Based on our population estimates, loon numbers are decreasing by 6% annually – a shockingly high number that means that lakes on which many vacationers have always heard loons are now falling silent. Since learning of loon population declines two years ago, we have been investigating the causes of the declines in Wisconsin.

Pangolins, wearing the equivalent of an armour of expensive nail clippings, are suffering and being killed relentlessly - numbers are likely in the tens of thousands per year. One of the leading causes of death for this mammal is electrocution due to the large number of wildlife fences bordering most properties in South Africa. They are also sadly easy to poach.

2% for Conservation welcome Jesse Bone and Kalvyn Ferronato to their board of directors. Jess Johnson was unanimously elected by supporting board members as the Board Chair. Jeff Sposito, President and CEO of 2% Certified brand Stone Glacier and creator of 2% for Conservation, has stepped down from his two-term role as Board Chair.

How do you give back your time to conservation as a small business? That’s a question hundreds of our members tackle every year, as they pursue the “1% of time donated to wildlife” portion of our 2% Certification. It’s why we at 2% for Conservation devote more than 50% of our team’s efforts to helping our members find places to give back to wildlife in a meaningful way.

Last year, Mike Schmillen and members of his River City Tile & Stone crew drove a couple skid steers all the way from their home near the Twin Cities to southwestern Montana. Why? To help remove miles of old fencing that were blocking wildlife migration routes in a part of the country where they had enjoyed taking recreational trips in the past. Read his story…

Recently, some folks from our local Trout Unlimited office reached out in search of volunteers to help them with a cool new project in the Gallatin watershed. It’s called an “Aquatic Organism Passage Assessment”, and instead of totally fowling up describing what that is and what its purpose is, we’ll let them do the talking!

Growing up on a cattle ranch in Gallatin Gateway, Montana provided me with a childhood unlike any other and instilled in me an appreciation for open space. I had endless acres to run around and explore. I got to fish, horseback ride and hike right out my front door. I didn’t fully appreciate what an incredible opportunity this was until it was gone.

My involvement in the outdoors started at a young age skiing and hiking with my family. At that time, my sister and I would roll our eyes each time our parents said, “Wow, look at that view” and I would get led into ski school by my younger sister crying. As I grew up, I found my own love for the outdoors through rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and camping with friends.