Teller Wildlife Refuge exists because of the foresight of Otto "Mose" Teller and Phil Tawney. The two first joined together in the early 1970's to work for the conservation of Montana's natural resources.

Teller, an avid sportsman, conservationist and summer resident of the Bitterroot Valley for over half a century, began buying properties along the Bitterroot River near Corvallis in 1985. With the help of wildlife conservationist and attorney Phil Tawney, Teller consolidated and placed the properties (1,200 acres) into conservation easements.

The easements assure that the land (much of which had been the original Slack and Chaffin family homesteads) will forever remain undeveloped. Teller remodeled and refurbished some of the homes and barns on the properties to serve as guest houses for visitors.

Otto passed away on December 1, 1998. Because of the generosity of Otto and his wife Anne, TWR continues to exist as the non-profit, tax-exempt organization incorporated by the Tellers in 1988. Today, a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors and a professional staff is charged with managing the property and facilities. TWR holds a unique status as the only privately managed wildlife refuge in the state of Montana.

TWR uses many tools to implement and expand our concept of land management. These tools include habitat enhancement projects, education and research programs in fish and wildlife ecology, native plant communities and stream studies, and the operation of a sustainable farming program. We also permit a variety of hunting and fishing activities to maintain healthy populations for all species on TWR.

Teller Wildlife Refuge has accomplished these activities through support from a variety of sources, locally, regionally, and nation-wide. These charitable donations and support come from corporate sponsorships, foundations grants, individual contributions, and the dedicated volunteers who help keep our programs running. All are vital to the continuation of the Teller mission.

In the 18 years of delivering our mission of conservation, education, and recreation, TWR has educated thousands of school children about the natural world and provided people of all ages with a 1,200 acre outdoor classroom. We will continue, as a sanctuary of study and wonder, to promote our conservation legacy by connecting people with the land for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats for years to come.