There were glimmers of good news across the region, from restored habitats to growing wildlife populations.
Wyoming
2024 was a year of wacky Western weather
When assessing the region, not much was normal but climate change.
Where horses roam, sage grouse struggle
A new study shows the imperiled bird declines as free-roaming horses exceed the land’s capacity.
Lovesick elk, flamingo fathers, Frankensheep and Bach for bison
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Roads and wildlife don’t mix
Grizzly 399’s death sparks a broader conversation on how to live with wildlife.
The downballot issues driving the West’s 2024 elections
From climate and public lands to shifting political allegiances, the region faces critical choices at the ballot box.
Explaining invasive species to toddlers
And involving them in a murderous task.
How do you protect wildlife from sprawl?
A fast-growing Utah exurb gets serious about migration corridors.
When a landslide blocks your commute
The Teton Pass collapse highlights the importance — and growing vulnerability — of mountain roads.
Deer 255 reaches the end of her journey
The ungulate migrated farther than any deer known to science.
Water inequality on the Colorado River
A new accounting reveals deep disparities in Western water consumption.
Allegations of Wyoming wolf torture trigger calls for penalty reform
Currently, illegally possessing warm-blooded wildlife in the state is punishable by only a $250 citation.
For these mammals, migration is a means of survival
Will Westerners repair a fractured landscape for mule deer, pronghorn, and elk?
Could building on public land address the housing crisis?
The West has a plethora of land and a shortage of houses. Some are wondering if a solution lies within.
Killer kitties, no-drama llamas and a brand-new arachnid
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Oil industry profits don’t pay for cleanup
A failure of regulation has allowed industry to avoid the true cost of cleaning up its unplugged wells.
Fund conservation as you drive
Colorado’s new wolf-themed specialty license plate joins a regional menagerie of critter-themed plates.
The culling of Alaska’s bears and wolves
As the state’s wildlife numbers decline, predators are getting the blame. The true threat is much more complex.
