Every week on Tuesday during the months of November and December, we will open a rare window into the secret lives of America’s lion. Captured by remote trail cameras, these glimpses show mountain lions as they truly are—curious, cautious, and deeply connected to the wild landscapes they call home. Each clip helps us better understand how lions move, hunt, raise their young, and share space with people, reminding us that coexistence begins with seeing the world through their eyes.
Author: Ellen O’Connell
The Mountain Lion Foundation Welcomes Ellen C. O’Connell as Executive Director and Byron Weckworth, Ph.D, as Chief Conservation and Advocacy Officer
The Mountain Lion Foundation (MLF) is excited to announce that Ellen C. O’Connell has been appointed Executive Director, effective November 1, 2025, that Byron Weckworth, Ph.D., will join the organization on November 10, 2025, as Chief Conservation and Advocacy Officer.
For nearly 40 years, with your support, MLF has been the nation’s leading voice for America’s lion, championing landmark victories like California’s Proposition 117, protecting habitat and wildlife corridors, and inspiring a national movement for coexistence between people and mountain lions. Under Ellen’s leadership, MLF will build on this proud history to deepen partnerships, advance science-based advocacy, and ensure that the next generation inherits a landscape where people and mountain lions can thrive together.
Ellen has more than three decades of nonprofit leadership experience. She has served as CEO of Farm Sanctuary, Executive Director of Tusk USA, and Global Vice President at the International Rescue Committee, and has worked in more than 90 countries across six continents. As a consultant, she has helped conservation and social-impact organizations raise over $75 million, guiding them to develop effective strategies, sound governance, and lasting financial strength.
Her work, spanning from protecting elephants and wildlife in Africa to advancing policy reform for food systems in the United States, builds on 16 years in humanitarian aid, where she saw how the health of people, animals, and the planet are deeply connected. She has worked with governments, NGOs, and communities to protect wildlife, strengthen institutions, and promote policies that balance human progress with ecological well-being. As Chair of the Wildlife Justice Commission Investigations, she has also helped expose and dismantle criminal networks driving the illegal wildlife trade, one of the most urgent threats to global biodiversity.
Byron Weckworth, Ph.D., brings 25 years of experience in global carnivore conservation and strategic communications. At Panthera, he led their Snow Leopard Program, founded the Conservation Genetics Program, and championed international initiatives uniting science, policy, and community engagement to protect wild cats and their habitats. He will oversee MLF’s science and advocacy portfolio, guiding efforts to advance lasting protections for mountain lions and the wild landscapes they depend on.
Ellen and Byron’s approach to leadership is rooted in collaboration, science, and storytelling, connecting people to the landscapes and wildlife that define our shared future. With their guidance, MLF will build on its legacy of advocacy, strengthening capacity, expanding coexistence and education programs, and advancing the science and legislation needed to ensure that America’s lion remains wild and free.
The Board of Directors and the entire MLF community extend our deepest gratitude to all of you who have carried this mission forward and invite you to join us in welcoming Ellen C. O’Connell and Byron Weckworth Ph.D, to the Mountain Lion Foundation.
With appreciation,
The Board of Directors
Mountain Lion Foundation
www.mountainlion.org
