Program areas at Meg and Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund
The Meg and Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund gave out a record number of grants in 2023. It provided 16 grants (up from 13 in 2022) for a total of $78,502. The majority of them were $5,000 or less, with one at $6,000 to continue vital raptor research, and another of $20,000 to the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation Nature Mapping, a citizen science program supported by Raynes Wildlife Fund since its inception.
Public outreach projects inclued an amphibian exhibit, equipment, such as binoculars to middle-school students to participate in nature observation in a citizen science project on a local butte, and continued support for "Sporting Lead Free" to reduce toxic lead shot used by hunters. We contiue to increase awareness of the Fund. In 2023, we sent out 2-3 e-news to over 500 donors, grantees, and organizations with mutual interests. Our website has been enhanced. Also our annual request through Old Bill's, the community-wide-philanthropic effort coordinated by Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, has become more personalized and effective. As we have more requests each year for our funds, we continue to strive to increase donor awareness and generosity. And to continue the legacy of conservation established by our name sake Meg and Bert Raynes.
Our small grants provide vital support to graduate students and professional biologists researching ways to understand and steward the wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in NW Wyoming. Grantees studied populations moose genetics in and outside Grand Teton National Park, as well as ongoing projects on flower phenology-the timing of flower blooms in light of climate change, birds including harlequin ducks and sagebrush bird species; and smaller creatures such as boreal toads.