ESA's ‘Harm’: What’s In a Word?

May 15, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Robert Chaney

Canada lynx are among many species whose habitat could be harmed if FWS changes "harm" definition in the ESA

FWS proposes dropping ‘harm’ from Endangered Species Act regulations to speed up economic development on critical habitat.

Putting the Heat on Charismatic Microfauna

May 12, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Robert Chaney

The "armored" Yellowstone tiger beetle thrives in 120-degree thermal pools

A Yellowstone beetle’s secret for withstanding scalding thermal pools could revolutionize human insulation.

Planned Repeal of ‘Public Lands Rule’ Could Unleash Federal Resource Development

May 6, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Madison Dapcevich

The Bureau of Land Management oversees 245 million acres of public land across the country

The Interior Department is exploring multiple ways to ‘restore American prosperity’ by capitalizing on timber, grazing, fossil fuels at the expense of conservation. It could also push billions of dollars of management costs onto state taxpayers.

Trump Budget Proposal Portends Deep Cuts to Public Lands

May 5, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Robert Chaney

President Donald Trump's budget proposal includes allocating $1.1 trillion to defense spending while reducing non-defense federal spending by $163 billion

Recommendations include new consolidated wildfire service, more tasks in state hands, less science.

A Case of Mistaken Identity? Some Hunters are Confusing Grizzlies with Black Bears

April 28, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Madison Dapcevich

While some black bears and grizzly bears look decidedly different, some can be similar colors and sizes. Nevertheless, hunters mistaking grizzlies for black bears say they can do better.

Over the last decade, more than a dozen Greater Yellowstone grizzlies have been killed by hunters who say they mistook them for black bears.

DEQ Denies Petition to Designate Big Hole River as Impaired

April 28, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Amanda Eggert

Two nonprofits in February petitioned Montana DEQ to designate the Big Hole River as impaired

Petitioners urge DEQ to ‘use all available science’ in considering a future impairment designation.

Forest Service Braces for Restructuring as Timber Orders Add to Workload

April 25, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Robert Chaney

A Forest Service memo calls for a 25 percent increase in timber production by July 4

Feds look to consolidate regional offices while planning to roll out new strategies over the next two months.

As CWD Spreads, Elk Occupancy Agreements Give Wyoming Elk Room to Roam

April 23, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Sophie Tsairis

Wyoming has a century-old tradition sustaining of elk on feedgrounds. Meanwhile, chronic wasting disease cases are increasing.

Wildlife managers say winter range agreements may be one pathway to reducing deadly disease transmission among elk on feedgrounds.

Wyoming Looks to Designate Famed Path of the Pronghorn

April 21, 2025 // NEWS: Dispatch

by Alex Hargrave

Pronghorn are North America's fastest land mammal and migrate hundreds of miles along Wyoming's Path of the Pronghorn

A Wyoming Game and Fish Commission vote in July could bring a long-deliberated migration corridor for imperiled pronghorn a step closer to designation as a state corridor.