The nights were chilly and filled with the sound of turkeys and coyotes. The days’ soundtrack punctuated by migratory birdsong. We saw elk, mule deer, cous white-tailed deer and a pair of peregrine falcons.

And yet, what stayed with me most from a recent trip into the Gila Wilderness was what we didn’t see—the flocks of pinyon jays, the wolves and jaguars, the abundance of wildlife who would have concentrated around the water that should be there.

That absence is not accidental. It reflects the cumulative impact of decisions that prioritize short-term fixes over ecological reality. We’re seeing this pattern play out across the country—such as in Utah where declining mule deer populations suffer under the stress of habitat loss is the core issue, yet wildlife agencies instead scapegoat cougars with expanded killing seasons.

This is the disconnect we’re working to address at Wildlife for All. The gap between what animals, ecosystems and humans need versus how our governmental institutions set policy. The gap between public values and who actually holds decision-making power.

In this issue, you’ll see how that dynamic shows up everywhere—from flawed “science-based” justifications for killing wildlife, to the exclusion of most Americans from conservation decision-making, to the broader erosion of democratic systems that shape environmental outcomes.

The stakes are not abstract. They are visible in the silence where species should be, and in the systems that continue to produce those outcomes.

Changing that requires more than participation—it requires organized, sustained pressure for structural reform.

Exposing “Science-Based” Myths in Wildlife Policy

We published a deep dive into how flawed data is driving major wildlife decisions in Montana and Florida. In both states, agencies moved forward with aggressive wolf killing and black bear hunts without reliable population estimates. The takeaway is clear: these aren’t science-informed decisions; they’re policy choices shaped by outdated models and narrow interests.

Redefining Who Counts as Conservationists

Ahead of Earth Day, we challenged the dominant narrative that hunting equals conservation. Across the country, people are restoring habitat, monitoring species, and protecting ecosystems every day—yet remain excluded from decision-making. We’re working to realign wildlife governance with the full public, not just a narrow user group.

Calling Out Systemic Failure in Federal Wildlife Killing

When a federally protected wolf was killed in Oregon by USDA Wildlife Services, it was labeled a “mistake.” We made the case for what it actually is: a predictable outcome of a system built on indiscriminate lethal control. This is exactly why structural reform, not incremental fixes, is necessary.

Coloradans Mobilized Against Commercial Fur Sales

Earlier this month, we helped drive public engagement in Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s commercial fur sales rulemaking process ahead of the May 3 comment deadline. Supporters submitted comments calling for an end to the loophole commercializing wildlife for profit through fur sales. Be sure to follow our coalition member Colorado Wildlife Alliance for the latest on this reform campaign.

We just released our report from the first cohort of Building Power for Wildlife Justice, and it shows exactly what happens when people are equipped to challenge the system, not just participate in it.

In just eight weeks, 19 advocates across 13 states moved from learning the basics of wildlife governance to launching real campaigns in their communities. These aren’t theoretical exercises, they’re active efforts to change how decisions get made.

Participants developed strategies targeting wildlife commissions, built coalitions, and began applying pressure where it actually matters: inside the systems shaping policy.

This is the work needed to create systemic change: building organized, strategic power capable of shifting outcomes over time. If we want wildlife policy to reflect science, public values, and coexistence, we need more people prepared to lead at this level.

Wildlife Commission Meetings Across the Country

Dozens of states are holding wildlife commission meetings this month. These are the rooms where policy actually gets made, often with little public attention.

If you’ve been looking for a place to engage, this is it. Show up, submit comments, and make sure decisions reflect public values.

Louisiana Black Bear Hunt

Louisiana put forward a public comment period on plans to expand black bear trophy hunting in 2026 without transparency on quotas or clear scientific justification. We mobilized comments to oppose this decision, and you all rose to the occasion, sending more than 390 letters! We won’t stop bringing public pressure to stop the expansion and push for conservation and protection rooted in science, accountability, and coexistence. More to come in this ongoing campaign… 

Act Now to Protect Voting Rights

Right now, across the country, we’re seeing the same pattern play out: authoritarian power consolidating, accountability weakening, and public voices being sidelined, from federal courts to state wildlife agencies.

Last week’s U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais further weakens the Voting Rights Act, one of the most effective tools for protecting fair representation in this country. This is a rapid reordering of political power. At its core, this decision is about representation: who gets a voice in decisions that shape their lives, and who is sidelined.

A functioning democracy is how we protect wildlife and ecosystems, secure clean water, rein in pollution, and respond to the climate crisis. When voting rights are weakened, so is the ability to address environmental injustice.

Wildlife policy is shaped by the same systems of representation, accountability, and public participation that this decision just destabilized. Read more, and take action. 

Federal Review Opens on Colorado Wolf Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has opened a federal public comment period reviewing Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program and implementation of the state’s federal 10(j) agreement. The review focuses heavily on livestock conflicts, lethal control, compensation programs, and wolf management policies, and comes amid escalating political pressure to undermine wolf recovery efforts in Colorado.

Please take a moment and submit a comment defending science-informed recovery, proactive coexistence measures, and the long-term future of wolves in the state by June 5.

Farm Bill Full of Harm for Wildlife

The U.S. House recently passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, aka the Farm Bill, kicking off negotiations with the Senate. Unfortunately, the House package includes several harmful wildlife and public lands provisions (as well as impacts on farmed animals), including “Fix Our Forests Act” (FOFA) language that weakens environmental review, grazing riders that prioritize livestock interests over habitat and ecosystem health, and continued attacks from Paul Gosar on protections for the endangered Mexican gray wolf. There were a few important pesticide wins, with advocates successfully stopping some of the worst anti-regulatory provisions.

As the Senate begins work on its version of the bill in the coming weeks, now is the time to urge Senators to oppose the FOFA, grazing, and Gosar wolf riders. Use the Capitol switchboard to call: (202) 224-3121. 

Alaska’s Mulchatna Bear Killing Program Shows Why Reform Matters

In a blow from a court ruling on May 6, Alaska has resumed aerial gunning of bears across roughly 40,000 square miles tied to the Mulchatna caribou herd. Since 2023, nearly 200 bears — including cubs — have been killed under the program, despite ongoing concerns from conservation groups and former state biologists about the lack of clear scientific evidence that mass predator killing will restore caribou populations.

This is a stark example of how state wildlife governance systems operate: major decisions affecting entire ecosystems are often made by politically appointed boards with limited public accountability. Take action: Speak out against Alaska’s bear-killing program and support reform efforts.

Speak Up for Vermont Black Bears by May 20

On May 20, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board will make decisions that will directly impact black bears across the state, including proposals to expand hunting pressure and increase the use of baiting and hounding. Public input is critical to ensuring wildlife policy reflects ecological reality and the values of Vermonters.

Read more, and take action to protect bears. 

“Ballot Box Biology:” The Myth That Stopped Proposition 127—and Could Shape the Future of Wildlife Protection

Vox series on Wildlife for All: America’s fishing paradox

Vox series on Wildlife for All: The strange reason why wildlife agencies want Americans to buy more guns

The Reality of Conservation in the United States

Unreliable Population Estimates Are Guiding Montana Wolf And Florida Black Bear Management

Wildlife Services Killing Wolves: Why a Protected Wolf’s Death Was Not a Mistake

May Wildlife Commission Meetings

Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act: What It Means and What To Do Next

Mulchatna Bear Control: Why Alaska’s Aerial Gunning Program Demands Reform 

Speak Up for Vermont Black Bears by May 20