Noelle Guernsey

Noelle Guernsey is a conservationist and ecologist who is guided by an appreciation of the natural world, native wildlife assemblages and healthy ecosystems that support local communities as they envision. Her love of the outdoors and wildlife led to earning her B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She then spent several years gaining field experience working with habitat restoration, wildlife, and teaching English abroad. Noelle then went on to earn her Masters in Biology at Idaho State University and her research focused on the effect Shiras moose have on ecosystem processes in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Noelle’s professional career has focused on the conservation of grassland species. Prior to joining WWF in 2019, she was the Program Manager for the Prairie Dog Coalition working to conserve and restore the prairie dog ecosystem, including with partners in the Northern Great Plains. This seamlessly expanded to her current work with World Wildlife Fund’s efforts to restore bison and black-footed ferret, a prairie dog dependent species. Noelle works with a wide variety of partners and finds fulfillment in pursuing the conservation of both species through inclusive approaches that prioritize the desires of local communities.

Overarching interests are connecting people to the natural world, diversifying the field of conservation in the US, and supporting youth engagement opportunities. Noelle loves to play in the outdoors, cook, travel, and photograph wildlife in her spare time.

Education

• BA, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder
• MS, Biology, Idaho State University

Areas of Expertise

bison, black-footed ferret, prairie dogs, community-led conservation

Appointments

National Geographic Explorer