Extreme environments offer them an unexpected paradise, and now researchers are working to get a head count.
National Park Service
Posted inArticles
A reality check on Biden’s ‘30 by 30’ conservation plan
The plan has lofty ambitions, but what’s happening on the ground tells a different story of how it might play out.
Posted inJuly 1, 2021: An Urban Greenspace Revolution
Crowds swarm the public lands
Land managers and gateway communities struggle to keep up.
Posted inArticles
Why I changed my mind about Bears Ears
The benefits of a national monument in San Juan County outweigh the costs.
Posted inArticles
Petroglyph vandalism is not a victimless crime
Indigenous archaeologists say more protective measures and education are needed to prevent future vandalism.
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The battle over Point Reyes’ tule elk
The needs of the ungulate and cattle supported by California’s Point Reyes National Seashore have different needs and created a years-long conflict.
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What’s the value of tracking recreation in the West?
Fast-growing Western communities face a paradox of increased visitors.
Posted inApril 1, 2021: Holding Fast
How to reverse Trump’s harmful legacy on conservation
President Biden is off to a good start, but there is much to be done. The Restoration Project has a blueprint.
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Border wall scars: ‘It feels like if someone got a knife and dragged it across my heart.’
Tribal leaders and Borderlands communities reflect on their fruitless struggle to stop the wall.
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Interior denies all of New Mexico’s proposed LWCF projects
The rejection is considered political retribution for criticism of the Trump administration.
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Where the Great American Outdoors Act stands now
After passing with bipartisan support in August, the conservation law hits stumbling blocks. Here’s what may happen next.
Posted inDecember 1, 2020: A Community Divided
A whistleblower speaks out over excavation of Native sites
In California, archaeologists unearthed Indigenous burials 11 years ago, but the remains have yet to be repatriated.
Posted inNovember 1, 2020: When the Smoke Clears
Maskless in Montana; stuck in a rut; hot pronghorn
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inAugust 1, 2020: Infectious Ideologies
Unraveling the mystery of a stolen ceremonial shield
How a sacred object from the Pueblo of Acoma turned up at a Paris auction house, and how the tribe fought for its return.
Posted inAugust 1, 2020: Infectious Ideologies
Teenage wolves; petticoat rulers; Alaska’s permissive hunting
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inSeptember 1, 2020: The Next West
Is a big win for conservation a blow to climate action?
As extinction and climate crises loom, the Great American Outdoors Act and recreation industry continue to rely on oil money.
Posted inArticles
How can we protect silence?
As more people push into once-remote areas, truly quiet spots are increasingly scarce.
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Yellowstone grizzlies keep endangered species protections
A court ruling disallows sport hunting the bears in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
Posted inJuly 1, 2020: 'I am here fighting for my life and future children'
Helicopter wild; five drives; isolation tips
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inArticles
The Great American Outdoors Act passes Senate with bipartisan support
The legislation will alleviate a national park project backlog and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.