How Wyoming Ranks Second In Wildlife Conservation Efforts

When you think about Wyoming, animals definitely come to mind. Elk, deer, antelope, bison, moose, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, wolves, bears, mountain goats, aquatic life, birds of prey, waterfowl, and upland birds are all extremely important to the states livlihood, and a new survey by SmileHub shows that we do a good job of taking care of them.

When it comes to wildlife conservation, Wyoming ranks second in the country. It really makes sense that we're so high on the list, with the number of animal species and animal viewing opportunities. Wyoming's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are both among the top five best destinations to view wildlife, with Yellowstone ranking number one.

To highlight the best states for wildlife protection and those with the most room to improve, SmileHub compared each of the 50 states using 17 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of animal charities per capita to the amount of state wildlife grant money per capita to the overexploitation of wild species.

The 17 Metrics used to determine the rankings were all assigned point totals. Out of 100 total points, Wyoming scored 61.58.

These are the 17 metrics used:

Government & Community Support
- Animals per capita
- Environmental protection charities per capita
- Number of state conservation programs and initiatives
- State wildlife grants
- Number of education and outreach programs for wildlife conservation
- Zoologists and biologists
Legal Protection
- State Wildlife Grants per Capita
- Share of state lands designated for parks and wildlife
- Presence of wildlife corridor legislation
- Presence of Endangered Species Legislation
- State Internet-Hunting Laws
Ecosystem Status
- Vulnerability to climate change
- Industrial toxins per square mile of land area
- Median Air Quality
- Invasive species threat ranking
- Land-use change threat ranking
- Overexploitation threat ranking