Teton County

Gene Palos

“I just really love doing this job,” says Gene Palos, who has been the Blackrock District Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador since August, 2021. “I was in law enforcement for 30+ years and that was so much fun, but this is really taking it to new heights. The animals are so amazing, the country is beautiful, and I get to meet a lot of people.”

Gene’s primary goal is to keep the black and grizzly bears around Togwotee Pass safe. Over the last decade, bears have taken to grazing alongside US Highway 26, which connects Jackson Hole to Dubois, Wyoming and passes through the northern district of the BTNF. “My goal is to keep bears off the roadway and to keep people a safe distance away from them,” Gene says.

When we chatted with Gene in May, there had already been one grizzly hit and killed by a car in the area. (This was bear 1058, one of the famous quads of 399, who herself was hit and killed by a car in October 2024 in the Snake River Canyon between Jackson and Alpine, Wyoming.) “We can’t help what the bears do at nighttime—people are supposed to slow down at least 10 miles per hour—but during the day, we try to keep the bears moving. If we see them crossing the road, we drive towards them to encourage them to run rather than walk. We want them to understand that the road is not a good place to be.”

But Gene doesn’t just manage bears. “People get so excited when they see a grizzly bear and then they lose their common sense,” he says. “They stop in the middle of the road and/or they walk up to the bear. I understand that they are so excited to see the bear because it’s exciting for me, too, but I talk to them about safety and most people are very good about understanding.”

Some people do push back though. “When I ask them to move back, they’ll tell me, ‘but the bear is just grazing.’ My response is, ‘yes, the bear is feeding now, but just because she’s calm now doesn’t mean she won’t get fired up. Grizzlies have attitudes.’”

“There is no doubt our ability to maintain safety for bears and people reached a level that we could not have dreamed of without the Wildlife Ambassadors,” says Jason Wilmot, formerly a natural resource specialist and wildlife biologist for the Blackrock and Jackson Ranger Districts and the District Ranger of the Blackrock District since 2022. “We continue to receive kudos and praise from multiple agencies and individuals for the presence, actions, and professionalism of our Ambassadors.” Gene says, “What a better way to preserve our great outdoors and wildlife with the Friends of the Bridger-Teton family?”

Gene on safely photographing bears: “I’m not a real photographer—most of the shots I take are with my iPhone, I only take photos when there aren’t people around (I couldn’t do my job keeping bears safe if I’m trying to take photos)—but I do see the bears a lot when there aren’t any other people around. When that happens, I take all of my pictures from inside my vehicle. I don’t hike out to where the bears are because I don’t want to surprise them. I respect their area. And by staying in my car, the pictures I get are of bears doing what they want to do instead of reacting to me.” The image to the right is one Gene took from his car with his phone.

Jules Butler & Chris MacMillan

Jules Butler and her husband Chris MacMillan are Campground Ambassadors at Curtis Canyon. Jules, a native of Connecticut, moved to Jackson Hole in 2014 (after 20 years of being an annual visitor). Chris started visiting Jackson Hole while in utero—his family has ties to Dubois, Wyoming, going back three generations—and he finally moved to the valley (from Illinois) more than 30 years ago.
Unlike many Ambassadors, Jules and Chris are not retired. Jules is a writer and editor—she edits an area visitor guide, Jackson Hole Traveler, and, in 2022, published a book of essays about her experiences as a BTNF Ambassador, “Cowboys and Campers: Tales from a Bridger-Teton National Forest Camping Ambassador.” Chris is a master finish carpenter and project manager for a local contractor and works building cabinets, doors, windows, and furniture for homes throughout Jackson Hole.

They enjoy exploring miles upon miles of the Bridger Teton National Forest throughout the Jackson, Blackrock, and Greys River Ranger Districts in Jules’ Jeep Wrangler.

“I am thrilled to serve the BTNF as an Ambassador,” Jules says. “Educating the public on the proper ways to extinguish campfires and employ safe food storage and answering questions on wildlife and the Teton area is a most rewarding summer experience.” Chris says, “I wanted to become an Ambassador to enjoy nature better and help educate campers/visitors on how to camp responsibly and protect this valuable resource.” No matter where they take their Polaris Razor side-by-side for an off-duty joy ride in the BTNF, they stay on the marked trails and even pick up trash they find littered about; ambassador habits/stewards of the forest responsibilities die hard.

Fun Fact 1: In 2022, Jules and Chris married on the hillside adjacent to their Ambassador campsite.
Fun Fact 2: Chris’s great-grandfather started the Wyoming Tie and Timber Company in 1919. Wyoming played a pivotal role in shaping North America’s logging industry. Tie hacking, or cutting timber for railroad ties, took place in various locations, with the Bridger-Teton National Forest being one of the key areas.

Randy Roberts

BTNF Trail Ambassador Randy Roberts moved to Jackson in 1977 and taught elementary school for 30 years. He was a founding board member of Friends of Pathways, a nonprofit that is now one of our many partners, and served as its president for many terms.

It was during Randy’s time as Friends of Pathway’s president that the organization developed most of the 50+ miles of separated paved pathway system that exists today. Also during Randy’s terms as president the nonprofit began to collaborate with the BTNF about trail development and work. Randy has more than 40 years of exploring and adventuring on the BTNF, was part of the trail crew that built the popular Arrow and Ridge Trails on Teton Pass, and is one of the longest-serving Ambassadors.

“The Bridger-Teton has given me thousands of unbelievably awesome experiences, both winter and summer and I care deeply about ensuring that it is a place for everyone to enjoy as much as I have,” he says. “As a Trail Ambassador I have a direct role in educating forest users about good stewardship and recreating responsibly—which gives everyone an opportunity to experience the same stoke!”

Fun Fact: As part of the crew that built the Arrow and Ridge Trails in the ‘00s, Randy worked alongside inmates from the Idaho State Penitentiary. “Inmates who had met certain criteria could work on fire crews,” Randy says. “One summer when there were no fires, they came here as part of the trail crew. It was great, and I have some unbelievable stories about it!”