Conservation

Breaking down the latest news and unpacking the most critical issues surrounding conservation, climate & environment, and public lands & waters, and wildlife management.

Latest in Conservation

"hank the tank" via facebook

Conservation

Wildlife Officials Want to Euthanize a California Black Bear That’s Damaged 38 Properties. Bear Advocates Want to Send It to Colorado Wildlife Officials Want to Euthanize a California Black Bear That’s Damaged 38 Properties. Bear Advocates Want to Send It to Colorado

bowhunting montana

Conservation

Is Hunter Recruitment Really Hurting Hunting Opportunity in the West? Here’s One R3 Coordinator’s Take Is Hunter Recruitment Really Hurting Hunting Opportunity in the West? Here’s One R3 Coordinator’s Take

montana moose poacher receives lifetime hunting ban

Conservation

The 41-Year-Old Montana Man Who Poached This Trophy Moose Received a Lifetime Hunting Ban The 41-Year-Old Montana Man Who Poached This Trophy Moose Received a Lifetime Hunting Ban

California anglers returned this sturgeon to the water after it was illegally caught.

Conservation

After Spending Two Hours in the Back of a Toyota, an Endangered Green Sturgeon Was Returned to a California Waterway After Spending Two Hours in the Back of a Toyota, an Endangered Green Sturgeon Was Returned to a California Waterway

grasslands for ranching South Dakota

Conservation

The Feds Are Spending $1 Billion on New Ag Projects That Should Also Help Wildlife Habitat The Feds Are Spending $1 Billion on New Ag Projects That Should Also Help Wildlife Habitat

Lying About Their Utah Residency for Better Tags Cost These Hunters Thousands—Plus Felony Charges for Fraud

Conservation

Lying About Their Utah Residency for Better Tags Cost These Hunters Thousands—Plus Felony Charges for Fraud Lying About Their Utah Residency for Better Tags Cost These Hunters Thousands—Plus Felony Charges for Fraud

duck hunter and midwestern sunset

Conservation

Sportsmen, Gun Owners Generated a Record $1.5 Billion in Conservation Funding Last Year Sportsmen, Gun Owners Generated a Record $1.5 Billion in Conservation Funding Last Year

pronghorn at seedskadee NWR

Conservation

Wyoming Rancher Busted for Selling Poached Pronghorn and Mule Deer as Beef Jerky Wyoming Rancher Busted for Selling Poached Pronghorn and Mule Deer as Beef Jerky

gray wolf in the snow

Hunting

Judge Orders Federal Protections to be Restored for Gray Wolves Judge Orders Federal Protections to be Restored for Gray Wolves

The Nutria Rodeo in Venice, Louisiana.

Conservation

Welcome to the Nutria Rodeo: The Most Insane, Bloody, and Fun Conservation Effort in America Welcome to the Nutria Rodeo: The Most Insane, Bloody, and Fun Conservation Effort in America

wisconsin deer hunt

Hunting

Let’s Not Forget, the Midwest and South (Not the West) Are the Heartbeat of Hunting in America Let’s Not Forget, the Midwest and South (Not the West) Are the Heartbeat of Hunting in America

By Alex Robinson

A captive red wolf

Conservation

USFWS Will Release Nine Red Wolves on North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges USFWS Will Release Nine Red Wolves on North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges

Chronic wasting disease has been found in Louisiana.

Conservation

Louisiana Buck Tests Positive for CWD, Making it the First Confirmed Case in the State Louisiana Buck Tests Positive for CWD, Making it the First Confirmed Case in the State

By Natalie Krebs

West Virginia poaching bust.

Conservation

Two Former Deputy Sheriffs and Six Others Face 223 Charges in West Virginia Poaching Case Two Former Deputy Sheriffs and Six Others Face 223 Charges in West Virginia Poaching Case

By Natalie Krebs

A bowhunter debating arrows with a pro shop employee.

Hunting

A Rookie’s Guide to Hunting Social Media A Rookie’s Guide to Hunting Social Media

american wigeon

Conservation

Avian Flu a Growing Concern in North Carolina as Officials Confirm More Cases in Wild Ducks Avian Flu a Growing Concern in North Carolina as Officials Confirm More Cases in Wild Ducks

A man admitted to poaching deer because they ate his trees.

Conservation

South Dakota Man Fined $13,300 for Poaching 14 Deer Because They Were Eating His Pine Trees South Dakota Man Fined $13,300 for Poaching 14 Deer Because They Were Eating His Pine Trees

By Natalie Krebs

wolf in fresh snow

Conservation

British Columbia Will Extend Its Controversial Wolf Cull Program to Help Mountain Caribou British Columbia Will Extend Its Controversial Wolf Cull Program to Help Mountain Caribou

Hunting

Podcast: Andrew McKean and Randy Newberg Discuss Montana’s Elk Management Controversy Podcast: Andrew McKean and Randy Newberg Discuss Montana’s Elk Management Controversy

Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program

Fishing

Angler Made $61,000 Last Year Catching Pikeminnow in the Columbia and Snake Rivers Angler Made $61,000 Last Year Catching Pikeminnow in the Columbia and Snake Rivers

Wild horses enter a chute during a gather.

Conservation

BLM Begins Largest Wild Horse and Burro Gather in History, Offers $1,000 Incentive to Adopt One BLM Begins Largest Wild Horse and Burro Gather in History, Offers $1,000 Incentive to Adopt One

By Natalie Krebs

Texas feral hog

Conservation

$5 Per Tail: Two Central Texas Counties Are Offering Bounties for Feral Hogs $5 Per Tail: Two Central Texas Counties Are Offering Bounties for Feral Hogs

Deer hunting buck report.

Hunting

U.S. Deer Hunters Harvested More Bucks Last Season Than Any Season in the Past 21 Years U.S. Deer Hunters Harvested More Bucks Last Season Than Any Season in the Past 21 Years

whooping cranes USFWS

Conservation

Four Endangered Whooping Cranes Were Killed Mysteriously in Oklahoma. The Case Could Prevent a Sandhill Crane Hunting Season in Wisconsin Four Endangered Whooping Cranes Were Killed Mysteriously in Oklahoma. The Case Could Prevent a Sandhill Crane Hunting Season in Wisconsin

Lake sturgeon in New York.

Conservation

Threatened Lake Sturgeon Are Now Fully Recovered in Most of New York State Threatened Lake Sturgeon Are Now Fully Recovered in Most of New York State

boundary waters canoe area wilderness

Conservation

Biden Administration Withdraws Leases for Controversial Mine Near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Biden Administration Withdraws Leases for Controversial Mine Near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

By Alex Robinson

Black ducks were once thought to be in peril because of hybridization with mallards.

Hunting

New Research Shows Atlantic Flyway Mallards Actually Might Not Be In Trouble. Was the Bag Limit Reduction Unnecessary? New Research Shows Atlantic Flyway Mallards Actually Might Not Be In Trouble. Was the Bag Limit Reduction Unnecessary?

By Kyle Wintersteen

Hunting

A California State Senator Wants to Make it Easier for Hunters to Kill Wild Pigs A California State Senator Wants to Make it Easier for Hunters to Kill Wild Pigs

By Bob McNally, Dac Collins

A sow grizzly did not stick to her typical 70-mile home range.

Conservation

Grizzly Travels 2,800 Miles for Food and Shelter, Puzzling Wildlife Biologists Grizzly Travels 2,800 Miles for Food and Shelter, Puzzling Wildlife Biologists

By Alan Clemons

Collared juvenile moose in New York

Conservation

New York Researchers Trying to Determine Why Adirondack Moose Populations Aren’t Growing New York Researchers Trying to Determine Why Adirondack Moose Populations Aren’t Growing

northwoods buck

Hunting

Why Is Deer Hunting in the Northwoods on the Decline? And Will It Ever Rebound? Why Is Deer Hunting in the Northwoods on the Decline? And Will It Ever Rebound?

By Patrick Durkin

whitetail does in the snow

Hunting

If Chronic Wasting Disease Is Fatal, Why Aren’t We Finding CWD-Killed Deer in the Woods? If Chronic Wasting Disease Is Fatal, Why Aren’t We Finding CWD-Killed Deer in the Woods?

By Lindsay Thomas Jr.

Conservation

Wildlife Officials Give Dozens of Alligators Baths After Diesel Spill Contaminates Louisiana Wetland Wildlife Officials Give Dozens of Alligators Baths After Diesel Spill Contaminates Louisiana Wetland

Hurricane damage in lousiana has cost millions in fisheries damages.

Conservation

Two Years of Hurricanes Have Caused $579 Million in Damages to Louisiana Fisheries Two Years of Hurricanes Have Caused $579 Million in Damages to Louisiana Fisheries

deer about to crash through window

Conservation

Video: Deer Crashes Through a Window, Wrecking a Flower Shop in Alabama Video: Deer Crashes Through a Window, Wrecking a Flower Shop in Alabama

Crows are invading California.

Conservation

California Is Using Lasers to Try and Control Huge Flocks of Migrating Crows California Is Using Lasers to Try and Control Huge Flocks of Migrating Crows

Colorado Wildlife Officials Confirm State’s Third Wolf Depredation in 30 Days

Conservation

Colorado Wildlife Officials Confirm State’s Third Wolf Depredation in 30 Days Colorado Wildlife Officials Confirm State’s Third Wolf Depredation in 30 Days

crazies in wintertime

Conservation

A Public-Access Lawsuit in Montana’s Crazy Mountains Claims Forest Service Is Catering to Private Landowners A Public-Access Lawsuit in Montana’s Crazy Mountains Claims Forest Service Is Catering to Private Landowners

Axis deer in Hawaii are causing overbrowsing and erosion issues.

Hunting

Hawaiian Axis Deer Are Causing Such Bad Erosion, the Sea Is Turning Brown Hawaiian Axis Deer Are Causing Such Bad Erosion, the Sea Is Turning Brown

A gulf sturgeon was found near Jackson.

Conservation

Threatened Gulf Sturgeon Spotted for the First Time in 25 Years Near Jackson, Mississippi Threatened Gulf Sturgeon Spotted for the First Time in 25 Years Near Jackson, Mississippi

Conservation

New Survey Reveals “COVID Bump” Hunters’ Motivations and Impacts New Survey Reveals “COVID Bump” Hunters’ Motivations and Impacts

By Andrew McKean

Juvenile chinook salmon

Conservation

Warm Water, Drought Conditions Take Heavy Toll on Endangered Salmon in California Warm Water, Drought Conditions Take Heavy Toll on Endangered Salmon in California

Is this canine found in Utah a wolf or a hybrid?

Hunting

Duck Hunters Find a Dead Wolf in Utah. Officials Say It’s Likely a Hybrid Duck Hunters Find a Dead Wolf in Utah. Officials Say It’s Likely a Hybrid

Moose in Breckenridge basement

Conservation

Wildlife Officers Rescue Bull Moose From a Colorado Basement by Cutting Off Its Antlers Wildlife Officers Rescue Bull Moose From a Colorado Basement by Cutting Off Its Antlers

Virginia elk herd

Hunting

Virginia to Hold First-Ever Managed Elk Hunt This Fall Virginia to Hold First-Ever Managed Elk Hunt This Fall

Whitetail doe in Florida

Hunting

Chronic Wasting Disease Has Now Been Confirmed in Alabama Chronic Wasting Disease Has Now Been Confirmed in Alabama

colorado elk hunters

Hunting

On a Colorado Elk Hunt, Any Legal Bull Is a Trophy On a Colorado Elk Hunt, Any Legal Bull Is a Trophy

By Alex Robinson

Governors in eight states are trying to stop invasive fish from entering the Great Lakes.

Conservation

Governors Ask U.S. Congress for Funding to Stop Invasive Fish From Entering the Great Lakes Governors Ask U.S. Congress for Funding to Stop Invasive Fish From Entering the Great Lakes

There may be too many waterfowl outfitters

Hunting

Is the Commercialization of Waterfowl Good for Duck Hunting? Is the Commercialization of Waterfowl Good for Duck Hunting?

By Joe Genzel, John Pollmann

WDFW hatchery coho fry

Conservation

Washington Hatchery Workers Spent Their Christmas Saving Nearly 4 Million Fish Washington Hatchery Workers Spent Their Christmas Saving Nearly 4 Million Fish

Idaho poacher caught with mountain goat

Conservation

After 23 Years of Complaints from Hunters, Idaho Poacher Gets Jail Time, 10-Year Hunting Ban After 23 Years of Complaints from Hunters, Idaho Poacher Gets Jail Time, 10-Year Hunting Ban

Western Arctic Caribou

Conservation

Western Arctic Caribou Herd Numbers Drop to 188K: What Does That Mean For Hunters? Western Arctic Caribou Herd Numbers Drop to 188K: What Does That Mean For Hunters?

It rained fish in Texarkana.

Conservation

Winter Storm Makes It Rain Fish in Texarkana, Residents Scoop Up Free Bait Winter Storm Makes It Rain Fish in Texarkana, Residents Scoop Up Free Bait

The original Boone and Crockett national collection trophy mounts are now housed in Springfield, Missouri.

Hunting

The History—and Future—of Trophy Hunting in North America The History—and Future—of Trophy Hunting in North America

By Christine Peterson

Dead trout below Hebgen Dam

Conservation

How a Dam Malfunction on the Madison River Nearly Wrecked a Blue-Ribbon Fishery How a Dam Malfunction on the Madison River Nearly Wrecked a Blue-Ribbon Fishery

Trail camera captured Florida panthers mating this summer.

Conservation

First-Ever Photos of Mating Florida Panthers Captured on Trail Camera First-Ever Photos of Mating Florida Panthers Captured on Trail Camera

By Natalie Krebs

A trapper with a beaver.

Hunting

As We Drift Further From the Outdoors, America Needs Trapping More Than Ever As We Drift Further From the Outdoors, America Needs Trapping More Than Ever

Trapping and hunting furbearers is a sustainable practice.

Hunting

Furbearers Are the Ultimate Renewable Resource Furbearers Are the Ultimate Renewable Resource

Conservation

Tequila Factory Spill Leads to Massive Fish Kill in Mexican Reservoir Tequila Factory Spill Leads to Massive Fish Kill in Mexican Reservoir

A bighorn sheep nursery is being planned for a private ranch in Utah.

Hunting

In Utah, a Desert Bighorn Sheep “Nursery” Planned for Private Ranch In Utah, a Desert Bighorn Sheep “Nursery” Planned for Private Ranch

By Andrew McKean

The new cover of Outdoor Life magazine's digital edition.

Hunting

A New Digital Edition of Outdoor Life Is Here: The Trophy Hunting Myth A New Digital Edition of Outdoor Life Is Here: The Trophy Hunting Myth

By Alex Robinson

A robot bass fish, designed to target mosquitofish.

Conservation

Researchers Are Scaring Invasive Mosquitofish to Death with This Robotic Bass Researchers Are Scaring Invasive Mosquitofish to Death with This Robotic Bass

An Oklahoma lifetime license.

Hunting

Oklahoma Governor’s Decision to End Hunting and Fishing Compacts with Native American Nations Could Cost the State Millions in License Revenue Oklahoma Governor’s Decision to End Hunting and Fishing Compacts with Native American Nations Could Cost the State Millions in License Revenue

Researchers at Cornell recaptured this shortnose sturgeon.

Fishing

Sturgeon Tagged 26 Years Ago, Recovered By Cornell Researchers Sturgeon Tagged 26 Years Ago, Recovered By Cornell Researchers