The Utah Wildlife Network (UWN) is a diverse community of people with one thing in common: a love of the outdoors and the wildlife found there. Our members include hunters, fishermen (and women), wildlife photographers, biologists, hikers, wildlife professionals and others with a passion for living life outdoors and enjoying nature.
The first part of the 21st century presents many challenges to the West's wildlife. Crucial winter habitat is disappearing to urban encroachment. Invasive plants are crowding out native species that wildlife depend upon. Chemical contaminants are poisoning our fisheries. A growing human population creates more competition for available resources, and hunting opportunities are diminishing. Increased urbanization is creating a new generation of younger people who have lost that critical connection between themselves and the outdoors and wildlife.
As a group, we all recognize and care about these problems, but too often the outdoor community is split between the so-called tree huggers and the hook and bullet club. Instead of concentrating on our common love and respect for the outdoors and wildlife, we draw up sides based upon our differences. Finding workable solutions requires dialogue, debate and, ultimately, compromise. In the end, we all want what is best for wildlife and nature, and our common interests greatly outweigh our differences. We're all in the same boat, and if that boat sinks, we all go down with it.
The UWN is a meeting ground for everyone to share views and experiences. It is a place to share stories, ask questions and get to know others with similar or differing points of view. The only requirement here for membership is an appreciation and respect for wildlife, the outdoors and for other people's reasoned points of view. If you want to leave our outdoor world in better shape than when you arrived, you've found a home here.
About the UWN staff
The UWN was born out of the ashes of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) discussion forum. When the DWR inexplicably terminated its popular forums in September 2007, several of the members and moderators there pooled our efforts to continue on with what we saw as a good thing.
This Web site is maintained by this same group of volunteers, and we donate our time for various personal reasons. Like all UWN members, we are a diverse group of people with an appreciation of wildlife and the outdoors. Feel free to contact any of us with comments and suggestions.
Forum moderators: Forum content and membership issues
Forum administrator: Technical, administrative and business issues
Thanks!
The Utah Wildlife Network
Copyright © 2008 Utah Wildlife Network
