Echoes of the Tracks: Breanna Ball & the Wyldlife Fund

Joey, Janet and Chris sit down with Breanna Ball with The Wyldlife Fund—a nonprofit partner created in 2019 to help fill funding gaps for Wyoming Game and Fish priorities, with 90% of funds going to on-the-ground work. Breanna shares how the fund has grown from about $500,000 raised in 2020 to over $4.4 million last year, and how that support turns into fast, measurable conservation wins. They talk wildlife crossing projects, including how roughly $1 million in support helped strengthen a federal grant application. Breanna also explains the Red Desert Fence Initiative, prompted after severe 2022–23 pronghorn losses that were made worse by fences and highways. She walks through how research and prioritization tools guide where fence conversions happen, what it can cost, how quickly projects can move, and what "opened habitat" really means. The episode also covers pooled migration fund projects, how private foundations and matching federal dollars multiply impact, ways listeners can donate, and upcoming Mule Deer Days events and seminars featuring the Unwired documentary.  Don't miss Mule Deer Days 2026 — March 13–15, 2026. Mark your calendar and come be part of the biggest weekend for mule deer, conservation, and the hunting community.