Environment
Historic flood shuts down northern part of Yellowstone National Park for rest of season
Heather Muldoon spent most of Monday bracing her Livingston garden business for the oncoming flood. When she was prompted by local authorities to leave around 6 p.m., she thought the worst of it was over. But her entire business was gone when she returned to it, Heather’s Garden Service and Flower Farm, Tuesday afternoon. “It […]
Federal agency warns Colorado River Basin water usage could be cut as drought worsens
WASHINGTON — The federal agency in charge of managing much of the West’s water warned Tuesday that it will act unilaterally to reduce water usage in the Colorado River Basin if state and tribal leaders can’t reach an agreement this summer. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille C. Touton told a U.S. Senate committee that states […]
Yellowstone National Park changes name of Mount Doane to ‘First Peoples Mountain’
Yellowstone National Park announced Thursday that Mount Doane is now named First Peoples Mountain. The announcement follows a 15-0 vote affirming the change by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the federal body responsible for maintaining uniform geographic name usage throughout the federal government. First Peoples Mountain is a 10,551-foot peak within Yellowstone National Park […]
Montana court ruling restores protections for wolverines. Idaho has stake in the debate, too.
A Montana District Court judge has restored the wolverine’s status as a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act following a court decision last month. Montana District Court Judge Donald Molloy’s May 26 decision is the latest development in a 20-year effort to protect the wolverine, Idaho Conservation League North Idaho Director Brad Smith said. […]
As smolt-to-adult returns continue to dwindle, salmon can teach us a lesson at Idaho’s Sunbeam Dam
This is a story from one lifetime ago in the highest salmon grounds on earth, Idaho’s upper Salmon River. It bears on a judgment many Northwest residents and elected leaders are now making: whether restoring free-flowing conditions in the lower Snake River, by removing its dams, can restore a new version of salmon abundance in […]
Yellowstone, known for thermal features and wildlife, has a secret: fossils rivaling other parks
The thermal features and “charismatic megafauna” of Yellowstone are more than enough to draw crowds from all over the world, with the park seeing over 4 million visitors in 2021. But Yellowstone has a secret that very few visitors are even aware of: Yellowstone has fossils. Enough to rival other national parks that are renowned […]
Idaho Republicans concerned over environmental, social investment standards
While some Idaho legislators and interest groups have expressed deep concern about environmental, social and governance standards in the business world and say it’s part of a “woke agenda” from liberal activists, the president of the Gem State’s largest business organization says the standards are the latest “boogeyman” meant to sow political chaos and division. […]
Boise students speak out after wolf pups named for their school are killed
Timberline High School student Annie Birch Wright felt a connection to her school’s mascot because it wasn’t just another generic animal. The mascot is the wolf, which led to a real pack of wolves living in the nearby Boise National Forest being named for, symbolically adopted by and studied at the high school. “It is […]
Caribou-Targhee National Forest continues fuels reduction project in Alpine area
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest resumed fuel reduction work on June 3 to reduce the risk of wildfire adjacent to private lands in the Rees and Aspen Ridge subdivisions, according to a press release. Work began last summer but was not completed due to a busy wildfire season with fire management resources assisting in suppression activities […]
New limits coming for Chinook fishing in Oregon over historically low numbers
Due to years of drought and poor ocean conditions, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will restrict fishing for wild Chinook salmon in parts of the state from late summer through the end of the year. Numbers of wild Chinook in several coastal tributaries are forecast to be at historic lows this fall, and […]
Tourist gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park after getting too close
A 25-year-old female from Grove City, Ohio, was gored and treated for injuries Thursday morning after she approached a bison to within 10 feet, Yellowstone National Park said Tuesday in a news release. Park regulations require visitors to stay 25 yards away from bison. But the woman and two others got closer to the animal, […]
Idaho Public Television to air two upcoming programs on wildflowers and kids’ mental health
This June, Idaho Public Television has two unique programs that focus on the beauty of Idaho and the well-being of Idaho kids’ mental health. First on Outdoor Idaho, “Wildflowers” airs at 8 p.m. June 16 and repeats at 7 p.m. June 19. Viewers will go on a vivid, multicolor journey through the foothills and remote areas […]