It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of long-time Project Coyote supporter, dear friend, and fierce wild carnivore defender, Donalde (Don) Molde, August 19, 1937 – July 23, 2025.
In 2009, Don reached out to me at Project Coyote inquiring about whether we could help him with advocacy efforts in Nevada to better protect coyotes, mountain lions, and other persecuted predators. In that conversation, I learned Don was a long-time Nevada wildlife activist who worked tirelessly to defend carnivores and oppose fur trapping. I also learned he was a retired psychiatrist and former board member of Defenders of Wildlife and the Nevada Humane Society. He shared that his favorite wild animal was the coyote, and that his beloved children have always been the dogs he rescued from the local shelter or abusive situations.
I immediately knew I had connected with a stalwart wildlife defender with the savvy and experience to make change. From that day on, we formed both a partnership and a friendship, and Don and his late wife Jean quickly became dedicated Project Coyote supporters. I introduced him to Project Coyote Sierra Nevada Representative, Fauna Tomlinson, who also developed a deep bond and lasting friendship with Don. Together, we—along with a cadre of Nevada advocates, including Trish Swain (founder of TrailSafe Nevada)—worked to expose the horrors of trapping and wildlife killing contests (WKCs) unfolding throughout the state on federal public lands. We soon joined a growing coalition of wildlife advocates and organizations to push for legislative and regulatory bans of both practices, while challenging the state’s ill-conceived and ethically indefensible predator management plans.
I traveled to Reno several times at Don’s invitation to make public presentations and offer film screenings of our documentary, KILLING GAMES: Wildlife In the Crosshairs, to raise public awareness and press policymakers to support coalition efforts to ban WKCs. We faced a deeply entrenched Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) that repeatedly refused to consider new science and ethics around predator mismanagement. Yet Don persisted relentlessly against every roadblock, traveling to NDOW meetings across the state to present the latest research on wild carnivores and non-lethal conflict solutions.
He was a definite thorn in their side, continually submitting public records requests to document the agency’s misdeeds and mass predator slaughter at taxpayer expense. He served as the Nevada plaintiff in WildEarth Guardians’ lawsuit against Nevada Wildlife Services, which was settled in 1016 to the great advantage of wildlife protection. Don, serving on the board of the Mountain Lion Foundation, later sued the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners to protect non-target species, including mountain lions, from fur trappers.
In 2014, Don co-founded the Nevada Wildlife Alliance (NWA) with ally Mark E. Smith after filing a lawsuit against the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, which sought to inform the public about the lawsuit and the commission’s failure to protect non-target species from trapping. NWA also aimed to unite organizations toward collaborative approaches to better protect Nevada’s wildlife. Project Coyote has been a NWA member organization since its inception.
On a personal level, during my first visit to Don and Jean’s house outside of Reno in 2010, I immediately noticed Don’s complete and utter adoration of his late dog Jenny, who instantly rolled on her back for Don in anticipation of belly rubs. Don, who sometimes had a curmudgeonly gruff exterior, became a soft, loving teddy bear in the presence of Jenny. They were deeply bonded. It was also during that first visit that Don took me out to one of his favorite birding spots not far from his house, and we came to share our deep appreciation and love of birds. Jenny accompanied these outings and was always quiet in the presence of Don when she knew her dad was wildlife watching.
Don touched many lives—human and non-human alike—and his presence as a force for wild nature and wild lives will be deeply missed by many. In my last conversation with Don, when he was in the hospital and knew his days were coming to an end, I thanked him for his friendship, his mentorship, his steadfast support for Project Coyote, for the wild ones, and shared my commitment to carry on his legacy in whatever way I could. I’m deeply grateful to have had the chance to say goodbye.
I received this beautiful message from Fauna Tomlinson the morning after Don’s passing:
“I knew when I met Don that he would pass before me—I just didn’t know how close we would become. I feel so fortunate he held on long enough for us to get him home. I was his last visitor. He had tears in his eyes, and the nurse said, ‘Wipe his tears.’
He was a wise old owl. This was my first morning without my buddy to argue with.
I’m feeding his birds and showing everyone around his backyard—introducing them to his cottontails, lizards, and birds. Jean had planted a peach tree, and it’s now full of ripe fruit. Before the visitors ate them all, I picked a bunch and dropped them on the ground for the bunnies. Don approved.
He went quickly and with dignity. He had many friends. He was a great friend, advocate, and neighbor. He will be deeply missed.
Here’s a sweet little story from his last night. Don said he wanted a beer. The nurse poured a small glass, and Don and I clinked glasses and cheered. He brought it to his lips, chapped but determined, and took the tiniest sip. Then he did it again. He said it tasted good—and that was all he wanted.
I like to think of that as his goodbye happy hour. His way of saying, ‘Goodbye, world.’ I’m honored to have shared it with him. We enjoyed many happy hours together over the years.
I’ll keep his bird feeders filled while they sell the house, and I’ll ask the new owners to do the same.”
Rest in peace, Don, and may you be united with Jean and Jenny in the Great Beyond.
