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

Watch: Snake Hunters Find Giant Python Being Eaten Alive by Ticks

Conservation

Watch: Snake Hunters Find Giant Python Being Eaten Alive by Ticks Watch: Snake Hunters Find Giant Python Being Eaten Alive by Ticks

RFK J with the dead black bear cub in 2014.

Conservation

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Admits to Bizarre Prank That Involved Dumping a Dead Black Bear Cub in Central Park Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Admits to Bizarre Prank That Involved Dumping a Dead Black Bear Cub in Central Park

By Alice Jones Webb

A gray wolf in Oregon.

Conservation

Colorado Seeks New Wolf Source After Colville Tribe Rescinds Offer to Help with Reintroduction Colorado Seeks New Wolf Source After Colville Tribe Rescinds Offer to Help with Reintroduction

Hunting

Lion Hunting Ban Qualifies for Colorado’s November Ballot Lion Hunting Ban Qualifies for Colorado’s November Ballot

By Andrew McKean

hunter education

Conservation

A Digital Revolution in Hunter Education A Digital Revolution in Hunter Education

By Andrew McKean

A New Hampshire wildlife officer with striped bass that were confiscated from a poacher.

Conservation

East Coast Poacher ‘Caught Red-Handed’ with 14 Oversized Stripers Admitted He Planned to Sell Them East Coast Poacher ‘Caught Red-Handed’ with 14 Oversized Stripers Admitted He Planned to Sell Them

By Alice Jones Webb

A large elk herd on private land.

Conservation

Montana Judge Says Landowners Don’t Have ‘Absolute Freedom’ to Kill Elk, and Allowing Public Hunting Doesn’t Infringe on Their Rights Montana Judge Says Landowners Don’t Have ‘Absolute Freedom’ to Kill Elk, and Allowing Public Hunting Doesn’t Infringe on Their Rights

A whitetail buck in the woods.

Conservation

Instead of Banning Lead Outright, Feds to Try Paying Hunters to Use Non-Toxic Ammo on Certain Wildlife Refuges Instead of Banning Lead Outright, Feds to Try Paying Hunters to Use Non-Toxic Ammo on Certain Wildlife Refuges

A village gathers around four dead maneating lions

Hunting

My Hunt for the Man-Eating Lions of Matiyani My Hunt for the Man-Eating Lions of Matiyani

By Scott Haugen

A biologist handles red drum fingerlings.

Conservation

Texas Will Stock Its One Billionth Saltwater Gamefish This July Texas Will Stock Its One Billionth Saltwater Gamefish This July

Florida outfitter Razzor Ranch hosted fraudulent Osceola turkey hunts

Conservation

Florida Guides Passed Off Pen-Raised Turkeys as Wild Osceolas to Unsuspecting Hunters, Officials Say Florida Guides Passed Off Pen-Raised Turkeys as Wild Osceolas to Unsuspecting Hunters, Officials Say

Conservation

Are Chronic Wasting Disease Fears Making People Quit Deer Hunting? Are Chronic Wasting Disease Fears Making People Quit Deer Hunting?

By Christine Peterson

Yellowstone wolves

Conservation

Yellowstone Park Superintendent Calls for Stricter Wolf Hunting Regulations In Montana Yellowstone Park Superintendent Calls for Stricter Wolf Hunting Regulations In Montana

A mountain lion in a tree.

Conservation

Wade Lemon, the Utah Outfitter Who Infamously Guided Donald Trump Jr., Will Do Prison Time for Running ‘Canned’ Mountain Lion Hunts Wade Lemon, the Utah Outfitter Who Infamously Guided Donald Trump Jr., Will Do Prison Time for Running ‘Canned’ Mountain Lion Hunts

A trio of feral hogs disturb the soil.

Conservation

As If Feral Hogs Weren’t Bad Enough, They’re Probably Helping Spread Invasive Plants As If Feral Hogs Weren’t Bad Enough, They’re Probably Helping Spread Invasive Plants

A bobwhite quail in South Texas.

Conservation

Texas Bird Hunters Helped Fund a New Drug That’s Saving Wild Quail Texas Bird Hunters Helped Fund a New Drug That’s Saving Wild Quail

A bear in a forest in Romania.

Conservation

Brutal Bear Attack on 19-Year-Old Hiker Prompts Romanian Government to Cull Hundreds of Brown Bears Brutal Bear Attack on 19-Year-Old Hiker Prompts Romanian Government to Cull Hundreds of Brown Bears

HSUS's Maine state director, Katie Hansberry, hands out pamphlets at farmers market in the state in 2013, urging a referendum to be put on the ballot to ban bear hunting by baiting, with hounds or by trapping.

Conservation

Podcast: Here’s How Hunting Gets Banned Podcast: Here’s How Hunting Gets Banned

By Alex Robinson

A wire booby trap found on a trail in Colorado.

Conservation

Wire Booby Traps Found on Public Trail Were Put There to Injure OHV Riders, Say Law Enforcement Wire Booby Traps Found on Public Trail Were Put There to Injure OHV Riders, Say Law Enforcement

A young deer fawn lying in a prescribed burn area.

Conservation

No, Your Prescribed Burn Isn’t Killing Loads of Fawns and Turkey Poults No, Your Prescribed Burn Isn’t Killing Loads of Fawns and Turkey Poults

By Natalie Krebs

A USFWS biologist with a collared goose.

Conservation

Hunting and Fishing Makes Us Better Environmental Stewards, Study Shows Hunting and Fishing Makes Us Better Environmental Stewards, Study Shows

Caribou in Alaska

Conservation

The Federal Government Is Increasing Hunting Restrictions and Limiting Access on Millions of Acres of Public Land in Alaska with These 4 Measures The Federal Government Is Increasing Hunting Restrictions and Limiting Access on Millions of Acres of Public Land in Alaska with These 4 Measures

A grizzly bear in a meadow.

Hunting

Alberta Brings Back Grizzly Hunting, But Only for ‘Problem’ Bears Alberta Brings Back Grizzly Hunting, But Only for ‘Problem’ Bears

A mountain lion in the trees.

Conservation

Anti-Hunting Group Gets Enough Signatures to Put a Cougar Hunting Ban on the Colorado Ballot This Fall Anti-Hunting Group Gets Enough Signatures to Put a Cougar Hunting Ban on the Colorado Ballot This Fall

By Natalie Krebs

An American flag flying above the front range ofColorado

Conservation

This Independence Day, Celebrate the Gift of Public Land This Independence Day, Celebrate the Gift of Public Land

By Andrew McKean

A grizzly bear eats an elk.

Conservation

Watch: Grizzly Bear Eats a Cow Elk That’s Still Alive Watch: Grizzly Bear Eats a Cow Elk That’s Still Alive

A fawn waiting for its mother to return.

Conservation

With the Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, It’s Now Illegal to Rehabilitate Fawns in Tennessee With the Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, It’s Now Illegal to Rehabilitate Fawns in Tennessee

A hunter in the snow looks at his phone.

Hunting

Hunting Regs Are Too Complicated. This New Hunting A.I. Is Trying to Fix That Hunting Regs Are Too Complicated. This New Hunting A.I. Is Trying to Fix That

By Andrew McKean

Four biologists with Atlantic sturgeon

Fishing

Massive 200-Plus-Pound Sturgeon Caught Just Upriver from New York City Massive 200-Plus-Pound Sturgeon Caught Just Upriver from New York City

A pair of caribou with antlers face off on a tundra hillock.

Conservation

BLM Officially Blocks the Ambler Road, a 211-Mile Industrial Corridor Through Alaska’s Iconic Brooks Range BLM Officially Blocks the Ambler Road, a 211-Mile Industrial Corridor Through Alaska’s Iconic Brooks Range

By Natalie Krebs

A family of loons in Washington State.

Conservation

Officials Offer $6K Reward to Find the Poacher Who Shot a Family of Loons in Washington State Officials Offer $6K Reward to Find the Poacher Who Shot a Family of Loons in Washington State

A Missouri fawn with a tick infestation in its right eye.

Conservation

Can Ticks Kill Fawns? As Ticks Get Worse, More Fawns Could End Up Like This Missouri Deer Can Ticks Kill Fawns? As Ticks Get Worse, More Fawns Could End Up Like This Missouri Deer

By Natalie Krebs

William shatner flips off the camera.

Conservation

First Nations Group Demands Apology After William Shatner Tells Salmon Farmers to ‘Fck Off’ First Nations Group Demands Apology After William Shatner Tells Salmon Farmers to ‘Fck Off’

Georgia landowner confronts kayak fisherman.

Conservation

Watch: Landowner Tells Kayaker There’s No Fishing Allowed on ‘His’ Side of the River Watch: Landowner Tells Kayaker There’s No Fishing Allowed on ‘His’ Side of the River

A polar bear in Canada.

Conservation

Grizzlies and Polar Bears Are Breeding in Canada. This Is Why Hybrids Might Become More Common Grizzlies and Polar Bears Are Breeding in Canada. This Is Why Hybrids Might Become More Common

Two mule deer running away from recreation noise.

Conservation

Watch: Elk and Deer Are More Pressured by Noisy Hikers Than Four-Wheelers, Study Finds Watch: Elk and Deer Are More Pressured by Noisy Hikers Than Four-Wheelers, Study Finds

By Natalie Krebs

A volunteer biologist catches a Canada goose.

Conservation

Watch: Biologists Grab Swimming Geese from Airboats on the Great Salt Lake Watch: Biologists Grab Swimming Geese from Airboats on the Great Salt Lake

A caribou herd on a hill.

Conservation

Alaska Officials Kill 81 Bears, 14 Wolves to Help Caribou Calves Alaska Officials Kill 81 Bears, 14 Wolves to Help Caribou Calves

By Natalie Krebs

A screenshot of a video of a grizzly bear that looks like a black bear.

Hunting

Idaho Hunter Avoids Charges for Killing Grizzly Because State Wildlife Officials Misidentified the Bear, Too Idaho Hunter Avoids Charges for Killing Grizzly Because State Wildlife Officials Misidentified the Bear, Too

montana mule deer

Conservation

Montana Police Chief Faces Felony Charges for Illegally Hunting on Tribal Lands and Tampering with Witnesses Montana Police Chief Faces Felony Charges for Illegally Hunting on Tribal Lands and Tampering with Witnesses

By Alex Robinson

CJ Alexander buck 2

Conservation

CJ Alexander Pleads Not Guilty to 23 Criminal Charges as Poaching Trial Begins in Ohio CJ Alexander Pleads Not Guilty to 23 Criminal Charges as Poaching Trial Begins in Ohio

By Hayden Sammak, Dac Collins

Conservation

The Wake Surfing Problem: Big Waves and Big Controversy Are Coming to a Lake Near You The Wake Surfing Problem: Big Waves and Big Controversy Are Coming to a Lake Near You

By Christine Peterson

A hunter in blaze orange looks at a dead deer from a distance

Hunting

Public Approval for Hunting and Recreational Shooting Continues to Decline in the U.S. Public Approval for Hunting and Recreational Shooting Continues to Decline in the U.S.

By Andrew McKean

An anti-hunting activist in bright clothing stands on top of a vehicle at a public boat ramp in Australia.

Hunting

During Australia’s Duck Season ‘Circus’ Anti-Hunting Activists Will Steal Your Birds, Paddle Through Your Decoys, and Film Your Kids During Australia’s Duck Season ‘Circus’ Anti-Hunting Activists Will Steal Your Birds, Paddle Through Your Decoys, and Film Your Kids

Story and Photos by Natalie Krebs

a fossilized snake

Conservation

Fossil Hunters in India Found What Could Be the Biggest Snake Ever Discovered Fossil Hunters in India Found What Could Be the Biggest Snake Ever Discovered

Dan Infalt buck

Hunting

Is Public Land Deer Hunting Ruined Forever? Dan Infalt, the Big Buck Serial Killer, Weighs In Is Public Land Deer Hunting Ruined Forever? Dan Infalt, the Big Buck Serial Killer, Weighs In

By Alex Robinson

A wolf runs through a field in Colorado.

Conservation

Colorado Green-Lights Lethal Management of Gray Wolves, Under Certain Conditions Colorado Green-Lights Lethal Management of Gray Wolves, Under Certain Conditions

A gray wolf stands in a forest.

Conservation

Hunter Who Mistakenly Killed a Wolf Hundreds of Miles from Its Home Range Won’t Be Charged Hunter Who Mistakenly Killed a Wolf Hundreds of Miles from Its Home Range Won’t Be Charged

Conservation

Anti-Hunting Groups Are Running a Paid Signature Campaign to Ban Cougar Hunting in Colorado. Conservation Orgs Launch “Decline to Sign” Effort Anti-Hunting Groups Are Running a Paid Signature Campaign to Ban Cougar Hunting in Colorado. Conservation Orgs Launch “Decline to Sign” Effort

By Andrew McKean

A mountain lion on a rock.

Conservation

A Mountain Lion Was Shot in Alaska for the First Time in 35 Years A Mountain Lion Was Shot in Alaska for the First Time in 35 Years

invasive species shoes

Conservation

This Italian Footwear Brand Is Making High-End Sneakers Out of Pythons, Carp, and Other Invasive Species This Italian Footwear Brand Is Making High-End Sneakers Out of Pythons, Carp, and Other Invasive Species

A whitetail doe's head rests in the leaves after a hunt.

Conservation

Does Chronic Wasting Disease Infect Humans? Despite Shocking Headlines, Recent Research Suggests It Does Not Does Chronic Wasting Disease Infect Humans? Despite Shocking Headlines, Recent Research Suggests It Does Not

By Alex Robinson

redfish regulations

Fishing

Louisiana Will Tighten Redfish Harvest Restrictions for the First Time Since the 1980s Louisiana Will Tighten Redfish Harvest Restrictions for the First Time Since the 1980s

A black bear swats an alligator mid-river.

Conservation

Watch: Black Bear Fights Off Two Gators While Swimming Across a Florida River Watch: Black Bear Fights Off Two Gators While Swimming Across a Florida River

Close-ups of two trophy mule deer.

Conservation

Former Utah Wildlife Commissioner Under Investigation for Baiting Mule Deer on Outfitted Ranch Former Utah Wildlife Commissioner Under Investigation for Baiting Mule Deer on Outfitted Ranch

Biologists process euthanized deer.

Conservation

Texas Officials Kill Off Deer Breeder’s Entire Herd, Ending Yearslong Legal War Over CWD Management Texas Officials Kill Off Deer Breeder’s Entire Herd, Ending Yearslong Legal War Over CWD Management

bear scat identification

Conservation

How to Identify Bear Scat How to Identify Bear Scat

Opinion

Podcast: Why Big-Game Auction Tags Are a Necessary Evil Podcast: Why Big-Game Auction Tags Are a Necessary Evil

By Alex Robinson

A man jumps off a boat and tries to body slam an orca.

Conservation

Watch: New Zealand Man Fined for Trying to Body-Slam a Killer Whale Watch: New Zealand Man Fined for Trying to Body-Slam a Killer Whale

A diver spears an invasive lionfish beside an artificial reef in Florida.

Fishing

Photos from the World’s Biggest Lionfish Derby Photos from the World’s Biggest Lionfish Derby

Photographs by Rayna O’Nan, Story by Natalie Krebs

A skunk attempts to eat a live fawn that's bedded in cover and bleating in distress.

Conservation

Watch: Skunk Tries to Eat a Live Whitetail Fawn Watch: Skunk Tries to Eat a Live Whitetail Fawn

By Natalie Krebs

montana mule deer

Conservation

Montana Raises Record Funds for a Coveted Mule Deer Tag — Through a Public Raffle Montana Raises Record Funds for a Coveted Mule Deer Tag — Through a Public Raffle

By Andrew McKean

Male mallard duck in flight sets record speed.

Conservation

Migrating Mallard Clocked at 103 MPH, Breaking Recent Speed Record Migrating Mallard Clocked at 103 MPH, Breaking Recent Speed Record

A deer eating a poisonous mushroom, a hand holding wine cap mushrooms.

Hunting

Mushrooms Are a Deer’s Secret Favorite Food. Here’s How to Grow an Easy Mushroom Food Plot Mushrooms Are a Deer’s Secret Favorite Food. Here’s How to Grow an Easy Mushroom Food Plot

By Natalie Krebs