Dear friends,

Last month, I wrote about grief and courage—how we keep going in the face of loss. This month, I’ve been thinking about who we keep going for. 

I can sum up who we fight for with one word:

peo·ple /ˈpēp(ə)l/: individuals of value.

At different points in history, entire groups of people—women, people of color, children, the elderly—were not recognized as fully human. Over time, through struggle and a little enlightenment, they (and in some cases, we) were welcomed into the community of individuals of value. And yet, even now, some remain excluded.

Ask a child, though—before the world has told them otherwise—and they’ll tell you plainly: she is a person, he is a person, they are people too. And often, they’ll point to animals as well. Because deep down, we all used to know that every being is an individual of value.

What’s more, we are all members of a family. Not just the one we’re born into, but the one we define. That family can be people of different species or the same gender. That family might be small and intimate or vast and wild—but it’s still family.

At Wildlife for All, we believe in the family of all life—and we fight to defend it. The strong ones, and the vulnerable, the bold ones, the small and shy ones, the all too often overlooked and the imperiled: beavers, bison, bobcats, bugs, and so many more.

That’s why the current federal administration’s escalating attacks on wildlife protections are so dangerous. They aren’t just policy disputes—they’re threats to members of our family. And because most wildlife governance happens at the state level, we need to be bold in reforming those systems, demanding courageous leadership, and showing courage ourselves.

We’ve seen throughout history that when people expand their circle of care, they change the world. Now it’s our turn to do the same—for all our relatives.

With resolve and solidarity,
Michelle

Moving and Catching Our Breath

August was a month of movement for Wildlife for All. Mandy moved from Kansas to Oregon. Michelle traveled to Mexico in search of jaguars and to escape emails and devices. Gladys traveled to Yellowstone National Park before joining the team as our new Organizing Manager. But that doesn’t mean the work didn’t progress. For example, we just surpassed 11,000 followers on Instagram—a testament to the storytelling power that Wildlife for All is bringing to new audiences!

Planning and Plotting the Resistance

While August was full of transitions, we didn’t pause on building power for wildlife justice. We’ve been closely tracking federal attacks on public lands and wildlife protections—including threats to the Roadless Rule, the Clean Water Act, the Boundary Waters, and the Endangered Species Act. These rollbacks illustrate the urgent need for systemic change at every level of governance and why our work in states is so vital. We have to create safeguards for when federal protections fail.

We’re also shining a light on state wildlife commissions—how they consistently prioritize political and industry interests over science, ethics, and the public. From Montana to Florida, South Dakota to Colorado, our media work is building a new level of accountability, exposing patterns of mismanagement, and connecting them to the broader federal threats we face.

All of this feeds directly into our Distributed Organizing Training Program, Building Power for Wildlife Justice, where we are training a new generation of advocates to organize in their communities and build power for justice. These trainings are where awareness turns into action, and individual concern transforms into systemic change. More to come on this soon.

Reading and Building Resilience

We’ve also been taking some time to read and get inspired by others’ story-telling. We were especially excited to see Rebecca Solnit’s essay, “On Not Surrendering in Advance (Or At Any Point Thereafter)”, where she calls out the very reason we exist when she explains “One of the ways attention to politics falls short is when it only pays attention to the federal government, not international, state, or local bodies, who also, for example, determine climate policy and other important matters.” Read the whole piece if you’re looking for further inspiration.
For more reading—and some good news that accountability still occurs—check out our recent blog on the indictment of the Wyoming wolf torturer.

Honoring Don Molde’s Legacy: A New Award for Courage and Compassion

This fall, Wildlife for All and our coalition partners are launching something close to our hearts: the Molde Award for Compassion & Courage (working title).

The award is named for our dear friend and advisor Dr. Don Molde, who passed away last month after a lifetime of fierce, principled advocacy for wildlife. Don was never afraid to speak truth to power—whether defending coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, or countless other species too often vilified or ignored. He coupled that courage with deep compassion, humility, and a generous spirit that inspired everyone around him.

The Molde Award will be given annually to individuals who embody these same qualities: those who stand up for wildlife with integrity, bravery, and heart. In honoring Don’s legacy, we hope to lift up the heroes among us—past, present, and future—who remind us why this work matters and how much one life can change.

We’ll be sharing more details in the coming months, including how you can nominate someone for the first award.

Cody Roberts Indicted: A Step Toward Justice for Wolves

Cody Roberts, the Wyoming man who gruesomely tortured and killed a wolf in 2024, has been indicted by a grand jury. While this marks a legal victory, it underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform in state wildlife governance to prevent such atrocities in the future.

September Wildlife Commission Meetings: A Crucial Moment for Reform

This month, wildlife commissions across states like Vermont, Wisconsin, and Oregon are convening to make decisions that will affect countless species. Many proposals on the table prioritize politics and special interests over science, ethics, and ecological health. It’s imperative for advocates to engage and ensure that wildlife protection remains a priority. Read more, and find out what’s happening this month in your state.