But it’s a rare instance of bipartisan lawmaking and the biggest wildfire legislation in recent history.
Christine Peterson
Christine Peterson lives in Laramie, Wyoming, and has covered science, the environment and outdoor recreation in Wyoming for more than a decade. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Outdoor Life and the Casper Star-Tribune, among others.
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Visiting public lands during the shutdown? Be polite and prepared
Public land advocates say the shutdown threatens resources but offer advice on how to help.
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Will the public-lands coalition hold?
Americans came together to keep public lands in public hands this summer. Will they do it again?
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Public lands and wildlife turn to stopgap solutions
In the face of federal cuts, volunteers, businesses and others help keep programs afloat.
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The national parks are not OK
A former national park supervisor explains how toilets may be clean this summer, but the parks themselves are actually ‘hollowed out.’
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Trump asks Congress to cut at the heart of the West
The White House wants to alter life for U.S. hunters, anglers, RVers, off-road-vehicle drivers, backpackers, birdwatchers and hikers.
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Farmers face frozen jobs and heavier workloads under DOGE ‘efficiency’ budget
Billions in halted or canceled grants, gutted local offices, market turmoil and broken trust are at stake across the West.
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Cutting ‘boots-on-the-ground, getting-it-done stuff’ could harm the West’s fish and wildlife for decades
The research co-ops funded by Congress each year since 1960 provide substantial returns for taxpayers.
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Wyoming moves past wolf torture incident
Despite the torture and killing of a wolf in Daniel one year ago, the state has found a way to manage its wolves.
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People brace for impacts on land, water and wildlife after feds fire thousands over holiday weekend
Career employees told HCN they were unsettled by the termination email sent by HR, which cited ‘performance issues.’
Posted inJanuary 2025: The West's Most Wanted
Why the West needs prairie dogs
They’re among the region’s most despised species, but some tribes, researchers and landowners are racing to save them.
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Where horses roam, sage grouse struggle
A new study shows the imperiled bird declines as free-roaming horses exceed the land’s capacity.
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Wolverines may return to Colorado
But can they survive in the warming southern Rockies?
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When grasshoppers attack
Is the cure for grasshopper outbreaks worse than the disease?
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When a landslide blocks your commute
The Teton Pass collapse highlights the importance — and growing vulnerability — of mountain roads.
Posted inApril 2024: Epic Journeys
For these mammals, migration is a means of survival
Will Westerners repair a fractured landscape for mule deer, pronghorn, and elk?
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New refuge provides hope for critically endangered toad
One of the most endangered amphibians in North America faces threats but also possibilities.
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BLM has a plan to tackle booming recreation — at least in theory
The agency is taking a hard look at how to protect land and wildlife while welcoming ever more visitors.
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People are shooting birds off power lines in the West
Gunshots outnumber electrocution as a cause of death, according to a new study.
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When the woods get noisy, the animals get nervous
New study uses trail cameras and speakers to isolate what human sounds do to animals.