Native Fish Conservation Program

Yellowstone National Park is working to restore native fish in the Park ecosystem with a $1-million funding commitment made by the Yellowstone Park Foundation in February 2012. The Park’s Native Fish Conservation Plan is to ensure that native fish remain to support natural ecological function, biodiversity, and sport fishery purposes. The goal is to decrease the number of predatory, non-native lake trout, which in recent years have dramatically reduced the number of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and threaten the entire Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The program will also include other important fish conservation and restoration activities.

Learn more about the Native Fish Conservation Program.

Learn about the Fly Fishing Volunteers Program.

Bear-Safe Campgrounds

The recovery of the greater Yellowstone grizzly bear population and subsequent delisting has been a success for species preservation. However, it’s critical to minimize human interactions, such as conflicts that arise from conditioning to human food. Bear-proof food storage containers are a proven means to keep human foods away from bears. Unfortunately, less than 25 percent of the Park's roadside campgrounds have bear-proof storage containers. Donated funds allow the Park to acquire and install bear-proof food storage containers where they are needed most, and reduce bear-inflicted human injuries and the number of bears that become conditioned to human foods.

Find out how you can Sponsor a Bear Box.

Advanced Geothermal Research Network

More than 10,000 varied geothermal features exist in Yellowstone National Park -- the largest collection on the planet. Technological advancements require greater collaboration and information sharing on these unique features. The Advanced Geothermal Research Network aims to develop a unified effort among research scientists in Yellowstone to characterize, describe, and inventory the diverse plants and animals associated with geothermal habitats. The project will also provide coordination of research and outreach, the development of database systems and virtual libraries, and update the Network’s webpage. The network is a joint project with Montana State University.

Yellowstone Wildlife Health Program

The long-term Yellowstone Wildlife Health Program focuses on unifying wildlife, human, and ecosystem health in and around Yellowstone National Park using science, technology, and education tools. It supports the One Health approach, recognizing that the health of domestic animals, wildlife, and people are linked with each other and the environment. The program-- a partnership between Yellowstone National Park, the Yellowstone Park Foundation, the University of California-Davis, and Montana State University -- has supported 24 wildlife health projects, and a wildlife surveillance laboratory.

Learn more about the projects of the Wildlife Health Program.

Brown Bat Research

At least 5 million bats in the eastern and central U.S. have died as a result of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). WNS is expected to spread across the West, reaching native bat populations in Yellowstone. Researchers project that several bat species, including the little brown bat, will become regionally extinct in parts of North America. YPF is funding the first year of a two-year Brown Bat Research project, building upon a YPF-funded bat monitoring study conducted in 2011, and initiating additional data collection on the status, distribution, reproduction, and activity of the little brown bat. It is a collaboration between Yellowstone National Park, the University of Kentucky, and the Cascadia Research Collective.

Stop Aquatic Invaders

Yellowstone's 2,500+ streams, rivers and lakes are blue ribbon fisheries. However, with thousands of visiting anglers a year, Yellowstone is under constant threat from foreign species such as Zebra mussels and Didymo. Already, the New Zealand mud snail and Whirling Disease have negatively impacted Yellowstone's native fish. These aquatic "hitchhikers" enter the Park on unknowing anglers' boots, waders, boats and other gear. In 2007, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks launched a joint pilot effort indicating that a combination of visitor education, inspection protocols, and specialized cleaning equipment is key to preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species. Donated funds provide a seasonal crew stationed at Yellowstone Lake to educate boaters and anglers, and inspect and clean boats using Park waters.

Learn more about how you can stop aquatic invaders in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Raptor Study

Yellowstone National Park supports a rich community of raptors, but there isn’t data on the trends of key raptors in the Park, such as red-tailed hawks and owls, and species of concern such as golden eagles. Many raptors are decreasing outside the Park, and some may even be considered for endangered species listing in the near future. This program will determine which raptors use the Park, population trends, and annual migration patterns through Yellowstone. This effort will establish baseline data on key species that could be affected by warming climate and changes in land use outside the Park. The Yellowstone Park Foundation has committed $85,000 for the first year of a five-year study, conducted in collaboration with other public and private agencies.

Learn more about the Yellowstone Raptor Study.

Eyes on Yellowstone made possible by Canon

Since 2002, Canon, U.S.A. has contributed more than $5 million to Eyes on Yellowstone, strengthening science, conservation, and education in Yellowstone National Park. It is the largest corporate donation for wildlife conservation in Yellowstone. The Eyes on Yellowstone program uses Canon funding and technology to support cutting-edge wildlife research, natural resource projects, and information-sharing among researchers, land managers, and the general public. In recent years, these projects have had a particular focus on climate change—the largest potential resource impact facing Park managers today.

Learn more about Eyes on Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Wolf Project

It has been more than 15 years since wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone, and understanding and monitoring their impact on the entire ecosystem is one of the Park's priorities. The federal government provides funding for basic monitoring of wolves in Yellowstone, but it doesn’t fund the project's equipment needs, long-term research, aerial monitoring, or staff necessary to run the project effectively. The Yellowstone Park Foundation raises a minimum of $200,000 every year to make up for this funding shortfall, including sponsoring wolf radio and GPS collars and funding programs to help visitors learn about wolves.

Learn about YPF-supported wolf research and conservation programs.