Year in Review: Buckrail’s top stories of 2025

JACKSON, Wyo. — 2025 is a year that will not be forgotten.

When we look back at everything that happened this year, disparate topics might compete for the spotlight: political overhaul, climate events, public lands disputes, major construction, wildlife encounters and much more. Below, revisit the Jackson Hole news topics that dominated Buckrail this year.

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Public lands turmoil

Public lands were a hot topic this year with heightened national attention, as well as stories that touched the valley. On his inauguration day, President Donald Trump instated a federal hiring freeze, which included National Park Service positions. Mid-February saw mass firings of U.S. Forest Service employees and budget cuts to Friends of Bridger-Teton. The local nonprofit supported Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) in many ways while litigation took place at a federal level.

In March, BTNF announced a fee system for river users in the Snake River Canyon. The Munger Mountain parcel lease was officially approved; corner crossing made waves across the West; and outdoor enthusiasts and conservation groups fought public land selloffs and Roadless Rule changes. In Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), a congressional hearing took place on the Great American Outdoors Act, a Teton peak awaited a new name, and GTNP remained open to visitors with limited staff during the federal government shutdown. Jackson Town Council also approved a plan to use Special Purpose Excise Tax dollars to buy rights to rental units built near the Nelson Drive Trailhead on BTNF land.

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Town Square vs. Washington, D.C.

Many of those public lands discussions inspired Jacksonites to exercise their First Amendment rights on Town Square.

At least six large protests occurred between March and October in response to federal staffing cuts and other actions taken by the current presidential administration. Many of the local gatherings were linked to nationwide demonstrations. Protestors hoisted colorful signs, and some even sang songs.

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Food insecurity in the Cowboy State

Food insecurity has been worrying experts and nonprofit leaders this year as legislation in Washington, D.C., made it harder to qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That same legislation terminated $1.8 million in funding for Wyoming’s SNAP Education program. Even before the federal government shutdown, local nonprofits were working together to stretch resources for community members in need.

The shutdown brought SNAP benefits to a halt, and many federal employees went without paychecks. One22 Resource Center gave out two rounds of stipends to government workers; Hole Food Rescue delivered free groceries to Grand Teton National Park staffers; and the Grand Teton Council of Scouts of America collected nearly 4,000 pounds of food for One22. The Food Bank of Wyoming boosted distribution, and Gov. Mark Gordon mobilized up to $10 million for food pantries while SNAP was paused. SNAP payments were reinstated, but the governor believes the fight against hunger is not over.

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Grizzly-on-grizzly violence

The harsh complexity of the natural world made waves in May when two yearling grizzlies were found dead in Grand Teton National Park, apparently the result of a violent attack by an adult male grizzly attempting to free up the cubs’ mother (grizzly 1063) for mating season. Wildlife professionals remarked that the event was a reminder of the sometimes brutal reality of life in the wild.

GB1063 and her three cubs had been spotted frequently in Colter Bay that spring. After the other two cubs were killed, 1063’s remaining cub was temporarily separated from its mother, but the two reunited soon after the incident. The independent, curious cub was eventually relocated away from developed Colter Bay to increase its chances for survival.

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Snake River Bridge complete at last

After two years of construction, the new Snake River Bridge was paved, epoxied and painted this July, allowing four lanes of traffic to travel over the river. Despite the addition of a few finishing touches that pushed completion date past the scheduled June 30, the project was considered overall on-time and on-budget.

The new bridge and “Florida-T” intersection (at WY22 and WY390) were designed to solve congestion issues in the area, and to provide wildlife crossings and pedestrian crossings. Animal families were seen using the new crossings this summer, in addition to the grizzly spotted by construction crews while work was still underway.

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Challenges in wildlife, human coexistence

The porous boundary between wilderness and human activity can be a double-edged sword in the valley. Sometimes the proximity inspires joy, like the family of mountain lions spotted hanging out in residential Wilson. Other times, the overlaps end in harm, as was the case for the sick mountain lion that was euthanized after sightings in town.

Wilson moose had a particularly noteworthy year, with multiple vehicle strikes ending in tragedy on Moose-Wilson Road. One moose spending time in the Aspens neighborhood got spooked by a resident out walking a dog; when the moose bluff charged, the resident got tangled in dog leashes and ended up breaking a leg.

Luckily, not all of the human-animal encounters resulted in injury. One sly fox in Grand Teton National Park developed a penchant for human footwear, and ended up stealing at least 32 shoes from campsites.

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Local outdoor pros get international attention

It was an active year for Jackson’s outdoor world. Anna Gibson secured a spot in the 2026 winter olympics along with Jaelin Kauf, who is competing in the Dual Moguls event. Local student Lucas Wilmot joined the U.S. national cross-country ski team, and the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club welcomed back the biathlon program.

On home turf, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s ski patrol submitted a request to vote to unionize, and Grand Teton speed runner Michelino Sunseri received a presidential pardon following a long legal battle around his fastest known time attempt to summit the Grand Teton. Teton County Search and Rescue hosted the 77th Annual International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR), marking just its second meeting in the U.S. As always, Jackson has no lack of exciting outdoor news; let’s see what’s to come in 2026.

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Awe-inspiring northern lights

On Nov. 11, the skies above Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park and Teton Valley lit up with green and pink during a G4 geomagnetic storm. The Aurora Borealis has been visible in the area a few times over the last couple of years, and typically shows up in the wee hours after midnight.

This time, the colors danced across the sky right around dinner time, which allowed for many witnesses and photo shoots. Buckrail received dozens of reader-submitted photos, which included silhouettes, pets and local landmarks. The following evening, Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer caught some softer hues over the Tetons during a G3 storm.

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Teton skyline altered

Over the Fourth of July weekend, a large part of the Second Tower on the Grand Teton collapsed to the surprise of local climbers and visitors alike.

The Tetons, a young mountain range by geologic standards, are always changing, which means we can expect the skyline to continue to change as time passes.

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Reckoning with extra hot, dry conditions

The Rocky Mountain West continues to experience drought conditions, and this year was no exception in Jackson. Dry patterns were common throughout the summer, with most of the rain coming from thunderstorms.

The hot, dry conditions elevated fire danger and made blazes difficult to quell. The Dollar Lake Fire topped out at nearly 20,000 acres in September, while the Willow Creek Fire briefly caused a closure of US89 over Salt River Pass. During the summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture offered financial assistance to farmers and ranchers affected by drought; Yellowstone National Park closed some rivers to fishing due to high temps; and Jackson Town Council imposed restrictions on water usage for irrigation purposes.

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Notably slow start to winter

December came in warm this year, with rainy weather and high temperatures. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King and Grand Targhee all delayed opening the slopes due to lack of snow. The warmth occasionally was broken with high winds and heavy snowfall; all of the unusual weather led to an unstable snowpack, which resulted in one devastating accident. Christmas Day in the valley saw no snow on the ground for the first time in 30 years.

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Thank you for your readership! We are so grateful to the dedicated Buckrail community. Thank you for the news tips, SNAPPED pictures and for always inspiring us to do better. Cheers to keeping the ball rolling into 2026 with more compelling storytelling, breathtaking photos and the news Jackson needs. Keep reading, keep asking questions and definitely keep those tips coming in 2026.

First look at this Snow King Loop 3-bedroom condo

by Sponsored by The McPeak Group of Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty

First look at this Powderhorn Lane condo

by Sponsored by The McPeak Group of Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty

Open house Wednesday for a 3-bedroom multilevel townhouse at The Aspens

by Sponsored by The McPeak Group of Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty

First look at a 5-bedroom house in East Jackson

by Sponsored by The McPeak Group of Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty

First look at a 3-bedroom house in Rafter J

by Sponsored by The McPeak Group of Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty