Conservation: It takes a village — and you’re part of it.
There’s a saying that works just as well for conservation as it does for raising kids: it takes a village.
Because when grizzly bears start showing up in their natural habitat for the first time in decades, it’s not just a conservation milestone, it’s a turning point for local communities.
And thanks to you, that turning point is being met with leadership and shared learning.
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative vision is working. Wildlife corridors are being restored and core habitat is being reconnected. This means grizzly bear and wolf populations are recovering and expanding into regions where they haven’t been seen for generations.
The tension of that success is very real in the Creston Valley, a small town nestled between the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges in British Columbia (B.C.).
When more grizzly bears began showing up in farmland, orchards, backcountry trails, and near homes it was exciting to see the population increasing, but it could also be unnerving!
The Creston Valley residents and community leaders saw the need for action, and they reached out to Y2Y for help.
That’s where you came in. With your help, we hosted and facilitated a community gathering in March 2025. Ranchers, farmers, First Nations, biologists, town staff, and residents came together to craft a community game plan to help people and wildlife safely coexist.
The community brainstormed and agreed on several priorities and needs. They wanted more bear safety and awareness information. They wanted inspiring community events. And along with these great ideas the community needed someone to coordinate and lead the activities.
With support from Y2Y donors, the Trails for Creston Valley Society hosted the Creston Bear Fair on June 28. The Bear Fair drew more than 200 valley residents, who enjoyed bear spray demos, wildlife awareness and education displays, and information on reducing wildlife attractants.
We’ve also partially funded a new wildlife coexistence coordinator, who’s planning and managing the community’s ongoing Wildsmart initiatives.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to community-led conservation. As communities reach out to Y2Y for help, we listen and respond to their needs.
Your donations are equipping communities with resources to safely enjoy and coexist with wildlife. From the Elk Valley to the Bitterroot Valley your support helps cover the costs of:
- Community-led educational events
- Bear-resistant bins
- Fruit tree management and replacement programs
- Attractant awareness and removal
- Conflict-reduction initiatives in rural areas
As Nadine Raynolds, Y2Y’s director of communities and conservation shares. “If we want grizzly bears on the landscape, it’s everyone’s responsibility to coexist. We’re all in this together. It’s wonderful that our donors are supporting this critical community-led work. And it’s amazing what these communities can do with very modest amounts of money.”
You make it possible for Y2Y to show up, listen, share knowledge between communities, and invest in grassroots solutions.
You’re not just expanding wildlife ranges — you’re expanding the essential knowledge communities need to coexist with wildlife.
Becoming a monthly donor means that communities across the region aren’t left to figure out coexistence on their own. You’ll help communities adapt, respond, and lead in the face of change.
Thank you for being a vital part of the village making coexistence possible.
