HCN looks at several Western ecosystems and the various species that depend on them — including the human beings who rely on the drought-stricken Colorado River. How are farmers in the Colorado River Basin adapting to climate change, given the contentious politics around water use? Tribes in Montana are using their sovereignty to restore waterways and save imperiled fish like the bull trout. Protecting wildlife can get complicated, though: In Alaska, wildlife managers have been killing grizzly bears to help a dwindling caribou herd. In Portland, Oregon, volunteers use a hands-on approach to save beleaguered frogs, ferrying them across a heavily trafficked highway, while Wyoming’s Golden Triangle, an unusually well-preserved piece of shrub-steppe habitat, is threatened by Republican plans to weaken regulations. A new book explores the mysterious world of endangered salt lakes, and a new docuseries reminds us that Black cowboys have always been part of the West. Iditarod champion Susan Butcher’s courage and care for dogs continue to inspire an Alaskan writer.
A shrinking Colorado River is forcing farms to change
From low-flow nozzles to baling hay at night, see how farmers are adapting to less water.
How Montana tribes are using sovereignty to restore their waterways
‘We live at the backbone of the world, where the water begins.’
A champion Iditarod musher proved that caring and trust win races
As the 2026 sled dog race kicks off, the lessons of Susan Butcher still resonate.
Coyotes and cougars and rats, oh my!
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
As a caribou herd crashed, wildlife managers turned to killing predators
The controversial culling program reveals the messy politics behind reviving a struggling Alaska herd.
The essentials of democracy
Keep sending public comments, because our future hangs in the balance.
FROM THE GRIMOIRE
A poem by D.A. Powell.
An ode to Johnny Sagebrush
Bart Koehler helped Westerners protect the places they love.
New board members join the team
These folks graciously serve our nonprofit to ensure the organization stays sound.
Letters to the Editor, March 2026
Comments from readers.
How people are helping breeding frogs dodge cars
Meet the volunteers shuttling northern red-legged frogs across a 4-lane highway in Oregon to lay eggs.