IDAHO
Keep your shirts on, Idahoans, and better remove those dangling faux scrotums called “truck nuts” from your trailer hitches, or else find them some little truck-hitch briefs. Gov. Brad Little, R, signed House Bill 270, an update to Idaho’s indecent exposure law, and it went into effect almost immediately — through an emergency clause, mind you — back in March. If you’ve ever needed clarification about what cannot be bared in public — at least in Idaho — the revisions are specific, if somewhat fixated on certain secondary sexual characteristics, i.e., “female breasts, male breasts altered to look like female breasts” and/or “artificial breasts,” as well as “toys or products that resemble genitals,” the Idaho Capital Sun reports. Breastfeeding in public is still legal (for now, anyway). The updates were prompted by the inaugural Canyon County Pride event held in Nampa last June, where Nampa City Councilmember Sebastian Griffin saw a topless woman. He promptly reported it to a police officer, who indicated that it wasn’t against the law “for a man with breast enhancements to walk around topless,” and so Griffin co-crafted the bill. Opponents, like Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D, argued that it would unjustly punish transgender citizens of Idaho and violate the First Amendment by criminalizing expression that “we don’t like.” At least the right to open-carry firearms remains lawful, provided they don’t have truck nuts hanging off them — and yes, “Gunsticles” are a thing. Look it up. Or better yet, don’t.
COLORADO
What cocky canine wouldn’t want to be mistaken for its noble ancestor, the wolf? Seems rather flattering, no? Meet Bonnie, a shepherd/husky mix and foster resident of Gunnison County who became involved in a case of mistaken identity after photos and posts on social media misidentified her as a recently relocated wolf. Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigated and released updates over several days, ultimately identifying the “canine as an unleashed foster pet whose pink collar was covered by her thick scruff,” the Crested Butte News reported. The agency’s Facebook page posted several photos of Bonnie, off-leash and emanating major Call of the Wild vibes, which inspired some mixed responses. Some believed Bonnie to be a wolf hybrid, while others equated the so-called wolf sightings with the notorious Patterson-Gimlin footage showing Bigfoot. But mostly, people were relieved that Bonnie was safe. The takeaway: This is not the dire wolf you’re looking for. This is one Very Good Girl.
NEW MEXICO
As if we didn’t have enough to worry about, what with truck nuts and all, another threat arises, this time from an “Albuquerque man caught smuggling meat across the border — again,” Albuquerque Journal reported. According to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson, a 52-year-old man was caught at the El Paso border trying to import 22 “large rolls” of pork product weighing 242 pounds. The man, who was caught in January sneaking 55 rolls “of undeclared bologna,” could face fines up to $10,000 if found guilty in this latest episode. He was also carrying 60 undeclared tablets of tramadol, an opiate, in his vehicle’s center console. CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha stated that “pork products have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases to the U.S., which can have a devastating impact to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry.” Special CBP canine “Agent” Harlee, a handsome black Lab, detected the contraband cold cuts in the vehicle’s rear cargo area, and from the photo appears to be showing remarkable restraint. The lesson for visitors? Always declare your bologna, but if you’re in Idaho, best not display it publicly.
CALIFORNIA
It’s a pinniped pup boom! At Drakes Beach on Point Reyes National Seashore, elephant seals have given birth in historic numbers, a welcome boon attributed to the season’s clement weather. In recent years, storms interrupted the breeding season and severely impacted the survival of newborns. But things are looking great for the seals this year, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. Sarah Codde, who directs Point Reyes’ monitoring program for elephant seals, estimated that by the second week of January, 1,200 elephant seals had gathered, and 320 pups had been born. “It’s totally a successful conservation story,” Codde said, adding that “it’s a rough life”: The moms apparently don’t teach their kids to swim or even eat, though they seem to get by somehow. Meanwhile, visitors can watch females give birth, males fight, and best of all, adorable pups at play — everything you’d hope for from an elephant seal community.
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This article appeared in the June 2025 print edition of the magazine with the headline “Heard around the West.”
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