Welcome to 2026, friends. If last year felt like twelve rounds in the ring, you’re not alone. But here we are—still standing, still focused, and ready for what’s next.

There’s something about the turn of the year that sharpens resolve (and (apparently has us thinking in sports analogies). Maybe it’s the collective exhale after a bruising season. Maybe it’s the stubborn optimism required to do this work in the first place. Whatever the reason, this moment reminds us that meaningful change doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect conditions—it comes from training hard, showing up, and refusing to sit out the tough rounds.

At Wildlife for All, that’s exactly how we’re approaching 2026. We’re doubling down on the stories that move people, the organizing that grows power, and the governance reforms that shift the entire playing field. We’re building stronger networks, supporting leaders in every corner of the country, expanding our tools and trainings, and stepping ahead of the opposition instead of just reacting to them. This year is about being smarter, faster, and more coordinated than ever.

Our team is entering 2026 with a clear strategy, a united bench of partners, and the kind of persistence that keeps a movement standing even when the odds look uneven. And we’re grateful to be in this fight with you—our corner crew, our fellow advocates, our co-conspirators for a future where wildlife governance is democratic, science-based, and rooted in justice.

If you want a deeper look at how we’re approaching the year ahead—from narrative strategy to governance reform to our expanding organizing pipeline—you can dive into the full blog here:

→ Read The Next Round: WFA’s 2026 Game Plan for Champions

So here’s to a new year of never giving up—whether we’re protecting mountain goats or becoming G.O.A.T.s* ourselves.

Cheers,

Michelle

* In case you’re not familiar, G.O.A.T. stands for Greatest of All Time.

Building Power for Wildlife Justice 

This fall, something powerful happened. More than 50 people from across the country stepped forward to apply for our grassroots organizing training, Building Power for Wildlife Justice, a clear sign that people are ready to organize for real change in how wildlife decisions are made.

Later this month, our first cohort of more than 20 participants will begin meeting, representing states, communities, and lived experiences too often excluded from wildlife governance. Together, they’ll build skills, relationships, and strategies to take on entrenched systems and win science-based, democratic outcomes for wildlife.

This is about growing durable power: people finding each other, sharing tools, and committing to long-term change. This is what movement-building looks like.

January Commission Meetings

A new year brings a fresh start—and January wildlife commission meetings help set the tone for the months ahead. Early decisions can shape priorities, policies, and momentum long before most people are paying attention. Commissioners begin laying groundwork for rulemakings, hunting seasons, and management decisions that affect wildlife all year long. Public presence and accountability early in the year can influence what comes next.

If your state has a January meeting, it’s a chance to show up, stay informed, and remind decision-makers that wildlife is held in trust for everyone—not just a powerful few. New year, same responsibility: defend science, democracy, and wildlife where decisions are made.

What We’re Watching: State Wildlife Updates

Across the country, state wildlife decisions are revealing both alarming threats—and real progress. Here’s where harm and hope are showing up right now, and how you can engage.

UTAH: State officials are advancing a so-called “study” that would eliminate all mountain lions—adults and kittens—in six hunt units to increase mule deer numbers. With only a little more than 1,000 lions statewide and strong evidence that carnivore extermination backfires ecologically, in-state partners warn this could destabilize ecosystems and increase conflict— treating sentient animals as expendable tools rather than living beings within a functioning ecosystem.

Take action: Sign our partner Utah Mountain Lion Conservation’s petition and, if you live in Utah, contact your legislators to demand a halt to this study.

FLORIDA: A black bear hunt is currently underway, reviving a pattern of rushed decision-making, questionable population data, and disregard for public input. As reports come in, advocates are tracking impacts closely.

Stay engaged: Watch for updates and be ready to submit comments and speak out as more information becomes available.

MONTANA: In a major win, a federal judge halted a 40,000-acre logging project north of Yellowstone after finding failures to protect grizzly bear and lynx habitat. The ruling reinforces that wildlife protections—and public process—still matter.

Why it matters: This decision safeguards a critical wildlife corridor and sets an important precedent for science-based land management.

CALIFORNIA: At last month’s commission meeting, the Department of Fish and Game presented a report demonstrating that protections are warranted for six mountain lion subpopulations, bringing this keystone species closer to permanent protections under the California Endangered Species Act. A final decision is expected at the commission meeting in February.

Take action: Email the Fish and Game Commission at fgc@fgc.ca.gov urging them to finalize strong, science-based protections.

Harm and hope coexist—but public pressure can help determine which one wins.

Federal Wolf Delisting Watch: What’s Happening in Congress

In late December, the U.S. House passed H.R. 845, a bill introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert that would remove federal protections for gray wolves nationwide and block courts from reviewing that decision. While the bill facing an uphill battle in the Senate, this move signals a serious threat to science-based wildlife conservation.

If passed by the senate, H.R. 845 would reinstate a Trump-era wolf delisting rule that was overturned by the courts for ignoring the best available science. Even more concerning, the bill would further set a dangerous precedent by once again allowing Congress to legislatively delist a species and shut out judicial oversight as they did with Northern Rockies wolves in 2011 — opening the door for political attacks on other imperiled wildlife.

What’s next: Senate sponsors could introduce H.R. 845 at any time in 2026. Wildlife for All and our partners are closely tracking developments and mobilizing in key districts to defend the Endangered Species Act and keep wolf recovery guided by ethics and ecology, not hatred and greed.

Thank You for an Incredible 2025

Now that we’re moving into 2026, we’re deeply grateful to everyone who stood with Wildlife for All last year. Because of your support, we elevated powerful wildlife stories, strengthened public engagement in state wildlife policy, and pushed for more ethical, science-based conservation across the country.

Every action you took — sharing our work, speaking up, or giving — helped move wildlife reform forward. Thank you for being part of this growing movement. We’re carrying this momentum straight into 2026, together.

👉 Read our full 2025 Year in Review

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2025 Year In Review

The Next Round: WFA’s 2026 Game Plan for Champions

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