The mystery of wildlife and a world beyond our understanding
Science is essential to managing wildlife populations, but there are limits to what we know.
The West’s vanishing porcupines
Scientists are racing to figure out why porcupines are disappearing from their former stomping grounds.
Reno’s Gay Rodeo is back
Nearly 40 years after an armed sheriff, anti-LGBTQ activists and a judge’s order shut down the Gay Rodeo Finals, this year the riders came home.
Will this threatened frog stop drilling near Denver?
Northern leopard frogs were found near the site of what would be one of state’s largest fossil fuel operations.
‘Our mission is to change the world through eco-cultural tourism’
#iamthewest: Giving voice to the people that make up communities in the region.
Yellowstone protects wolves. What happens when they leave the park?
Crossing what’s an arbitrary boundary for wildlife, an apex predator becomes prey.
After Trump cuts, seeds sit in the warehouse
Western groups lose federal grants for urgent restoration and conservation projects.
Can AI translate Native languages in times of disaster?
In the wake of Typhoon Halong, an AI language company wants to hire Native translators, raising questions about data sovereignty.
In Mendocino, river restoration pays off for salmon
Coho love the newly ‘messy’ streams.
How I found hope while reporting on a metal fest
Peek behind the scenes at the challenges and joy of covering Fire in the Mountains.
Attack of the owls, emu-cipated emus, and say ‘hi’ to the bumpy little snailfish
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Why Colorado River negotiations are so difficult
Basin states have had 2 years to figure out how to share the shrinking river. Will they get there before the feds step in?
Western economies falter under the Trump administration
Tariffs, layoffs and federal funding clawbacks stress budgets.
Aspen ‘eyes’ keep us accountable to the natural world
In times of crisis, their gaze is a summon from nature to take action.
Most Popular Stories
High Country News Classifieds
- South of Tyrone; near where the continental divide meets the Gila National Forest; 25 minutes from Silver City; seasonal running water; hiking trails; wild flowers and hummingbirds; world class star gazing! Perfect for AirBNB and Hipcamp investment
In This Issue
November 2025: Precious Metalheads
Facing possible liability for California wildfires, PG&E has embraced a strategy of frequent unscheduled power outages, much to the distress of rural residents who rely on life-saving medical devices and business owners forced to shut down during tourist season. Westerners are seeing the impacts of…
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Water
‘It’s a story of hope’: Reflections on undamming the Klamath
Inventing habitats
Phoenix subdivision builds move ahead, despite water concerns
Wildlife
Proposed Wyoming oil and gas leases overlap wildlife corridors
Interior is failing to conserve national parks
More than 2,000 jobs could be cut at Interior during shutdown
Public Lands
Fix Our Forests Act divides environmental community
The nation’s energy dominance falters
Sen. Mike Lee’s new bill permits ‘tactical infrastructure’ in wilderness areas
Indigenous Affairs
Heavy metal is healing teens on the Blackfeet Nation
What inspires Indigenous ballet dancer Jock Soto
Tribal governments fend off the worst of the impacts of the shutdown
Communities
ICE raids in Colorado highlight how violent the U.S. has become
For rural Californians, unreliable power has become the norm
Truly grasp what Typhoon Halong did to western Alaska
Books
The fallout from Ruby Ridge
Denver’s storied tradition of sex work, then and now
How to become a bird
In the News
Indigenous people are an indivisible part of America
The story of Thanksgiving is about coming to terms with a difficult truth: the American experiment came at a great cost to Native Americans.