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

A young mule deer buck with a big seroma cyst on its chest stands in the snow.

Conservation

Watch: Buck with Massive Lump on Its Chest Struggles to Walk Watch: Buck with Massive Lump on Its Chest Struggles to Walk

A pile of deer legs and offal by the side of the road next to a photo of a pickup truck bed full of neatly lined up deer legs.

Conservation

Game Warden Discovers 172 Illegally-Dumped Deer Legs, Guts, and Trash Game Warden Discovers 172 Illegally-Dumped Deer Legs, Guts, and Trash

A mallard hen sitting inside a manmade duck nesting house.

Conservation

Mallard Numbers Have Declined Nationally. New Hen House Bill Aims to Help Mallard Numbers Have Declined Nationally. New Hen House Bill Aims to Help

By Andrew McKean

wolf released in colorado

Conservation

Watch: 5 Wolves Released into Colorado Reintroduction Area Watch: 5 Wolves Released into Colorado Reintroduction Area

snake river dams lower granite shrunk less than 1mb

Conservation

Biden Takes Steps Toward Breaching Four Snake River Dams Biden Takes Steps Toward Breaching Four Snake River Dams

sandhill crane decoys

Conservation

Drive-By Shooter Cited for Firing Rifle into Decoy Spread Drive-By Shooter Cited for Firing Rifle into Decoy Spread

grand teton national park with bison

Conservation

Proposal to Auction Land Inside Grand Teton National Park Tabled Until Fall 2024 Proposal to Auction Land Inside Grand Teton National Park Tabled Until Fall 2024

federal wildlife crossings feature

Conservation

Feds Plan to Spend $350 Million on Wildlife Crossings. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Tells Us Why Feds Plan to Spend $350 Million on Wildlife Crossings. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Tells Us Why

Bull elk following cows.

Conservation

Surprise Ballot Initiative Would Allow Montana Landowners to Hunt Big Game Without Permits Surprise Ballot Initiative Would Allow Montana Landowners to Hunt Big Game Without Permits

By Andrew McKean

snake river dams underwater salmon

Conservation

Breach or Die: It’s Time to Free the Lower Snake River and Save Idaho’s Wild Salmon Breach or Die: It’s Time to Free the Lower Snake River and Save Idaho’s Wild Salmon

mule deer seedskadee national wildlife refuge

Conservation

Conservation vs Preservation: What’s the Difference? Conservation vs Preservation: What’s the Difference?

wolverine carrying moose bone

Conservation

Wolverines Listed as ‘Threatened’ Under the Endangered Species Act Wolverines Listed as ‘Threatened’ Under the Endangered Species Act

Mr. Adventure photos rock climbing, bridge.

Conservation

Influencer ‘Mr. Adventure’ Accused of Faking Yukon Residency, Killing Bears Illegally Influencer ‘Mr. Adventure’ Accused of Faking Yukon Residency, Killing Bears Illegally

nevada desert bighorn sheep

Conservation

Podcast: Here’s Why Hunters Need Help from Birders, Backpackers, and Dog-Walkers Podcast: Here’s Why Hunters Need Help from Birders, Backpackers, and Dog-Walkers

By Andrew McKean

A man in a greenshirt and waders fly fishes in a shady river.

Conservation

This Bill Would Digitize Mapping Data for America’s Waterways This Bill Would Digitize Mapping Data for America’s Waterways

By Andrew McKean

video golfer spanks rutting buck

Conservation

Watch: Golfer Spanks Fighting Buck on a Dare Watch: Golfer Spanks Fighting Buck on a Dare

mule deer buck yellowstone national park

Conservation

First Case of CWD Confirmed in Yellowstone National Park First Case of CWD Confirmed in Yellowstone National Park

oregon public land acquisition

Conservation

New Acquisition Connects Huge Network of Public Land Larger than Yellowstone National Park New Acquisition Connects Huge Network of Public Land Larger than Yellowstone National Park

poachers headless bighorns national park

Conservation

2 Bighorn Sheep Beheaded and Left to Rot in Canadian National Park 2 Bighorn Sheep Beheaded and Left to Rot in Canadian National Park

black bear in washington state

Conservation

What Happens When Anti-Hunters Join a State Game Commission and Take Charge of Hunting Seasons What Happens When Anti-Hunters Join a State Game Commission and Take Charge of Hunting Seasons

By Andrew McKean

A shooter works the action on a suppressed Marlin lever-action rifle against a blue sky.

Conservation

This New Bill Would Shorten the Suppressor Waiting Period to 90 Days This New Bill Would Shorten the Suppressor Waiting Period to 90 Days

By Andrew McKean

Watch: Front Yard Moose Brawl Ends with Broken Fence, Major Damage

Conservation

Watch: Front Yard Moose Brawl Ends with Broken Fence, Major Damage Watch: Front Yard Moose Brawl Ends with Broken Fence, Major Damage

Conservation

As Colorado Prepares to Receive Wolves from Oregon, Feds Dub the Population ‘Experimental’ As Colorado Prepares to Receive Wolves from Oregon, Feds Dub the Population ‘Experimental’

hunter in western mountains

Conservation

Colorado Sportsmen Fight Back Against Proposed Mountain Lion and Bobcat Hunting Ban Colorado Sportsmen Fight Back Against Proposed Mountain Lion and Bobcat Hunting Ban

By Andrew McKean

canadian town deer attacks

Conservation

Deer Attacked 3 Dog Owners in the Same Canadian Town Last Week Deer Attacked 3 Dog Owners in the Same Canadian Town Last Week

big pile of animal teeth

Conservation

An Inside Look at the Wildlife Lab That Ages 10,000 Animals Every Month An Inside Look at the Wildlife Lab That Ages 10,000 Animals Every Month

whitetail buck crashing into lingerie store

Conservation

Watch: Rutting Buck Crashes into Lingerie Store Watch: Rutting Buck Crashes into Lingerie Store

Conservation

Are Animal-Rights Activists Hijacking Our Wildlife Commissions? Are Animal-Rights Activists Hijacking Our Wildlife Commissions?

By Andrew McKean

wolverine walking through snow

Conservation

Wolverines Are on the Brink of “Threatened” Status in the Lower 48 Wolverines Are on the Brink of “Threatened” Status in the Lower 48

mature whitetail buck in grass

Conservation

How Long Do Deer Live? How Long Do Deer Live?

crappie poachers over limit

Conservation

Crappie Poachers Busted with 141 Fish Over Their Legal Limit Crappie Poachers Busted with 141 Fish Over Their Legal Limit

wolf attacking seal in alaska

Conservation

Video: Wolf Hunts Harbor Seal in Katmai National Park Video: Wolf Hunts Harbor Seal in Katmai National Park

wyoming proposal unlimited elk permits for ranchers

Conservation

Lawmaker Proposes ‘All-You-Can-Kill’ Elk Permits for Wyoming Ranchers Lawmaker Proposes ‘All-You-Can-Kill’ Elk Permits for Wyoming Ranchers

minnesota wolf with whitetail fawn

Conservation

Where Northwoods Wilderness Is Lost, Wolves Kill More Fawns Where Northwoods Wilderness Is Lost, Wolves Kill More Fawns

australian wild horses

Conservation

Thousands of Wild Horses to Be Shot from Helicopters in Australia Thousands of Wild Horses to Be Shot from Helicopters in Australia

grayling fishing reopens michigan

Conservation

Grayling Fishing Returns to Michigan After a Nearly 100-Year Absence Grayling Fishing Returns to Michigan After a Nearly 100-Year Absence

buck with red, bulging eyes

Conservation

A Landowner Killed This Bug-Eyed Buck in South Carolina. What Was Wrong With It? A Landowner Killed This Bug-Eyed Buck in South Carolina. What Was Wrong With It?

hunter holding dead nutria and gun; overhead view of boat in muddy river

Hunting

Hunting Nutria with the Rat Pack in Louisiana Hunting Nutria with the Rat Pack in Louisiana

By Gerry Bethge

A bison looks into the camera withe elk on the hillside behind her.

Conservation

After More Than a Century of Conservation Efforts, Why Can’t We Recover America’s Buffalo? After More Than a Century of Conservation Efforts, Why Can’t We Recover America’s Buffalo?

By Andrew McKean

Chase Cominsky sits on a curb and talks to police.

Conservation

Walleye-Stuffing Tournament Cheater Chase Cominsky Now Accused of Poaching Deer at Night Walleye-Stuffing Tournament Cheater Chase Cominsky Now Accused of Poaching Deer at Night

video man challenges moose

Conservation

Watch: Unarmed Canadian Man Challenges a Bull Moose … and Wins? Watch: Unarmed Canadian Man Challenges a Bull Moose … and Wins?

dave beronio with a moose calf

Conservation

Watch: Guide Frees Moose Calf Trapped in Fence with Angry Cow Nearby Watch: Guide Frees Moose Calf Trapped in Fence with Angry Cow Nearby

alaska troopers pull two blacktail deer from water

Conservation

Watch: Alaska State Troopers Pull Blacktail Bucks From Icy Water 4 Miles from Shore Watch: Alaska State Troopers Pull Blacktail Bucks From Icy Water 4 Miles from Shore

What Is the Biggest Snake in the World?

Conservation

What Is the Biggest Snake in the World? What Is the Biggest Snake in the World?

whitetail deer scat

Conservation

What Does Deer Poop Look Like? What Does Deer Poop Look Like?

Hunter glasses a hillside.

Conservation

National Survey Shows Millions of New Hunters and Anglers in the U.S. National Survey Shows Millions of New Hunters and Anglers in the U.S.

By Andrew McKean

purple deer with bullwinkle syndrom

Conservation

Purple Buck with Bullwinkle Condition Euthanized for Severe Symptoms Purple Buck with Bullwinkle Condition Euthanized for Severe Symptoms

colorado bigfoot train video

Conservation

Watch: Is This the Best Bigfoot Sighting Yet or Just a Bowhunter in a Ghillie Suit? Watch: Is This the Best Bigfoot Sighting Yet or Just a Bowhunter in a Ghillie Suit?

florida buck killed by police

Conservation

Pet Buck Euthanized by Police After Attacking Man in Florida Neighborhood Pet Buck Euthanized by Police After Attacking Man in Florida Neighborhood

yellowstone wolf seen mising lower jaw

Conservation

Watch: Yellowstone Wolf Seen Walking Around Without Its Lower Jaw Watch: Yellowstone Wolf Seen Walking Around Without Its Lower Jaw

video australia python mating ball

Conservation

Watch: Tangled Ball of Mating Pythons Spotted in Australian National Park Watch: Tangled Ball of Mating Pythons Spotted in Australian National Park

grizzly bear sheep cyclist

Conservation

Watch: Cyclist Dodges Grizzly Chasing Herd of Bighorn Sheep Watch: Cyclist Dodges Grizzly Chasing Herd of Bighorn Sheep

A Tlingit fishing hook.

Conservation

Conserving Our People’s Subsistence Culture Means Retracing It Conserving Our People’s Subsistence Culture Means Retracing It

By Heather Douville

game wardens installing deer decoys

Conservation

Vermont Poacher Required to Forfeit His Car After Shooting Fake Deer Vermont Poacher Required to Forfeit His Car After Shooting Fake Deer

mule deer bucks fight with christmas inflatable

Conservation

Watch: Mule Deer Bucks Battle in Neighborhood Watch: Mule Deer Bucks Battle in Neighborhood

Archery in the schools program funding has been restored.

Conservation

Biden Signs Bill to Restore Funding to Hunter Education, Archery in Schools Biden Signs Bill to Restore Funding to Hunter Education, Archery in Schools

By Andrew McKean

fly fisherman wearing waders and holding rod and walking stick poses at shallow, rocky edge of river

Fishing

The Godfather of Montana’s Bighorn River The Godfather of Montana’s Bighorn River

By John B. Snow

kreed with ducks

Conservation

Kreed the Conservation Dog Is a Poacher’s Worst Nightmare Kreed the Conservation Dog Is a Poacher’s Worst Nightmare

elk tangled in rope swing

Conservation

Watch: Police Officer Nearly Gored While Freeing Bull Elk from Swing Watch: Police Officer Nearly Gored While Freeing Bull Elk from Swing

Public lands could close to hunting with the government shutdown.

Conservation

Conservation Groups Ask to Keep Public Lands Open as Government Shutdown Looms Conservation Groups Ask to Keep Public Lands Open as Government Shutdown Looms

By Andrew McKean

A wolf attacks a beaver in Voyageurs National Park.

Conservation

Watch: Second Rare Trail Camera Footage Shows Gray Wolves Hunting a Beaver Watch: Second Rare Trail Camera Footage Shows Gray Wolves Hunting a Beaver

collared roosevelt elk

Conservation

Wildlife Students Are Testing Road Signs That Light Up When Collared Elk Are Nearby Wildlife Students Are Testing Road Signs That Light Up When Collared Elk Are Nearby

deer baiting ban kansas

Hunting

Kansas Lawmakers Threaten to Strip $1 Million in Wildlife Funding if Agency Bans Deer Baiting Kansas Lawmakers Threaten to Strip $1 Million in Wildlife Funding if Agency Bans Deer Baiting

nine killer whales in alaska died in trawler nets this year

Conservation

Alaska Trawlers Caught 10 Killer Whales This Year, and Nine of Them Died Alaska Trawlers Caught 10 Killer Whales This Year, and Nine of Them Died