Angi Bruce, who led the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for two years, resigned effective immediately Friday and will begin a new role with Gov. Mark Gordon’s office as director of special policy initiatives on Monday, the governor’s office announced.
Sudden change leaves agency led by deputy
The governor’s office released a five-sentence statement late Friday afternoon announcing Bruce’s resignation and new appointment but offered no explanation for the abrupt change. Amy Edmonds, a spokesperson for the governor, declined to discuss the reasons, calling it a personnel matter.
"Governor Gordon thanks Bruce for her work as director and looks forward to continuing to work with her," the governor's news release said.
Within the department, Eric Wiltanger, currently the agency’s deputy director, was named interim director. The department released a photograph of Wiltanger after the announcement identifying him in the interim role.
Background and notable actions during Bruce’s tenure
Bruce was appointed director in 2024 and became the first woman to hold the top job at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. She was also noted as a rare biologist who rose through the agency’s ranks into its leadership.
During her tenure, the department completed several high-profile actions and faced notable controversies, according to public records and reporting:
- Completion of the state’s first formal designation of a pronghorn migration corridor — a milestone in Wyoming wildlife management.
- Oversight while the agency responded to national criticism following the mistreatment of an injured wolf in Sublette County that had drawn widespread attention.
- Reports of tension between field staff and the Cheyenne headquarters, including recent personnel disputes at the region level.
Those events unfolded alongside routine agency responsibilities and conservation work, placing Bruce at the center of both praise and internal friction.
Immediate practical impact and questions ahead
The immediate operational impact is that the department will be led on an interim basis by its deputy director while leadership decisions and any longer-term replacement process proceed. The governor’s office said Bruce will begin her position in the governor’s office on Monday.
Beyond personnel changes, the brief news release and the refusal by the governor’s spokesperson to discuss motives leave unanswered questions for lawmakers, agency staff and the public about the reasons for the switch and the goals of Bruce’s new role in the governor’s office. The title "director of special policy initiatives" suggests a mission tied to discrete policy work, but the announcement did not describe specific duties.
| Event | Date/Timing |
|---|---|
| Bruce appointed director | 2024 |
| Resignation effective | Friday, announced after 4 p.m. |
| New governor’s role begins | Monday |
| Interim director named (Eric Wiltanger) | Immediately upon announcement |
Agency staff and the public have not yet received a fuller accounting from either the department or the governor’s office explaining whether the move reflects a planned personnel shift, political strategy in the final months of the governor’s term, or internal agency dynamics.
Voices and next steps
Bruce did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday afternoon. The governor’s spokesperson declined to provide additional information beyond the written statement, citing the personnel nature of the matter.
In the coming days, attention will focus on how federal and state conservation partners, Wyoming sportsmen and outdoor stakeholders, and rank-and-file Game and Fish employees react to the transition. The interim director’s priorities and any directives from the governor’s office will shape the department’s work on migration corridors, wildlife conflict responses and other issues that drew attention during Bruce’s leadership.
For now, the agency continues operations under its interim leadership while state officials and the public await clearer explanations about the rapid personnel change at a high-profile state department.
