Exploring the untamed beauty: Ted Turner's conservation legacy comes to life at MOR

When you first enter the “Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner” exhibit at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, you are quickly immersed in the sounds of nature. Birds squawk as the sound of rushing water flows through the speakers. With a careful ear, you can hear crickets chirp and wolf pups howling. The exhibit was first opened Jan. 26, and features images from Rhett Turner’s photography book, “Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner” as a celebration of his father, Ted Turner, and his legacy. 

Turner is among the country’s top ten landowners, with property ranging across Western and Southeast America. For the exhibit, Rhett photographed various elements of his family’s land. The Turner family is largely known for conservation efforts and work with endangered species. “The Turner Endangered Species Fund focuses on species that are at critical risk of extinction or extirpation within home bioregions,” said the exhibit’s signage, crafted by author Todd Wilkinson.

Observer Meredith Moran returned to view the photographs for a second time. “I was here for his opening, and I am back to look at everything more carefully,” Moran said. “I was so appreciative of this coming out of Ted Turner. I had always known about the Montana Ranch, but I did not know about his work in Georgia and The Sandhills.” 

Looking towards the center of the exhibit, the image “Bison Bull” features a striking bison looking at the camera in the Sandhills, Nebraska in 2020. The display card reads, “Ted Turner has done much to advance bison conservation. His herd [of bison] is the largest in existence and has helped re-awaken America to the vital role bison play in shaping ecosystems.” 

In fact, in 2007, Turner was recognized by the National Buffalo Foundation for his dedication to restoring wild bison populations. His advocacy for these animals continues to play a role in the research of a vaccine to treat “bison-specific Mycoplasma Bovis” according to the Turner Bison Exchange. 

The disease first appeared in 2001 and quickly became an epidemic among bison populations. According to Turner Bison Exchange, the Turner Enterprise has found that “living with M. Bovis appears to require an integrated approach, incorporating big picture structural and detailed management practices, providing for animal welfare by mitigating a broad suite of stress factors and supporting animal immunity with vaccinations.” As of 2019, researchers and veterinarians from the organization have seen a decrease in deaths among bison populations as a result of the integrated approach. 

“I knew he owned a lot of property, but I didn't realize how much of a conservationist he is. That is inspiring,” Moran said. “One of the [informational signage claimed] that these properties are totally preserved with minimal human involvement so these animals are able to thrive.”   

Moran recalled a once-in-a-lifetime experience at one of the Turner ranches. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Yellowstone, like the Flying D Ranch, I’ve been out there before [and] saw a baby bison being born,” Moran said. “It was sort of late, babies are usually born in the spring, but this was a summer birth. It was really interesting. That calf was on its feet within a minute or two. We took a lot of photos.” 

While Flying D itself is not open to the public, the Spanish Creek Road leading to a trailhead is a public access road, allowing for the public to get a potential look at the bison. 

Moran found reverence in the front of the room as well. The “Red-cockaded Woodpecker,” taken in 2021 in Avalon, Florida, centers on a bonded pair of red-cockaded woodpeckers. In the image, the two have returned to feed their young nestled in a loblolly pine. 

“I’m going to South Carolina in November, and I was already familiar with this pine that is so important for this woodpecker,” Moran said. “It was another connection.”   

Similarly, Carol Hennessy often finds herself on Turner property. “We do a lot of hiking here in the Bozeman area and around Spanish Creek,” Hennessy said. “You have to drive through Flying D [Ranch] to get to the hiking grounds.” 

Hennessy is from Chicago but spends Sept. and Feb. in Bozeman. “I’m a fly fisherman, and [I am aware of] his work to bring back various species, like the Westslope Cutthroat [Trout],” Hennessy said. “There's a little controversy with how he does stuff, but it’s cool that his kids seem to carry on his conservation efforts.”

As demonstrated through this exhibit and his photography book, Rhett seems to hold a shared interest in advocating for sustainability by utilizing his skills in photography and videography. 

Another museum-goer, Kathi Strawn from Alaska, was on her way to Minnesota. “We love to stop and see what's local. My husband loves dinosaurs and I love photography,” Strawn said. 

Her favorite image was “Grey Wolf Pups on Flying'' taken at the Flying D Ranch in 2020. The photograph features two Grey Wolf pups on lookout atop a mossy boulder. The display card explains that Flying D is home to one of the largest wild wolf packs in North America. 

“I love this photo of the [Mexican Grey] wolf pups because that's one of the endangered species and I’m a wolf nut,” Strawn said. “We look for them all the time. There's a pack right up Eagle River Canyon.”   

As habitat loss continues to threaten animals and plants across the country, Rhett Turner’s exhibit encourages the public to learn more about biodiversity and current conservation initiatives in The United States. The exhibit will be available for viewing until April 26.