’s Warbler are all uncommon migrants in western Wyoming. The Redstart and Sparrow species had not been previously documented in the Hoback basin, and this was only the 3rd fall record of Townsend’s Warbler in the area. These species are not known to regularly breed in our region and the individuals we caught this fall were likely migrating from breeding grounds in Montana, Idaho, or Canada to wintering grounds in Mexico.

On the evening of September 1st, we began our target banding effort for Northern Saw-whet Owls. Saw-whets are a small species of migratory owl that RCF biologists began to study in 2021. Since 2023, we have been conducting songbird banding in the mornings and Saw-whet Owl banding at night at the same location on Jackson Fork Ranch. Several miles up the river from the songbird and Saw-whet Owl banding station, we established a second Owl banding site in 2024, specifically to catch Boreal Owls. Boreal Owls are larger than Saw-whets but still very small compared to other familiar owl species like Great-horned Owl. Boreal Owls are considered a nomadic species but are under-studied in North America. Through our banding efforts, we hope to better understand their winter movements and juvenile dispersal. Both Boreal and Saw-whet Owls breed in high elevation forests of the Yellowstone Ecosystem, and are well insulated for cold weather with lots of body feathers, particularly the Boreals. While most Saw-whets migrate out of the area by the end of October, many Boreals are likely to spend all winter in the region.

Our 2025 Northern Saw-whet Owl season ran until October 31st, and over the 2-month capture period we banded 213 new Saw-whets. While catching over 200 of these birds is still a very good season, it was fewer owls than the past 2 years- we banded 320 in 2024 and 253 in 2023. Saw-whet Owls are known to sometimes have large year-to-year fluctuations in local population size, likely tied to small mammal populations and juvenile survival. Catching over 300 last fall was exceptional, so having our number decrease this year was not a big surprise.

Since Boreal Owls can overwinter in our area and have unpredictable nomadic movements, we continue to try catching them into November. This year our final night of Boreal Owl banding was November 22nd. In slightly over 2 months of effort we banded 23 Boreals Owls. This was a big drop off from last year’s total of 68. Boreal Owl populations likely experience yearly fluctuations similar to the Saw-whet Owls, but we are still learning about their population size and seasonal occurrence in our area. Given the overall perceived scarcity of Boreals, catching 23 this year was still very valuable, and we hope to continue to gain a better understanding of their population with on-going fall banding efforts.

2025 was another successful year for RCF’s fall migration banding operation and it would not have been possible without all the hard work of our seasonal banding crew- Noah Price, Olivia Fortuna, Wyatt Westerkamp, and Aiden Gifford. Without their passion and dedication, this banding season would not have been possible! Below is a chart of all our captures from this past fall. With the continued support of Ricketts Conservation Foundation and Jackson Fork Ranch, we look forward to continuing to use bird banding to study migratory songbirds and owls in the Hoback Basin.

Figure 1. Capture results summary for 2025 fall migration bird banding.

Join the Team as a Wildlife Friendly Fence Technician!

Applications Open Until Filled

General Description:

The Ricketts Conservation Foundation, in partnership with the Upper Green Fence Initiative, seeks a Wildlife Friendly Fence Technician based in Bondurant, Wyoming. This position will support the efforts of the Wyoming Game and Fish Fence Program Manager and the Upper Green Fence Initiative. This position will be responsible for fence inventory which will inform future removal or conversion to configurations more suitable for wildlife. This work will expand upon an already high producing program that has funding, partnerships and landowners eager to do projects. Extensive presence in the field is necessary across a large area ranging from the Hoback Basin and the Upper Green River Basin to the Red Desert in Carbon, Fremont, Sublette, and Sweetwater Counties. This position will require the development of working relationships with other Ricketts Conservation Foundation employees, Wyoming Game and Fish employees, other state and federal agency personnel, local landowners, sportspersons, and non-governmental organizations to identify and implement fence improvement projects across all land ownerships within priority wildlife habitats.

Essential Functions:

The listed functions are illustrative only and are not intended to describe every function which may be performed at the job level.

Inventory existing fences within the project area and utilize this data to prioritize fences for modification, removal, etc.
Develop organized work schedules.
Compile, edit, and disseminate reports and information.
Respond to landowner requests and assist private landowners and public land managers.
Work with minimal supervision in remote locations, difficult terrain, and in all types of weather for extended periods of time.

Knowledge & Skills:

Strong written and verbal inter-personal communication skills.
Understanding of different fence types, materials, installation techniques, and construction methods.
Knowledge of rangeland management practices.
Ability to manage projects with minimal supervision and work independently.
Experience working alone in remote locations and navigating with the use of a handheld GPS, OnX or other mapping applications such as Avenza or Field Maps.
Identifying and resolving problems that may arise during project execution.
Experience using, manipulating, and digitizing GIS or KML data for the purpose of creating maps, final reports, and project identification.
Skilled in the operation of 4x4 vehicles, ATV’s and the proper use of trucks and trailers in all types of road and environmental conditions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Preference will be given to those pursuing a degree in wildlife, range, ecology, biology or closely related field.

**Must have a valid driver’s license.

Experience: Preference will be given to those with 1 to 2 field seasons of field experience demonstrating the knowledge and skills identified above.

Physical Working Conditions:

Be able to work in various weather conditions and environments.
Work away from the duty station for extended periods of time.
Ability to safely operate motorized equipment, including 4x4 pickup truck, and ATVs.
Ability to lift 50 pounds or more.

Position & Application Detail:

Duty Station: Bondurant, Wyoming

Housing: On-site housing or housing allowance provided.

Pay & Benefits: Wage $15.00 per hour. Relocation expenses paid up to $400. Phone compensation is $25.00 per month.

Duration: Position starts May 18^th, 2026, and ends August 22^nd, 2026

Applications: Applications will be reviewed starting March 1, 2026. Position is open until it is filled.

Please email your letter of interest, resume, and three references to Shari Meeks at [email protected]. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Ricketts Conservation Foundation - National Loon Center Research Grants

Since 2018, the Ricketts Conservation Foundation (RCF) has studied loons in the Yellowstone Ecosystem. However, Joe Ricketts' commitment to loon conservation stretches back to 2013, when he funded loon conservation efforts in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. While the loons in Yellowstone are the southernmost population in North America, the vast majority of common loons are found in Canada, Alaska, and the northern tier of the lower 48 states (Photo 1). These birds also face conservation challenges, and RCF is doing its part to help these birds on a continental scale.

Photo 1. Breeding range and migration routes of the Common Loon (Gavia immer) in North America courtesy of Boreal Birds (https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/common-loon).

In 2025 RCF donated $1,000,000 towards the National Loon Center’s (NLC) new headquarters in Crosslake, Minnesota (Photo 2). In addition, RCF committed to providing $100,000/year from 2025 to 2029 to spur conservation-related research on Common Loons throughout North America.

Photo 2. Design of new National Loon Center headquarters in Crosslake, MN.

In the first year of funding conservation-related research, we initiated a range-wide genetics study with the Bird Genoscape Project at Colorado State University. Our goal is to better understand genetic variation in the Common Loon. This species is found throughout Canada, Alaska, and the northern tier of the lower 48 states. However, there are also breeding populations in Greenland and Iceland. We hope to obtain samples from all these populations so conservationists have a comprehensive understanding of their interactions, migration routes, and wintering grounds.

Currently, we are reviewing 12 great proposals for 2026 and now have the difficult decision to decide which to fund. Thankfully, RCF and NLC have an excellent scientific advisory council making these decisions, so we look forward to their decisions. Stay tuned!

A Wildlife-Friendly Fence Story

Fences are a major obstacle to wildlife migrations in the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Since its inception in 2018, the Ricketts Conservation Foundation (RCF) has partnered with Jackson Fork Ranch (JFR) to make wildlife friendly fence modifications to the bison fence that stretches along the upper Hoback River. Beginning in 2019, RCF worked with JFR and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) to install 22 wildlife crossings in the fence. This improved wildlife movements across the ranch greatly. In 2024, JFR decided to enhance the wildlife crossings even further. They proposed to design let-down fence sections up to 1200’ in length in targeted areas where known mule deer migration corridors cross the ranch.

Photo 1. Holes are drilled and hinges are placed at the ends of each section of fence to allow the fence to pivot.

After consulting with WGFD, RCF assisted with this effort in spring of 2025 by inventorying the identified migration corridors at Horse Pasture Draw and Nutting Draw. JFR then hired a local welding company to modify the fence posts. The welder added sleeves at the bottom of some posts, which allow for the post to be lifted off its base easily. Other posts have rebar stays that the fence was then tied to, with cups to hold the rebar in place on both the bottom and top of the fence post. In addition, by modifying the ends of each section, the fence can pivot (Photo 1), lay flat, and thus present less of an obstacle to migrating animals.

Once completed, these sections of fence were to be let down on October 15 (Photo 2), just in time for the fall mule deer migration. However, the Jackson Fork Ranch is surrounded primarily by the U.S. Forest Service Hoback Grazing Allotment, which permits seasonal grazing by cattle and horses. Wyoming is a fence-out state, so it was imperative to coordinate with neighboring users regarding the timing of letting the fence down. RCF coordinated with the Hoback Grazing Association so JFR could reach its goal to improve wildlife movement across the ranch without complicating roundup.

Photo 2. A section of fence that has been let down for wildlife passage.

RCF and JFR will continue to work with WGFD to monitor the use of these segments by migrating wildlife and determine if any additional modifications need to be made to the fence in the future.

As a private landowner, it’s important to continue learning about your property and how to align your vision with what takes place in the surrounding landscape. It’s never too late to improve your management when you find out something you didn’t know that you didn’t know. In this case JFR was unaware of the mule deer migration corridor when they erected the bison fence. However, once they were made aware of this, they worked with RCF to remedy the situation.

RCF continues to partner with WGFD, focusing on additional opportunities to improve mule deer migration movement within the Hoback River watershed in 2026. We will continue to support landowners that now know what they didn’t know before and choose to reduce their impact on the landscape through wildlife friendly fence improvements.

Stay tuned for more information in 2026.

Join the Team as an Experienced Bird Bander!

Applications Open Until Filled

About Us: Founded on the principle that conservation is everyone’s responsibility, The Ricketts Conservation Foundation (RCF) works with private and public partners to study, protect, and enhance the populations of at-risk species within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, while working to understand how our lands can be sustainably managed.

Job Summary: We are hiring an experienced bird bander to work on a long-term project assessing songbird response to wildfires and Aspen regeneration on Monument Ridge, near the town of Bondurant, Wyoming. Specifically, we are looking for someone highly knowledgeable of songbird mist netting and banding, aging and sexing techniques, an ability to identify western birds by sight and sound, physically capable of hiking 10+ miles daily in rugged, mountainous areas above 8000 feet elevation, and an enthusiasm to assist as needed with a variety of research projects. Familiarity with the IMBCR point count protocol is preferred but not required, as the selected candidate will attend an IMBCR training week run by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies in mid-May before arriving in Bondurant. Interested applicants with suitable experience may also extend the position into the fall to help with our songbird and owl migration stations.

The Experienced Bander will work with the foundation’s Lead Bander to help run our nine (9) MAPS banding sites in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The selected candidate will be responsible for operating several low to mid-volume MAPS stations with one or two mist net assistants (set up and taking down nets, extracting, banding, aging, and sexing birds as well as recording and entering data), and work with the lead bander at our high-volume sites. They will also help monitor passerine nest boxes, check cameras traps, conduct vegetation surveys, contribute social media posts, and possibly conduct IMBCR bird surveys. The Experienced Bander will also assist the Lead Bander with project management and crew supervision.

Summer Responsibilities (May - August):
MAPS songbird mist netting and banding (70%)
IMBCR point counts (5%)
Vegetation Surveys (5%)
Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (5%)
Passerine nest box monitoring (5%)
Office Tasks (Data entry, social media posts, Net repair, Gear inventory and maintenance) (10%)

Fall Responsibilities (September – November, tentative for 1 or 2 technicians):
Owl migration mist netting and banding (50%)
Songbird migration mist netting and banding (40%)
Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (5%)
Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (5%)

Hours/Schedule: This is a full-time, seasonal position with a somewhat flexible start and end date. The work schedule is typically 10 days on and 4 days off, but weather and project requirements will ultimately determine the schedule. Overtime (1.5x hourly rate) will be provided for hours beyond 40 per week. The experienced bander typically works 5-10 hours of OT each week.

Field Conditions: The study area lies at 7,000’ - 10,000’ elevation, so mornings can be cold and frosty, even in the middle of the summer. Habitat types include aspen woodlands, mixed conifer, sagebrush steppe. Grizzly bear encounters are possible, but very infrequent. Shared housing and transportation for work is provided. Our MAPS banding stations are located on rugged areas of National Forest land, and our banders need to be able to stay sure-footed while carrying birds up and down steep slopes to get between net lanes and the banding table. Occasional use of personal vehicles for work occurs but is not required. Fuel expenses are reimbursed. Technicians will need their own camping equipment and field gear as well as secure their own transportation to and from Bondurant, WY (travel costs up to $400 will be reimbursed). Bondurant is a remote town with a population of less than 100 year-round residents. The closest amenities are in Jackson and Pinedale, each a 45-minute drive from town. Recreational opportunities in the surrounding area are truly limitless, with world class fly fishing, backpacking, rafting, climbing and two national parks.

Qualifications: Substantial songbird mist netting and banding experience required (processed a minimum of 500 adult passerines). Must possess knowledge of aging and sexing techniques and qualify as a sub-permittee on the banding permit.

Excellent hearing, sight, familiarity with identifying western birds, and note taking and organizational skills are required. Familiarity with Rocky Mountain tree and shrub species is helpful but not essential. Familiarity with sexing and aging using the Pyle Guide, and how to use both HP and WRP aging systems, is highly desired. Some previous experience maintaining camera traps, monitoring nest boxes, and driving large 4WD and manual transmission vehicles is also a plus.

Applicants should have earned a degree in wildlife biology, related discipline or be working towards completing a degree. A valid driver's license is required. Applicants should possess a strong work ethic, be a quick learner, have good navigational skills, be a team player, and be willing to share living spaces with coworkers. Ideally, candidates have some experience backpacking with camping and survey equipment into remote areas and knowledge of bear avoidance protocols. The bander must be in excellent physical condition, able to lift 50 pounds, hike up to 15 miles off trail at high altitude in steep terrain, sometimes with large areas of deadfall, tolerate early mornings, long hours, adverse weather, and be comfortable not using mosquito repellents while banding (DEET and handling birds does not mix).

Duration and Salary:
May 12 (tentative) to early or mid-August with possibility of extension to mid-November
$21/hour (40 hours a week plus some overtime)
Up to $400 reimbursement for moving expenses (i.e. gas, lodging) both to and from Bondurant.

***Free housing is provided in a beautiful mountain valley, adjacent to working ranches with bison and horses. ***

To apply: In a single PDF, please send a cover letter and resume detailing how your experience and interests make you a suitable candidate as well as three references. Specify your desired start and end dates and whether you are interested in continuing through the fall season. Applicants should include a banding resume detailing locations where experience was obtained as well as rough totals of birds extracted and birds processed. Please send all materials to Josh Lefever at [email protected]. Applications will be accepted until January 31st, 2026; prior to the closing date, suitable applicants may be asked to interview, and highly qualified candidates may be offered a position early.

Join the Team as an Avian Technician!

Applications Open Until Filled

Job Summary: We are hiring four avian technicians to work on a long-term project assessing songbird response to wildfires and aspen regeneration on Monument Ridge, near the town of Bondurant, Wyoming. Specifically, we are looking for candidates with previous avian point counting experience, an ability to identify western songbirds by sight and sound, knowledgeable with songbird mist netting and banding, physically capable of hiking 10+ miles daily in rugged, mountainous areas above 8000 feet elevation, and an enthusiasm to assist as needed with a variety of research projects. Familiarity with the IMBCR point count protocol is preferred but not required, as all technicians are required to attend an IMBCR training week run by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies in mid-May before arriving in Bondurant. We may retain one or two technicians to assist with our fall bird banding operations.

Technician responsibilities include assisting at our nine (9) MAPS stations (setting up and taking down nets, extracting birds, recording, and entering field data, conducting IMBCR bird surveys, monitoring passerine nest boxes, checking cameras traps, conducting vegetation surveys, and possibly assisting with Clark’s Nutcracker, Pinyon Jay, and Common Loon research projects in the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Technicians may be asked to contribute social media posts that describe their work for RCF.

Summer Responsibilities (May - August):
MAPS songbird mist netting and banding (45%)
IMBCR point counts (30%)
Vegetation Surveys (9%)
Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (5%)
Passerine nest box monitoring (5%)
Office Tasks (Data entry, social media posts) (5%)
Assisting with Common Loon and/or Clark’s Nutcracker Projects (1%)

Fall Responsibilities (September – November, tentative for 1 or 2 technicians):
Owl migration mist netting and banding (60%)
Songbird migration mist netting and banding (25%)
Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (5%)
Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (5%)
Office Tasks (Data entry, social media posts) (5%)

Hours/Schedule: These are full-time, seasonal positions with somewhat flexible start and end dates. The work schedule is typically 10 days on and 4 days off, but weather and project requirements will ultimately determine the schedule. Overtime (1.5x hourly rate) will be provided for hours beyond 40 per week. Technicians typically work 0-5 hours of OT each week.

Field Conditions: The study area lies at 7,000’ - 10,000’ elevation, so mornings can be cold and frosty, even in the middle of the summer. Habitat types include aspen woodlands, mixed conifer and sagebrush steppe. Grizzly bear encounters are possible, but very infrequent. Shared housing and transportation for work is provided. Occasional use of personal vehicles for work may occur but is not required. Fuel expenses are reimbursed. Technicians will need their own camping equipment and field gear as well as secure their own transportation to and from Bondurant, WY (travel costs up to $400 will be reimbursed). Bondurant is a remote town with a population of less than 100 year-round residents. The closest amenities are in Jackson and Pinedale, each a 45-minute drive from town. Recreational opportunities in the surrounding area are truly limitless, with world class fly fishing, backpacking, rafting, climbing and two national parks.

Qualifications: Excellent hearing, sight, and a willingness to learn to identify western birds by sight and sound are required. Familiarity with Rocky Mountain tree and shrub species is helpful but not essential. Previous experience extracting passerines from mist nets is a must (minimum 100 passerines extracted). Familiarity with sexing and aging using the Pyle Guide, and how to use both HP and WRP aging systems, is a plus. Some previous experience maintaining camera traps, monitoring nest boxes, and driving large 4WD and manual transmission vehicles is also highly desirable. For those interested in staying for the fall season, previous owl banding experience is beneficial.

Applicants should have earned a degree in wildlife biology, related discipline or be working towards completing a degree. A valid driver's license is required. Applicants should possess a strong work ethic, be a quick learner, have good navigational skills, be a team player, and be willing to share living spaces with coworkers. Experience backpacking with camping and survey equipment into remote areas and knowledge of bear avoidance protocols is desirable. Technicians must be in excellent physical condition, able to lift 50 pounds, hike up to 15 miles off trail at high altitude in steep terrain, sometimes with large areas of deadfall, tolerate early mornings, long hours, adverse weather, and be comfortable not using mosquito repellents while banding (DEET and handling birds does not mix).

Duration and Salary:
May 12 (tentative) to early or mid-August with possibility of extension to mid-November
$18/hour (40 hours a week with some overtime)
Up to $400 reimbursement for moving expenses (i.e. gas, lodging) both to and from Bondurant.

***Free housing is provided in a beautiful mountain valley, adjacent to working ranches with bison and horses. ***

To apply: Send a single document including a cover letter and resume detailing how your experience and interests make you a suitable candidate, as well as three references. Please specify your availability from mid-May to early August, and whether you are interested in joining our fall season. Highly qualified banding applicants should include a banding resume detailing locations where experience was obtained as well as rough totals of birds extracted, and birds processed. Please send all materials to Josh Lefever at [email protected]. Applications will be accepted until January 31st, 2026; prior to the closing date, suitable applicants may be asked to interview, and highly qualified candidates may be offered a position early.