WHO WE ARE
We are a dedicated and diverse group of Utah residents that are interested in mountain lions, their protection, management, and improving our understanding of them. Our work in Utah began in 2017 with the goal of improving social tolerance of mountain lions through the use of community engagement, education, and camera traps. As our work evolved over time, we became involved with other wildlife communities that were concerned about mountain lions, their management, our understanding of them, their portrayal in the media, coexistence challenges, and public perception.
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In order to do our best work for mountain lions, collaboration with all wildlife stakeholders is one of our core beliefs. By working with one another on shared goals, we can accomplish more for Utah's mountain lions!
WHAT WE DO
We partnered with Brigham Young University and the Division of Wildlife Resources on a cougar study that focused on prey selection and scavenging behavior. We also deployed remotely triggered cameras at kill sites to document interactions between mountain lions, as well as other wildlife that may visit a site.
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The crucial information gained from this study will help improve our understanding of mountain lions in Utah, as well as improve management decisions in the future.
We are actively out in the field working with volunteers to collect trail camera footage of our wild lions so we can observe their behaviors and catch a glimpse into the every day lives of these secretive cats. Footage from our trail cameras are used in our education programs that are focused on raising awareness and increasing understanding of the nature of mountain lions.
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We currently have trail camera in the mountains throughout Northern Utah and are looking to expand our survey areas further south in the near future.
ABOUT US
Denise Peterson
Denise studied Natural Resources Management, Wildlife Biology, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan. She's worked on a wild felid study in the Peruvian Amazon evaluating wild cat interactions with prey species and the Central Region Cougar Study in Utah. Her work experience includes the Mountain Lion Foundation, Yellowstone to Uintas Connection, and Voices of Wildlife. She is also an experienced wildlife cinematographer, having worked on natural history films such as "The American Southwest" and others that are still currently in production.
She's passionate about mountain lions and their continued existence wherever they are found. You can often find her in the mountains checking trail cams and tracking cats!
David Peterson
As one of the Founders, David has been involved with Utah Mountain Lion Conservation since its inception. He is responsible for the safety of the team while out in the field, as well as the technical mastermind that maintains and troubleshoots all of the equipment that we rely on in order to do our jobs. He has over 20 years of climbing experience, two degrees in electronics engineering, and is a Navy veteran. He is a firm believer in the power of education, collaboration, and teamwork to achieve our mission of improving social tolerance and understanding of mountain lions throughout Utah.
Joshua Lisbon
Joshua is an avid outdoorsman, researcher, and educator with a master’s degree from the University of Montana. He believes in the importance of providing connection with the natural world through education, research, conservation, advocacy, and film. As the Principal Investigator for the GSE Cougar Project, he is working to better understand the elusive predators that call the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument home. As the host of award-winning documentaries and series, he works to share the secrets of nature through honest and engaging stories. Previously, Joshua ran a 12-year noninvasive cougar population study in Montana focused on understanding the social organization of related individuals over time.
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As famed tracker Boyd Varty says, ‘We are a species that belongs within stories. We are the meaning-making animal. Tracking is a narrative that can help us reimagine why we are here.’
Tade Wilson
Tade grew up in Utah and has always loved wildlife and ecology. He attended Weber State University in Ogden, UT, graduating with a BS in Zoology and a minor in Geospatial Studies. He first began volunteering with Utah Mountain Lion Conservation in 2022, and loves the intersection between politics, law, conservation and ecology surrounding the species. In his spare time he hikes, backpacks, fly fishes and bird hunts, dragging his wife and son along whenever possible.
Taylor Turner
As a lifelong Utah resident, Taylor brings a unique understanding of the state's dynamic landscape. In addition to volunteering with Utah Mountain Lion Conservation, Taylor works as the Ogden Wet Meadow and Sagebrush Specialist for the Intermountain West Joint Venture. He has the privilege of partnering with landowners to protect and conserve working lands across northern Utah for migratory birds. He holds a B.S. in Ecology/Biodiversity with Honors from Utah State University. In his spare time, you can find him snowboarding, fly fishing, and camping.
Anna Wright
Currently calling Heber City, Utah home, Anna grew up among the woodlands of Ohio and spent her formative years roaming the ridgelines of the Wasatch. Drawn to the power of wild places and the stories they hold, her career has naturally woven itself through outdoor recreation, community connection, and conservation work.
For the past decade, she’s worn many hats from Event Coordinator to Marketing Manager where she facilitated approachable spaces for people of different backgrounds and abilities to connect through meaningful mountain experiences. Her crowning achievement has been creating and nurturing the Wasatch Mavens—a women-centered, season-long backcountry ski touring program that has since spawned into LGBTQ+ affinity offerings and other mentorship programs. In its sixth season, the Mavens have helped define a strong, inclusive culture in Utah’s backcountry scene.
As the Social Media Coordinator for Utah Mountain Lion Conservation, she’s honored to use her background in storytelling and promotion to champion the protection and understanding of mountain lions.
