Feature stories
Browse High Country News feature stories
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Protecting wildlife corridors remains more theory than practice
There's a growing understanding of the scientific importance of wildlife migration corridors, but protecting them is a huge political challenge.
by Mary Ellen Hannibal, Dec 29, 2011 -
Stitching habitat together across public and private lands
Migrating animals can't read "no trespassing" signs, so it’s up to human beings to try to find ways to connect wildlife corridors that crisscross public and privately owned lands.
by Cally Carswell, Dec 25, 2011 -
A tree-climber's tale of harvesting cones to save whitebark pines
As whitebark pines in the Northern Rockies succumb to pine beetles and blister rust, hardworking climbers defy gravity to collect pine cones from canopies to supply efforts to breed more resilient and resistant trees.
by Hal Herring, Dec 18, 2011 -
A citizen activist forces New Mexico's dairies to clean up their act
When a giant dairy proposed building near Jerry Nivens' beloved New Mexico home, the chain-smoking Texas hermit became an activist who organized other locals to fight the industry.
by Stephanie Paige Ogburn, Dec 04, 2011 -
Can an old mine become a work of art?
The old Ute-Ule mine site outside Lake City, Colo., is under scrutiny by the Hardrock Revision Team, which wants to clean up the mine and yet preserve it as a living and historic work of art.
by Laura Pritchett, Dec 01, 2011 -
Farm incubators help would-be farmers succeed on their own
Viva Farms is a "farm incubator" in Washington's Skagit Valley that helps aspiring cash-poor farmers like Nelida Martinez start and successfully operate their own businesses.
by Jennifer Langston, Nov 28, 2011 -
The forgotten North Cascades grizzly bear
As grizzly bear populations in the Rockies rebound, the great bruins face extirpation in the North Cascades. Can they hang on until the feds fund recovery?
by Nathan Rice, Nov 23, 2011 -
Behind the scenes in the lives of captive wolves
Captive wolves and wolf-dog hybrids are kept all over the West for various purposes, often in poorly regulated facilities.
by Ceiridwen Terrill, Nov 20, 2011 -
Utah's ancient Lake Bonneville holds clues to the West's changing climate
In Utah, scientists are exploring the site of a long-vanished inland sea called Lake Bonneville to understand the West's past - and future - climate.
by Douglas Fox, Nov 07, 2011 -
Life as a fire lookout
It's a long way from Lower Manhattan to a remote fire lookout's perch in New Mexico.
by Philip Connors, Oct 20, 2011 -
Lack of medical care on the firelines endangers firefighters
Firefighter Rob Palmer crusades for better emergency medical care in memory of his brother, Andy.
by Neil LaRubbio, Oct 18, 2011 -
Good policy and good intentions won't stop big wildfires
Federal agencies have made strides in reducing fire danger in the West's forests, but many factors hinder their efforts
by Jodi Peterson, Oct 16, 2011 -
Remediating a Superfund sacrifice zone on Montana's Clark Fork river
The town of Opportunity, Mont., is weighed down by pollution from old copper mining and a modern-day river restoration project.
by Brad Tyer, Sep 25, 2011 -
Rebuilding a river as Washington's Elwha dams come down
How much can we learn from restoring the Elwha River, after the two dams that block it are finally removed?
by Kim Todd, Sep 19, 2011 -
Helping Hummingbirds with Citizen Science
The dedicated volunteers of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network gather field data to help conserve the birds they love.
by Jean Palumbo , Sep 12, 2011 -
Navajo Monster Slayers: a tribe struggles to fight corruption
The West's largest tribe works to reform its government -- while keeping its traditions strong.
by Marilyn Berlin Snell, Aug 29, 2011 -
Ganjanomics: bringing Humboldt's shadow economy into the light
Marijuana growers and government officials in California's notorious "Emerald Triangle" work towards legitimizing the local cash crop.
by Matt Jenkins, Aug 15, 2011 -
The Global West: how foreign investment fuels resource extraction in western states
China's insatiable energy appetite is fueling a natural resource boom in the West.
by Jonathan Thompson, Jul 25, 2011 -
In search of diversity in our national parks
One man's quest to understand why people of color are underrepresented in outdoor recreation and the conservation movement.
by James Mills, Jul 22, 2011 -
Rocky Mountain wolf recovery leader was not your average bureaucrat
An interview with Ed Bangs, who recently retired from heading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's gray wolf recovery program
by Ray Ring, Jul 18, 2011
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