In spring 2010, Tim Delaney bought Rolling Thunder Ranch, a 3,600‑acre property at 8,500 feet in Wyoming, and immediately began planning to protect its wildlife habitat.
The ranch sits in a bowl surrounded by three mountain ranges and supports species ranging from moose to mountain lions, including mule deer, pronghorn, black bears, and sage grouse.
Delaney, a New York‑based construction executive, partnered with the Conservation Fund and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to place conservation easements on the land.
The easements cover three parcels—3,600 acres of the original ranch, 4,000 acres of Rim Ranch, and 340 acres of Rolling Thunder II—totaling 7,940 acres.
The easements preserve the habitat for migrating mule deer and pronghorn, while allowing the ranch to continue livestock grazing and recreation.
Delaney said the move is a win for both ranching and conservation, and the easements will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.