Teton Regional Land Trust Blog

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  • Teton Basin

    Because of the rare plant and wide-ranging animal species that depend upon it, the Teton River Basin has been ranked the number one private lands conservation priority area within the entire Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for its combination of irreplaceable ecological value and vulnerability.

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  • Teton Basin

    Steeped in agricultural tradition, farming and ranching remains significant in Teton Basin, benefitting both people and wildlife.

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  • South Fork

    The South Fork Snake River corridor from Swan Valley to Menan Buttes is one of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s most outstanding fish and wildlife resources, including the cottonwood gallery forest along this reach of the river, named the number one wildlife resource in Idaho.

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  • Sand Creek and Middle Henry’s Fork

    Because of the combination of rare plant and animal populations in the area, the Henry’s Fork River is ranked as the number two conservation priority within the entire Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for its irreplaceable ecological value.

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  • Island Park and Shotgun Valley

    The Island Park Caldera, the Henry’s Lake Flat, Shotgun Valley, and the south slope of the Centennial Range make up a large and diverse landscape, where there are is great value for migratory and wintering elk and sage grouse, raptor migration corridors, and expansive habitats of value to many species.

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Upcoming Events and Happenings

Latest Teton Regional Land Trust News

Teton Regional Land Trust Partners with Landowners to Conserve 320 Acres in Prime Wildlife Habitat

Teton Regional Land Trust and a local eastern Idaho family recently…

Teton Regional Land Trust partners with landowners to conserve 140-acre property on the Teton River

Teton Regional Land Trust and an anonymous family recently completed…

Teton Regional Land Trust Launches New Farm Succession Program

Teton Regional Land Trust (TRLT) is located in Driggs, Idaho…

Teton Regional Land Trust Presents the 7th Annual Greater Yellowstone Crane Festival

Teton Regional Land Trust (TRLT) is excited to host the Greater…

Wrun for Wray Targhee Hill Climb Returning for 12th Year with all new Organizers

Teton Regional Land Trust is excited to announce the 12th Wrun…

Teton Regional Land Trust Announces 2024 Michael B Whitfield Scholarship Recipient, Madeline Pentz

Madeline Pentz, formerly of Teton High School, and more recently…
🌿 Michael B. Whitfield Scholarship: Application Deadline Approaching! 🌿 

In honor of Michael B. Whitfield, a founding member and long-time Executive Director of Teton Regional Land Trust, we are proud to offer an annual $2,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior. Michael’s dedication to land conservation in eastern Idaho played a pivotal role in preserving vital landscapes in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Eligibility:

🌿 Must live in the Teton Regional Land Trust service area (Bonneville, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, and Teton counties in Idaho, and Alta, Wyoming).

🌿 Planning to pursue a degree or vocational training in environmental sciences, biology, ecology, environmental planning or policy, agriculture, or a related field.

📅 Deadline: Applications must be received or postmarked by March 28, 2025.

Link in bio!
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#TRLTScholarship #Conservation #LandTrust #EnvironmentalScience #HigherEd #TetonRegionalLandTrust #EasternIdaho #Scholarship
🌾35 Posts for 35 Years: The Beginning 🌾

The inspiration for the Teton Valley Land Trust came from a small group of community members who recognized that their cherished landscapes were at risk. They knew that if these lands were lost, so too would be the region’s agricultural character, vibrant wildlife populations, and incredible scenic beauty. In 1990 the Land Trust was formed.

Early efforts focused on protecting critical habitat and productive farms and ranches in Teton Valley. In 1995, the first project was completed—conserving land near the confluence of Teton Creek and the Teton River.

Since then, the Land Trust has expanded its efforts across six eastern Idaho counties (Bonneville, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, and Teton) and portions of Teton County, Wyoming, merging with the Fremont Heritage Trust along the way. This growth allowed for conservation on a landscape scale and led to a name change—Teton Regional Land Trust.

Over the years, the Land Trust has become a trusted partner in conservation, working with hundreds of landowners, families, and organizations to protect more than 42,000 acres. By working with landowners, we continue to take a voluntary, financially efficient approach to land protection, ensuring that the landscapes we cherish today remain for future generations.🌲 🦌

🎥: Swan, geese, landscape, and river footage by @timbrockish

Owl footage by @devinpoolphoto 
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#TRLT35 #Conservation #TetonRegionalLandTrust #WildlifeHabitat #GYE #TetonValley #Agriculture #SaveOpenSpace
🌷🌿🐥 Happy First Day of Spring!

Today marks the spring equinox, when day and night are nearly equal, and the promise of longer, warmer days begins! As the landscape awakens, we’re excited for the return of Sandhill Cranes and other iconic birds, the first bursts of wildflowers, and the thawing rivers that bring spawning Yellowstone cutthroat trout back to our streams.

Spring is a time of renewal, and we’re grateful to protect the lands and waters that make these seasonal wonders possible—thanks to the help of our incredible supporters. Your generosity helps ensure that wildlife has a place to return to year after year. 🌎💙

What signs of spring are you most excited to see?

📸: Tim Mayo
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#SpringEquinox #TetonValley #WildlifeAwakens #Conservation #TetonRegionalLandTrust #TRLT35 #FirstDayofSpring #Wildlife
🌲🦉Join Us for the First Jackson Hole Birding Festival!

From May 22–25, 2025, bird lovers from near and far will gather in Jackson, Wyoming, to celebrate the incredible diversity of bird life in the Tetons. Hosted at the Center for the Arts, this festival offers unforgettable birding tours, inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, and community events—all set against the stunning backdrop of Jackson Hole’s parks and public lands.

Want to make an even bigger impact? When you register, enter code JHBFTRLT, and $45 from your registration will be donated to Teton Regional Land Trust—helping to protect vital habitats for the birds you love. (Don’t worry if you don’t see the discount reflected; the donation will be made after you register.)

Join us for this exciting new tradition and be part of something truly special. 

Registration link in bio!
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#JacksonHoleBirdingFestival #Birding #TetonBirds #WildlifeConservation #TetonRegionalLandTrust #JacksonHole #TRLT35
🌿🐻 We are excited to share that Teton Regional Land Trust and a dedicated eastern Idaho family have permanently protected 320 acres in Island Park. This conservation easement preserves grizzly bear habitat, wetlands, and open grazing lands—ensuring that both wildlife and agriculture can thrive for generations.

The Tom’s Creek property is a vital inholding within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, surrounded by protected state and federal lands. It provides critical habitat for migrating pronghorn, grizzlies, gray wolves, Great Gray Owls, and many other species. The property also includes Tom’s Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo River that flows into the Henry’s Fork, supporting rich wetland vegetation.

This marks the third conservation easement completed with this family, who have worked with the Land Trust for over a decade. Their dedication to conservation extends across nearly 1,000 acres in Fremont County.

“Our family chose Teton Regional Land Trust because of their continued commitment to agriculture and agricultural families,” said the landowner. “We want to ensure the protection of our ground for future generations of farming and ranching. Humans cannot live without food. It is that simple. And this allows us to continue to do what we love and fulfill our family’s commitment to protect agriculture for future generations.”

Funding for this project came from @usfws through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Vital Ground, the Cross Charitable Foundation, and private donations to our Conservation Action Fund.
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#Conservation #WildlifeHabitat #GrizzlyBear #IslandPark #LandProtection #TetonRegionalLandTrust #Agriculture #WorkingLands #TRLT35
Did you know?🦉

The Great Gray Owl is the largest owl by length in North America, reaching up to 33 inches tall! Despite their size, these majestic birds are incredibly silent hunters, thanks to specialized feathers that muffle sound. With their keen hearing, they can detect prey moving under deep snow and will plunge through it to catch a meal. Unlike many other owls, Great Gray Owls prefer dense forests near open meadows, making healthy woodland habitats essential for their survival.

At Teton Regional Land Trust, we work to protect the landscapes these incredible owls call home. 🦉🌲

📸: Tim Mayo
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#GreatGrayOwl #Wildlife #Conservation #TetonRegionalLandTrust #TRLT35
🏃‍♂️🌲 The countdown is on—just three and a half months until the annual Wrun for Wray Targhee Hill Climb!

Register now and join us on Saturday, June 28, at 10 AM for this challenging and fun 2.9-mile race at Grand Targhee Resort. Whether you run or walk, all ages and abilities are welcome as we honor the legacy of Wray Landon IV.

🏃‍♂️ Registration is $45 until June 27, 2025.
🏃‍♂️ $55 day-of in the Trap Bar.
🏃‍♂️ First 100 registrants get a commemorative Wrun for Wray hat!

After the race, stick around for a celebration—all proceeds support the Wray Landon Legacy Fund at Teton Regional Land Trust. This event is a tribute to Wray’s dedication to conservation and the lasting impact of his work.

Sign up now: https://www.ticketsignup.io/Race/WY/Alta/WrunForWray
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#WrunForWray #TargheeHillClimb #Conservation #TetonRegionalLandTrust #HillClimb
📣 Calling all Teton County Residents!

Teton County, ID Board of County Commissioners are holding a Special Meeting on Thursday, March 13 at 6pm in the Commissioners' Meeting Room for a Town Hall Listening Session regarding all of Teton County's advisory committees, including the Wildlife Advisory Committee. The purpose of the meeting is to hear public comment. We encourage Teton County, ID residents to attend the meeting and participate in the public comment.
🌿 Property Spotlight: Kruse Pine Creek Bench 

Teton Regional Land Trust’s first conservation easement in Bonneville County—and one of our first ever—was the Kruse Pine Creek Bench Property, protected in 1997 by Joseph and LaVerne Kruse. This stunning 800-acre property provides critical winter range habitat for elk, moose, mule deer, and sage grouse. The rocky outcroppings along the bench rim create ideal hunting grounds for birds of prey, while the South Fork of the Snake River below supports a rich diversity of waterfowl, migratory birds, and fish species.

This conservation easement was made possible through funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and the Bonneville Power Administration, ensuring long-term protection for both wildlife and agricultural uses. Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holds the easement, while Teton Regional Land Trust continues to steward the land.

Over the years, the property was divided among three dedicated landowners—Bart & Jennifer Barber, Ken Clark, and Clark Hamilton—all of whom remain committed to caring for this special place.

By working together, we can protect habitat connectivity and preserve the landscapes that make our region so unique. 💚
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#ConservationInAction #WildlifeHabitat #TetonRegionalLandTrust #ProtectWhatYouLove #ConservationEasement #SouthForkSnakeRiver #HabitatConnectivity #WildlifeCorridors #TRLT35