2009 was an exciting year for the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust. Most notably, we celebrated the protection of the 240-acre Demetriades Wildlife Sanctuary—a rugged and diverse wildlife haven at the headwaters of the Missouri River in Montana’s Centennial Valley. But our celebrations were not easily won. Like many of you, we were forced to tighten our belt and revisit our priorities; given the unsettled (and unsettling) economic forecasts, we wanted to be absolutely certain that our work on behalf of wildlife was not shortchanged. Fortunately, we are a lean and efficient group with devoted supporters. Thanks to your generosity, we have weathered the storm without compromising our ability to protect animals and their habitat.

During this past year of self-reflection, we thought long and hard about how best to utilize our valuable resources as a one-of-a-kind land trust that is rooted in both conservation and humane values. Indeed, it is our unique commitment to protecting wildlife from harm as well as land from development that sets us apart as an organization. While all land trusts measure success in acres protected, we also gauge ours by the myriad animal lives we’ve saved.

Nowhere is our help more urgently needed than in addressing the despicable act of poaching. Each year, an estimated 125 million wild animals are killed illegally in the United States (at least one for every animal hunted legally). That means that four animals are slaughtered by poachers every second of the day—with utter disdain for the law, let alone for the innocent victims involved. And poaching happens all over the country, even on lands that have been protected for wildlife. Despite the dedication of law enforcement officers, few poachers are ever prosecuted for their crimes.

In the year ahead, we will be stepping up our efforts to confront poaching within and well beyond the boundaries of the lands we’re involved in preserving. First, we’ll seek to increase the number of volunteers who help monitor our sanctuaries. We will also provide additional wildlife decoys and other tools to assist wildlife officials in their anti-poaching operations. Together with The Humane Society of the United States Wildlife Abuse Campaign, we will continue to provide rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of poachers.

We will also pursue projects and funding to secure more wildlife habitat, especially within critical linkage zones and areas where habitat connectivity can be maintained or restored. Toward this end, we will build upon our partnerships with compatible groups like Freedom to Roam, who are bringing invaluable protection to wildlife across big landscapes. But when all is said and done, it is our relationship with each and every one of you—WLT community members who share our passion and compassion for animals—that makes our work possible. Thank you again for your support.

—Robert W. Koons

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