Rust previously served as the President and CEO of Palo Alto, California’s Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), retiring in 2011 after 24 years with the organization.  Rust is credited with raising $325 million to protect 53,000 acres in the Bay Area.  In addition to numerous accolades for her conservation work, Rust was most recently honored with the Land Trust Alliance’s Kingsbury Browne Conservation Leadership Award, which recognizes “outstanding leadership, innovation and creativity in land conservation.”

By joining the 12-member Board, Rust brings her extensive land conservation and fundraising experience to American Prairie Reserve’s ongoing efforts to build the largest wildlife reserve in the continental United States. American Prairie Reserve currently spans more than 123,000 acres in northeastern Montana and aims to connect 3.5 million acres of public and private land for wildlife habitat and public recreation.

“The opportunity to be involved in re-establishing the quintessential hallmark of the great American West is irresistible.  The Board and staff of American Prairie Reserve are on their way to assure that this legacy will endure.  Of course I want to be part of that!” said Rust.

Sean Gerrity, the Reserve’s President and fellow Board member, is equally enthusiastic about Rust’s decision. “Audrey’s passion for landscape-scale conservation and her ability to think big and achieve great things make her an ideal fit for a project of this scale.”

Click here to see a full list of APR’s Board of Directors.

Over the years, we’ve found that the name American Prairie Foundation could be confusing.  Many people thought we were a grant-making organization and that we focused on prairie restoration as a whole, rather than our very specific goal of building a multi-million acre wildlife reserve in northeastern Montana.

This change also reflects our progress in building American Prairie Reserve. Today, while still surely a work in progress, the Reserve spans more than 123,000 acres of public and private land. It is already a haven for outdoors enthusiasts and is home to an expanding herd of bison and diversity of grassland species. The Reserve is also growing in popularity with independent travelers and groups, such as National Geographic Student Expeditions, who consider the Reserve to be a national treasure in the making.

We will continue to operate with the same focus and effectiveness that you have grown accustomed to over the years –even our logo will remain nearly identical. You shouldn’t experience any interruption in your interactions with us, and we’ve included a few frequently asked questions on the bottom of this post to help answer questions you may have.

I hope that you are encouraged by the news and will continue to support our effort to reconnect this vast landscape. We anticipate that the next ten years will be a period of great expansion and increasing public enjoyment of American Prairie Reserve, and I encourage you to make the journey with us.

Warm regards,
Sean Gerrity
President, American Prairie Reserve

Frequently Asked Questions

Question:  Will American Prairie Reserve have the same tax ID number as American Prairie Foundation for donation purposes?
Answer:  Yes, our tax ID number and non-profit 501(c)(3) status will remain the same and be listed as American Prairie Foundation doing business as American Prairie Reserve.

Question: If I have listed American Prairie Foundation as a beneficiary in my will or other estate plans, do I need to make any changes to reflect the name change to American Prairie Reserve?
Answer: No changes are necessary.  Our legal name will remain American Prairie Foundation.  We will be using the assumed business name American Prairie Reserve going forward to better represent our efforts.

Question: Will my donations given to American Prairie Reserve continue to be tax deductible?
Answer: Absolutely!  While our legal name and non-profit status is American Prairie Foundation, your donations to American Prairie Reserve as our assumed business name are fully tax-deductible within the IRS regulations.

In his first entry for the internet newspaper, entitled Re-kindling America’s Golden Era of Building Large-Scale Parks and Reserves, Sean explains, “I don’t believe our window of opportunity has closed on building new big reserves; not yet anyway. But we need to be much more creative and more optimistic if we are going to breathe new life into, and reawaken, that Golden Era.”

Click here to read the full article on the Huffington Post.

“We’re excited to be part of the launch of this great new program established by Northern Lights,” says Dick Dolan, Managing Director for APF.  “After a decade of working to build American Prairie Reserve, we understand the importance of partnerships and engaging the public in conservation. As the Reserve grows and more people visit, we are realizing our vision of a vast landscape where people, especially kids, can still experience nature and wildlife on a grand scale.”

American Prairie Reserve is a growing destination for outdoor enthusiasts in Montana and beyond.

American Prairie Reserve currently spans more than 123,000 acres and will someday connect approximately 3.5 million acres of public and private land, making it the largest wildlife reserve in the lower 48 states. In addition to wildlife viewing, the Reserve is open to the public for camping, biking, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. Sportsmen have access to more than seventy percent of the Reserve’s privately owned land through enrollment in the state’s block management program.

“We’re excited to be a part of the growth of such an amazing project,” says Mike Garcia, owner of Northern Lights Trading Company.  “We established the Community Fund with organizations like American Prairie Foundation in mind.  Dick and the folks at APF are trying to restore a portion of Montana to its natural state.  We support their efforts not only to preserve this unique ecosystem, but also to create a place that is accessible and enjoyable for everyone.”

Northern Lights Trading Company established their Community Fund with the goal of clearly demonstrating the direct and positive effects of a consumer’s local spending on the Bozeman community.  They have committed to donating $1,000 per month to a selection of conservation and human interest organizations that help make Montana a great place to live and recreate.

For more information on the Northern Lights Community Fund grants you can visit their website at www.NorthernLightsTrading.com or call 406-586-2225.  Northern Lights Trading Company is a locally owned, Bozeman-based company, serving the Gallatin Valley for over thirty years.

Student Expeditions on the Reserve in 2011 - Photo Courtesy of Erika Skogg

The National Geographic Student Expeditions program is returning to American Prairie Reserve in 2012. As part of the 12-day trips that take high school students to the depths of the Reserve and Yellowstone National Park, participants have the opportunity to advance their photography skills and be immersed in wildlife conservation. However, it’s not just the landscapes that participants find inspiring, as recounted by 2011 participants:

“All of the students were so nice, intellectually curious, passionate about wildlife/conservation or photography, and happy and excited to be there with the group. I have never been with so many like-minded people before; it really made a difference in the trip to know that someone had the same perspective, curiosity and passion that I had.”

“Taking great photos and bonding with people gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment. Personally, I gained the ability to be more confident with my photography and myself.”

With such a positive response, National Geographic has planned two Yellowstone & Montana Student Expeditions trips this year: June 29-July 10 and July 13-24. Beginning and ending in Bozeman, MT, participants will spend the first 5 days “on assignment” on American Prairie Reserve, staying in the Reserve’s unique yurt camp facility surrounded by wide open spaces. American Prairie Reserve currently spans more than 123,000 acres of public and private land – bigger than Acadia, Bryce Canyon, and Wind Cave National Parks combined.

2011 Student Expedition at Yurt Camp - Photo Courtesy of Erika Skogg

Activities range from photo safaris and hikes to Native American cultural sites to helping scientists conduct an annual count of newborn bison calves. With more than 200 bison in the APR herd by the time students arrive on the prairie, we’re confident that the photographers will get plenty of once-in-a-lifetime bison shots and interactions.

Expedition Campfire 2011 - Photo Courtesy of Erika Skogg

Nights will be spent by the campfire enjoying all that Big Sky Country offers – a perfect opportunity to stare up at the Milky Way and count as many constellations as you can name. Falling asleep to coyote songs, students will awaken each day on the Reserve with a backstage pass to what National Geographic has called “one of the country’s most ambitious conservation efforts.”

The 12-day Yellowstone/Montana adventure costs $4,590, excluding airfare, and there are limited scholarship opportunities available.

As a parent, this might also be a gift that helps your child explore their interests and independence in way that fosters growth and learning. A parent of one of last year’s students said this about her daughter’s experience:

“[She] came back very energized, both mentally and physically… [She] loved the APR. She loved the wild vastness. Her major in college is Environmental Studies with a minor in Ecotourism. She feels that she learned a lot that she can carry forward in her studies.”

For more information on the program, including the incredible itinerary for the Yellowstone portion of the trip, please visit the Yellowstone & Montana Student Expeditions web page. National Geographic also offers a full range of student summer programs around the world, which you can learn about on the main Expeditions website.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight - a recent sunset on the sea of grass. (Photo by Dennis Lingohr, January 2012)

A concept that resonates with many of the people we talk to is thinking about the prairie like a huge body of water, a sea of grass. During our first Volunteer Work Safari this year, a participant from California compared the Reserve to the ocean, complete will rolling waves of native grasses and a distant horizon that would make even a sailor feel at home. Driving around the Reserve to various work projects, we often discussed the sensation of floating along, a boat set adrift among pronghorn and sharp-tailed grouse.

For those who have yet to visit this immense landscape, staff at American Prairie Foundation are working to bring the prairie to you. In 2012, we are visiting with outdoor enthusiasts, sportsmen, birders, scientists, animal lovers, history buffs and other supporters to tell you the story of something BIG. Appropriately, our first stop is the Big Apple.

DID YOU KNOW that American Prairie Reserve is already larger than Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island combined?

With 2 upcoming events in New York City this month, we invite you to join us at one of the gatherings below and learn more about our progress:

Urban Angler: Tuesday, January 24

Wine & Hors d’oeuvres: 6pm
Presentation: 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Urban Angler Fly Shop
206 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 689-6400

REI Soho: Wednesday, January 25

Presentation: 7pm – 8:30pm

NOTE: Attendees must register for this event
on the REI website – click here to register.

REI Soho Store
202 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012

December 2011/January 2012

A Message from the President

Sean Gerrity, APF President

As we begin the new year, I’m filled with gratitude for all of the contributors who have helped make American Prairie Reserve a reality. From our dedicated Board members who work tirelessly to ensure that the project thrives, to those stepping forward for the first time as anniversary contributors, the tangible impact of our supporters is evident everywhere on the Reserve. I’m very excited about the 70 new bison that will be coming to our herd this winter, as well as the improvements we’re making to visitor facilities. None of this would be possible without your continuing support. With significant potential for growth ahead of us in 2012, I hope you will consider becoming a part of this legacy of conservation by making a 10th Anniversary gift.

Your Donations at Work: New Information Boxes on the Reserve

Meg Nicolo, Events & Visitation Manager

Your generous gifts continue to drive our efforts to provide visitor-friendly services on the Reserve. This winter, we installed a new information box at Reserve Headquarters, with a second to be installed at Buffalo Camp this spring.

Become an Anniversary Contributor

In celebration of American Prairie Foundation’s ten-year anniversary, we have launched a virtual Anniversary Giving Wall on our website highlighting the names of those who have stepped forward as anniversary contributors.

Wildlife Species: Bobcat

Despite being twice the size of a domestic house cat, the bobcat is the smallest of Montana’s native cat species. While bobcats can be found in a variety of habitat, they typically prefer rocky country and grassland shrubs. Largely nocturnal, bobcats are solitary hunters that feed on jackrabbits and other mid-sized prey. Although bobcats have five toes on their forepaws, the fifth toe does not leave a mark because of its high position on the paw. The bobcat’s average lifespan is 12-13 years in the wild.

Bison Import Update: Bison Calves Coming Home

Bison Calf, Photo By Dennis Lingohr

American Prairie Reserve’s bison herd will grow significantly this winter with the addition of 70 new calves (35 males and 35 females) from Canada’s Elk Island National Park. Elk Island staff rounded up the animals in November, and the bison have now undergone disease and genetic testing. After a waiting period, the calves will be transported across the border to American Prairie Reserve, where they will undergo additional testing before being released into the APR herd in March.

WWF Update: 2011 Mountain Plover Field Work Continues

A native of the short-grass prairie, the mountain plover is a shorebird considered a “species of concern” by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks due to dwindling numbers. This year, World Wildlife Fund provided significant funding for Iowa State University (ISU) researchers conducting their 17th consecutive year of mountain plover research in the American Prairie Reserve area.

What did they find? »

Two of 15 geolocator collars deployed in 2010 were recovered this season, providing researchers with the first ever migration tracking data for mountain plovers. An additional nine geolocators were deployed in 2011 with plans to deploy 11 more in 2012. The researchers also conducted mountain plover nest surveys, recording a record low 28 nests, which they attribute to the ongoing effects of Sylvatic plague reducing active prairie dog colony acreage, and the unusually wet springs the region experienced over the past two years. This finding highlights the importance of APF’s and WWF’s ongoing efforts to protect and expand prairie dog habitat in the region.

Sights to See: Malta Museums

Located in the town of Malta 50 miles north of American Prairie Reserve, The Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station and the Phillips County Museum can be found in the same complex. Both museums take visitors on a journey through the region’s rich history, from prehistoric times through the years of westward expansion and settlement.

What We’re Reading Now

Through personal anecdotes and vivid stories, Beverly Hungry Wolf takes readers into the life of a Blackfoot community in The Ways of My Grandmothers.

Get the Guest Review by Diane Hargreaves »

Using the term “grandmothers” to describe both family position and the larger role of elder women in the tribe, Hungry Wolf communicates a sense of pride in her heritage as she writes from her own experiences and those of her “grandmothers.” The book introduces readers to personal and tribal histories as well as stories and wisdom passed down generationally and examines the different roles and tasks, both modern and traditional, of Blackfeet women. The book is recommended for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the native cultures that shaped the American Prairie Reserve region.

View all of our Recommended Reads.

By the Numbers: Our Donor Community

Photo By Diane Hargreaves

341   Names on our Anniversary Giving Wall as of Dec. 30th.
49     States represented by our contributors.
28     Montana communities that are home to APF donors.
8       Countries our donors live in.

As you look back on 2011, American Prairie Foundation’s 10th anniversary, you will find that it was a year of expanding our reach, from donor support to bringing people to the prairie. It was a year full of firsts: the opening of our first public campground, our first citizen-scientist BioBlitz event, the building of our first hiking trail, and our first Volunteer Work Safari.

Looking to 2012, we are excited and pleased to report that there are many more firsts on the way, in addition to the traditions that we have grown to love and look forward to on American Prairie Reserve each year. We’re working to enhance visitor experiences, especially for families and independent travelers, and hitting the road to share our story and the Reserve with people from coast to coast – and abroad!

You will soon meet the 70 new bison calves coming to the Reserve in January and learn more about all of the incredible science work that wouldn’t be possible without our science partner, World Wildlife Fund. You will also hear about our ever-expanding opportunities for habitat acquisition and the ways we are working to improve habitat on the lands we already own.

More than anything, we hope that you will continue to expect BIG things from American Prairie Foundation. With thanks to our friends and supporters, we know that we can achieve our vision. To see who has contributed already this year, please visit our 10th Anniversary Giving Wall. And if you like what we have accomplished in 2011, we hope that you will consider making an anniversary gift before the end of the year to help us make 2012 even better.

The APF Staff poses for this year's Holiday Card at the new office in Bozeman, MT.

Introducing the 2011 APF Holiday Card! You might notice some new faces this year in addition to smiling faces that you’ve seen around our office for the last decade.

One of 70 bison calves that will make the journey to American Prairie Reserve in early 2012. Photo by Dennis Jorgensen/World Wildlife Fund at Elk Island National Park in Alberta last week.

Edmonton Journal reporter Jody Simmena visited with Parks Canada, American Prairie Foundation and World Wildlife Fund staff at Elk Island National Park last week. By witnessing conservation in action, she was able to share with readers a detailed account of the bison transfer process and explain the precautions and specialized facilities and protocols that are in place for handling such animals:

To keep the animals calm, there is no yelling or prodding. They are not sedated, but the bison are given a Gatorade-like liquid in the penned area to help them rehydrate from stressful sweating. Everyone speaks quietly as the young bison — only seven months old — are prepared for their trip south. Shipping more territorial and frisky 2,300-pound grown bulls would be a challenge, to say the least.

The story also includes the experiences of volunteers that were present for the week-long prepping of the bison for transfer, which includes disease testing and vaccinations. Echoing our recent video with E. O. Wilson speaking about children and nature, Simmena reports:

Alistair Bath flew in from Newfoundland with his 14-year-old son to take part in the experience.

“We need to figure out ways to get children outside again,” says Bath, who does work in the human dimensions of wildlife program at Memorial University. He speaks about “nature deficit disorder” in children and the need to reintroduce them to the wild.

“We have to get them turning over the rocks again, finding bugs,” or, on a grander scale, seeing bison up close or from afar, Bath says.

To read the entire article, including quotes from APF’s Bryce Christensen and WWF’s Northern Great Plains Program Officer, Dennis Jorgensen, please visit one of the links below:

• Edmonton Journal
• Ottawa Citizen
• Vancouver Sun
• Canada.com