New rules would weaken protections for plants and animals listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Wildlife
Posted inSeptember 2, 2019: In Bad Faith
Falling bears; border wall delights; lightning strikes
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inArticles
Hiking trails are a path to destruction for Colorado elk
Recreationalists in Vail are having a devastating impact on the local herd.
Posted inArticles
Bobcats persevere despite human encroachment
In the face of hunting pressure and loss of habitat, bobcats prove themselves resilient — and aren’t above raising their young in rural backyards.
Posted inSeptember 16, 2019: "We can either wait on Mother Nature – or we can give it a shot ourselves."
Scientists struggle to find reasons behind gray whale deaths
Some researchers think the whales are starving, but the cause of death may be far more complicated.
Posted inArticles
New Endangered Species Act rules open door to looser protections
The new implementation guidelines relax habitat protections and favor development.
Posted inArticles
‘Cyanide bombs’ use reauthorized to kill wild animals
The traps have caused unintentional deaths, but Wildlife Services can continue to employ them to protect livestock and farm crops.
Posted inAugust 5, 2019: From Prison to Fireline
Outdoor underachievers; mission massage; photo nots
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inArticles
Hunters and anglers struggle for public access to Colorado’s state trust lands
Compared to its neighbors, the state limits public recreation, but that is changing.
Posted inSeptember 2, 2019: In Bad Faith
Mountain goat eradication is a high-flying balancing act in Olympic National Park
In an effort to protect visitors and rare plants, the park is relocating the hoofed invaders.
Posted inArticles
Roadless rule rollback would threaten Utah’s at-risk plants and animals
More than 100 species rely on habitat away from roads and development, according to a new study.
Posted inAugust 5, 2019: From Prison to Fireline
How partisan politics can make ballot measures undemocratic
A fight over wolf management in Alaska shows how lawmakers can undermine citizen-led initiatives.
Posted inArticles
Can wolf reintroduction help stave off chronic wasting disease?
Proponents of Colorado’s initiative to reintroduce the predators suggest they could bolster herds against the disease.
Posted inArticles
Record heat in Alaska fuels wildfires
Anchorage sees 90 F as nearly 120 fires blaze across the state.
Posted inJuly 21, 2019: A Radical Return
Last words from a desert scribe
Essayist Ellen Meloy’s posthumous collection is profound, outspoken and hilarious.
Posted inJuly 21, 2019: A Radical Return
Forest Service might limit public comments
The revision would allow the agency to approve more projects without environmental review.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Memorial Rock; osprey survivor; fooling fish
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Interior combatant confirmed to department
Endangered Species Act opposer Susan Combs officially takes role as assistant secretary after long delay.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
A dangerous cocktail threatens the gem of North Idaho
Upstream mining has left a toxic legacy at the bottom of Coeur d’Alene Lake.
Posted inJuly 21, 2019: A Radical Return
Close encounters with the bear kind
The very places that attract visitors and newcomers for their proximity to wildlife grapple with a spike in bear-human incidents.