Public News Service

Montana is home to about 1,100 wolves, according to state wildlife officials. (Adobe Stock)

MT sues for federal wolf protection

A coalition of conservation groups has sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for refusing to relist wolves under the Endangered Species Act…

The Lolo National Forest's geographic location is seen as critical for connecting wildlife habitats. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife habitat, connectivity, key to Lolo National Forest management plan

Today is the deadline for public comment on Montana's Lolo National Forest management plan. Advocates say the input will shape how the land is used …

Montana land proposed for solar power

The Bureau of Land Management has proposed expanding the public land available for solar power production in 11 states, including Montana. The BLM's …

Environmental advocates contend a logging project bordering Montana's Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area threatens habitat for the lynx, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental advocates sue over MT logging project

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies has sued the U.S. Forest Service over a logging project in southwestern Montana. The group claims the agency …

Climate stressors such as heat and drought are changing America's forests at a rapid rate. The National Wildlife Federation supports a policy proposed by the Biden administration to protect and nurture habitat in old-growth forests. (Adobe Stock)

Plan to preserve MT's old-growth forests a 'good first step'

A group of conservation, sporting and land-stewardship organizations calls the U.S. Forest Service's move to conserve old-growth forests a "good …

Wildlife advocates have been working to restore the black-footed ferret population on federal and tribal land in Montana since 1994. It was listed as endangered in 1967, six years before the passage of the Endangered Species Act, which turns 50 this week. (Kristy Bly/WWF)

At 50, Endangered Species Act responsible for black-footed ferret comeback

The Endangered Species Act turns 50 this year, and the World Wildlife Fund credits the measure for significant gains in the black-footed ferret …

Many of Montana's county access roads to public lands are shared by hunters and local residents. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Counties sue over vetoed outdoor funding bill

A District Court judge has heard oral arguments in a lawsuit over a vetoed Montana funding bill. The measure would have changed the way the state's …

Wolverines are powerfully built and have short legs with wide feet for traveling across the snow. They are a vital part of ecosystems in northern climes, according to Defenders of Wildlife. (Adobe Stock)

Threatened wolverine gains protected status

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has added the wolverine to the list of endangered species. Advocates said it will add critical protections for the …

Montana is home to more than 30 million acres of public state and federal lands, nearly one-third of the state. (Adobe Stock)

MT wilderness advocates question motives of 'Conservation Act'

Wildlife advocates are pushing back on a bill in Congress which would remove federal wilderness protections from some Montana land. There are …

The development and presence of roads can reduce landscape permeability, lead to habitat loss and increase habitat fragmentation. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates say even small development damages sensitive MT ecology

New research by ecology experts in Montana showed even small amounts of development can cause a widespread decline in stream biodiversity. It does …

There are about 1,900 grizzlies in the Northern Rockies states of WY, ID, MT and WA. <br />There are 30, 000 in Alaska and about 23,000 in Canada. The grizzlies in Alaska are not listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. (Adobe Stock)

Alliance sues over Yellowstone logging project

Three conservation groups have sued to stop a large logging project near Yellowstone National Park they say threatens endangered species in Montana…

The U.S. Department of the Interior currently manages 11,000 bison in herds across 4.6 million acres of public lands in a dozen states. (Adobe Stock)

Washington Invests $5 Million in Tribal Land Bison Restoration

The U.S. Interior Department has invested $5 million in reintroducing bison to Native American Tribal lands across the country. Montana's iconic …

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimates the state's elk population at 175,000 animals, but is aiming for a population closer to 92,000. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Advocates React to MT Elk Management Plan

After months of public input and work by wildlife officials, Montana is set to release a new Elk Management Plan this fall. Montana's last Elk …

The U.S. Forest Service system in Montana contains about 32,000 miles of roads, according to a report from the Montana Legislature. (Adobe Stock)

Court Orders Forest Service to Reconsider Closed Logging Roads

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Forest Service to look again at the effectiveness of road closures in Montana's Helena-Lewis and Clark National …

A new draft wolf management plan is expected to be released for public comment by the end of August, but skeptics say it is not taking the non-hunting public into account. (Adobe Stock)

Non-Hunters Want Seat at MT's Wolf Count Table

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department is coming up with a new wolf management plan, but there is disagreement over how the animals are …

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is considering imposing

Severe Montana Drought Prompts Unprecedented Fishing Restrictions

Drought and soaring temperatures have prompted state wildlife officials to restrict fishing on some of the state's most popular lakes and streams…

As grizzly bear populations continue to expand across Montana, the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is engaging local communities within likely grizzly range to share information on bear safety as part of its

MT Residents Learn How to Avoid Grizzly Encounters

A recent grizzly bear mauling in the state has drawn attention to interactions between the animals and humans. As the urban wildland interface …

Montana encompasses 145,552 square miles of land. The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department estimates about half, or 74,000 square miles, is suitable mountain lion habitat. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Advocates Push Back on MT Higher Mountain Lion Kill

Big-game advocates are pushing back against a move by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission to increase the number of mountain lions that can be le…

The Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem, one of six designated recovery zones for grizzly bears in the lower 48 states, is located in northwestern Montana and northeastern Idaho. (Adobe Stock)

Judge Halts Logging Road to Benefit Grizzly Restoration

CORRECTION: The name of the logging project has been corrected, as well as the link to the court document. (1:40 p.m. MST, June 28, 2023) A federal …

Experts say canopy cover to prevent rainfall from directly striking sloped soil, and a strong plant root system to bind the soil, are two of the best methods for preventing erosion. (Adobe Stock)

River Watchers Use 'Old' Technology to Renew Ecosystems

Environmental advocates in Montana are using an older form of technology in new ways to improve the quality of the land near river beds, and also …

In the 1800s, about 50,000 grizzly bears roamed the western United States. Now, that number is fewer than 2,000. Despite the dwindling numbers, the government has tried to remove them from the Endangered Species List and twice been rebuffed, according to the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. (Adobe Stock)

Judge Halts Key Logging Project in Grizzly Country

A U.S. District Court has halted a logging project in the Kootenai National Forest in Montana because of its potential to harm an already imperiled …

Senate Bill 442 would have appropriated $30 million to Habitat Montana, the state's premier environmental conservation program. (Adobe Stock)

MT Gov. Vetoes Key Environmental Bill; Supporters Still Hopeful

Despite the veto of a key piece of Montana environmental legislation, advocates are not giving up on the measure becoming law - even though the state …

About a dozen miles of Montana's iconic Gallatin river is polluted with

Dozens of Miles of MT's Mighty Gallatin Declared 'Pollution Impaired'

Montana environmental officials have listed dozens of miles of the Gallatin River as "impaired" following pollution-induced algal blooms over the last…

A bill in the Montana Legislature would give livestock owners leeway to determine when a grizzly bear is considered a threat. (Ben/Adobe Stock)

MT Bill Threatens Grizzly Bear Recovery, Critics Say

Groups advocating for grizzly bear protections are concerned about legislation in Helena that could threaten the population in Montana. Senate Bill 2…

The Prairie Potholes region is considered some of the most important waterfowl habitat in North America. (DeVane/Adobe Stock)

Federal Funds to Conserve, Restore America's 'Duck Factory'

The Interior Department is investing funds in protecting what some call America's 'duck factory.' The Prairie Potholes are marshes and wetlands that…

The pygmy rabbit occupies an estimated 10% of its historic range. (serikbaib/Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Endangered Species Protections for Pygmy Rabbit

Advocates have filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save the smallest rabbit species in North America, the pygmy rabbit…

A diversity of lands exist in Montana, from forests to sagebrush. (Mark/Adobe Stock)

Preserving Wildlife, Climate Critical Topics for 2023 Farm Bill

As hearings on the 2023 Farm Bill begin, a push is on to ensure biodiversity is part of the conversation. A Senate hearing on the bill's conservation …

Properly designed crossings reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 90%, according to experts. (MierCat Photography/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Plan for Effect of Climate Change on Wildlife Crossings

Wildlife crossings could be a path to a future where the climate has significantly changed the planet. Wildlife and climate experts are urging …

Lowering top wires on fencing to 40 inches or lower decreases the chances of animals becoming entangled as they jump over. (F&J McGinn/Adobe Stock)

Study Locates Fences in SW MT for Sake of Migrating Wildlife

Migrating wildlife can struggle with the extensive fencing throughout the West, and a new study is filling in the gaps on where these fences are in …

High rates of survival and reproduction have allowed the bison population to increase by 10% to 17% every year. That's 10 times faster than the human population grows worldwide, according to the National Park Service. (Adobe Stock)

Group Rallies to Protect Montana Constitution

The new year begins with the prospect of big changes to the Montana state Constitution that have been drafted by GOP lawmakers and opposed by conserva…

Montana landowners and hunters have butted heads in the past about how to best manage the state's elk population. (kojihirano/Adobe Stock)

MT Trust Proposed to Enhance State Lands, Waters

With Montana lawmakers looking at a large budget surplus, a group of hunters, scientists and landowners is asking them to consider creating a trust …

A photo from the top of the berm near the Smurfit-Stone site shows how close the Clark Fork River is. (Lisa Ronald/American Rivers)

Tour of Former Mill Site Underscores Dangers for MT River

Community members and conservation groups recently toured a former paper mill because of urgent concerns that the site poses a threat to a nearby Mont…

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located in northeastern Montana, was established in 1935. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

National Refuges Hailed as 'Sanctuary to Wildlife'

National Wildlife Refuge Week may be over, but public lands are important to animals and plants year-round. There are about 600 wildlife refuges …

A 1990s meeting on elk management in Montana helped create an incentive program for landowners that still exists today. (DJ_38/Adobe Stock)

Report Offers Recommendations for MT Elk Management at 'Crossroads'

After a gathering of hunters, landowners and wildlife managers, a new report draws some conclusions on how Montana can better manage its elk …

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' update to the elk-management plan is expected to conclude in 2023. (Kyle T. Perry/Adobe Stock)

Elk Management Symposium to Address Conflicts in MT

Hunters, landowners and wildlife managers are gathering in Montana to discuss the need for novel approaches to elk management. The 2022 Elk …

If passed by Congress, Recovering America's Wildlife Act funding would be used to restore ecosystems like the Flathead River. (Outside by Nature/Adobe Stock)

Bill Passed in House Would Send $27 Million to MT for Wildlife Recovery

A measure in Congress which would fund local efforts to protect animal and plant species before they become endangered has passed the U.S. House and …

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department manages 22 elk feeding grounds in the northwest part of the state. (Wyoming Game & Fish Department)

Conservation Groups Call for Phase Out of Elk Feedgrounds

Conservation groups hope artificial elk feeding grounds near Yellowstone National Park are on their last legs. Six groups have sent recommendations …

Federal and state public lands surround the Big Snowy Mountains in central Montana. (U.S. Forest Service)

Big Snowy Mountains Could Open Up with MT Land Purchase

Montana is considering a purchase of land in the central part of the state that could open up access to more than 100,000 acres of public land…

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes were involved in creating a wildlife crossing over U.S. Highway 93 in Montana. (Montana Department of Transportation)

Tribes Could Get Boost to Protect Wildlife Migration Routes

Migration routes for wildlife across the country are in peril, but tribes could get more support from Congress to protect these corridors. The …

Eighteen wolves killed in Montana this winter were in management districts adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. (David/Adobe Stock)

After Yellowstone Wolf Kills, Trapping Also a Concern for Species

The Yellowstone wolf population has been devastated by recent hunts in the region, and advocates for the species say another concern is trapping…

Montana adopted a data-based approach to water-quality monitoring for nutrients in 2015. (Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock)

Groups Voice Concerns about MT Rollback of Data-Based Water Standards

Rule-making is under way for a new law that opponents say is a step backward for monitoring water quality in Montana. In the 2021 session, lawmakers …

Fifteen of the 20 wolves killed from Yellowstone National Park were shot after roaming into Montana. (alex/Adobe Stock)

Wolf Hunting Near Yellowstone Spark Distress for Wildlife-Related Businesses

The hunting of gray wolves from Yellowstone National Park has set off alarm bells for wildlife-related businesses in the region. Thirty businesses …

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed endangered-species protections for gray wolves in 2020. (Dennis Donohue/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups: Tribal Nations Should be Partners in Wolf Management

HELENA, Mont. -- To honor the Biden administration's steps toward greater ties with tribal nations, conservation groups are calling on it to list the …

Wolves had made a major comeback in the West, but wildlife managers say policies in Montana threaten to roll back that progress. (jimcumming88/Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Professionals Decry Direction of MT Management

HELENA, Mont. -- Wildlife managers and biologists in Montana are airing their frustration over how the state is managing its natural resources…

The grasslands of the West are critical habitat for migrating pronghorn. (hdsidesign/Adobe Stock)

Impacts from Imperiled Pronghorn Migration Routes Reach Beyond Species

HELENA, Mont. - Millions of pronghorn used to roam the West freely. But impediments like road and fences, as well as a changing climate, threaten the …

Protecting chickens from bears is one of the top reasons people have used the Electric Fence Incentive Program. (Russ Talmo)

Electric Fencing Incentive Program Provides Bear-Prevention Tool

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Got a grizzly problem? A Defenders of Wildlife program is helping folks deter bears from their property, by reimbursing …

Pronghorn populations migrate more than 200 miles between Montana and Canada. (Sue Smith/Adobe Stock)

Fence Mapping Project Helps Wildlife Move Across West

MISSOULA, Mont. - Wildlife is being fenced in across the West, and researchers are now mapping these lines to understand how they affect animals…

There are more than 1,100 wolves in Montana, according to recent state estimates. (gatito33/Adobe Stock)

Film on Indigenous People's Connection to Wolf Calls for Endangered Listing

HELENA, Mont. - With the gray wolf imperiled across the country, a new film explores the cultural connection between indigenous people and wolves…

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MT: Endangered Species & Wildlife