The word "wildfire" often conjures dramatic images of walls of flame, charred landscapes and one particularly famous photo of elk in a river, surrounded by flames. So, how do wildlife fare during these big fires? This week on The Big Why, a listener asks, why we don't get any statistics on wildlife that die in wildfires.
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Environmental groups are sounding the alarm over changes made to the federal government’s largest conservation and recreation fund. The changes to the Land and Water Conservation Fund put up new barriers for private land owners seeking to sell their property to state and federal agencies to expand public land. -
The Trump administration wants to repeal what’s known as the “Roadless Rule.” The policy prohibits logging and road building on roughly 60 million acres of national forests. A three week public comment period closed last week. Most public comments opposed changing the rule. -
A federal court ruled Wednesday the U.S. Forest Service broke the law when it expanded livestock grazing in grizzly bear habitat north of Yellowstone National Park. -
Plaintiffs suing the Trump administration over its energy policies argue the executive orders to boost fossil fuel development jeopardize their health. A federal court in Missoula heard arguments in the case this week. -
Montana homeowners have two more weeks to apply for property tax rebates. The rebate tops out at $400; Gov. Greg Gianforte is creating a task force to focus on boosting energy development in Montana. A new report focuses on how climate change is impacting our health. -
The Bureau of Land Management under President Biden decided to end the sale of new coal leases in an area spanning across southeastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming and parts of South Dakota. Montana Rep. Troy Downing carried a joint resolution to reverse that decision. That resolution passed in the House late last week. -
This week on The Big Why: A listener is curious about recyclables that don’t get recycled in Montana. Namely, why is plastic recycling so limited? "We're all encouraged to recycle. But when it comes right down to it, what happens to the things we actually recycle?" -
Conservation group American Prairie announced its second largest land acquisition in the history of the nonprofit. Like previous American Prairie land purchases, the move has stirred controversy. -
Montana wildlife managers are allowing hunters to kill a record number of wolves this season. Supporters of the policy say the practice helps reduce livestock losses to wolves. New research indicates that's not necessarily the case. -
State utility regulators have rejected part of a petition to consider climate change in their decision-making; State regulators deny petition to for higher selenium standard in Lake Koocanusa; A Missoula homeless shelter closed last week as pandemic funding ends.
