Don Gittleson is a rancher and conservation advocate based in the American West, originally associated with South Dakota and now operating a ranch north of Walden in Jackson County, Colorado. He practices holistic grazing management on his family ranch to restore prairie ecosystems and promote sustainable land use in the American heartland, employing regenerative agriculture techniques that emphasize ecosystem health and biodiversity. His work aligns with broader efforts to balance agricultural productivity with environmental stewardship, partnering with figures like Miriam Horn in conservation initiatives.

Since 2021, Gittleson has gained prominence due to significant challenges from reintroduced gray wolves on his Colorado ranch, experiencing five confirmed depredations on his livestock—accounting for half of the state's total wolf-related kills at the time. These incidents involved a pack that migrated from Wyoming and produced a litter of six pups, the first believed born in Colorado since the 1940s. Gittleson lost four cows and a calf over the winter of 2021-2022, prompting him to experiment with deterrents like introducing longhorn cattle and sharing insights on wolf behavior with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Gittleson's experiences have positioned him as a vocal figure in debates over wolf reintroduction, highlighting tensions between wildlife conservation and ranching livelihoods. He has testified on wolf pack dynamics, noting that a collared male wolf led attacks contrary to common assumptions about female-led predation. Despite these conflicts, his advocacy underscores a commitment to proactive coexistence measures, informing policy discussions on livestock protection in wolf territories.