Montana Kids, Wildlife and Vince

Updated: February 2, 2026

Vince Yannone's legacy has continued to grow in Montana since this article was first written, especially through Montana WILD and statewide recognition of his work.

Vince began developing Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' youth education programs around 1970 and spent roughly 25 years with the department before retiring in May 1995. His work brought national recognition to Montana's conservation education efforts and helped establish Project WILD as a key part of the state's K-12 curriculum, giving teachers tools to integrate wildlife and habitat concepts into everyday classroom activities.

Over the decades, his programs and live-animal presentations made him one of Montana's most recognizable outdoor personalities, and a 2020 Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame biography described him as "Montana's most popular personality" for about 30 years. That same profile notes that he was born near Philadelphia, was a lifelong outdoorsman, and used his communication skills to build public support for wildlife and habitat conservation across the state.

Montana WILD and the auditorium honor

The wildlife rehabilitation work that Vince helped start at FWP's Helena office in the early 1970s eventually evolved into today's Montana WILD Wildlife Center at Spring Meadow Lake State Park. In its early years, the rehabilitation facility at the Helena Area Regional Office was overseen by conservation educator Vince Yannone together with local volunteers, and growing demand for animal care led to construction of a new center west of Helena in the early 2000s.

Montana WILD opened to the public in 2010 and has since become a hub for school field trips and community programs, with more than 5,000 students visiting annually. In recognition of Vince's decades of work with young people and wildlife, the main auditorium at Montana WILD was named the "Vince Yannone Auditorium," formally honoring his influence on conservation education in Montana.

Recognition and ongoing influence

In 2020, Vince Yannone was inducted into the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame, which highlighted his role in launching FWP's youth education programs, building broad public support for wildlife issues, and mentoring educators and volunteers. The Hall of Fame and partner organizations continue to use his story-and quotes such as his emphasis that all animals need clean air, food, water, and a place to live-to inspire new generations of students and conservation advocates.

Updated: February 2, 2026