Montana Wildlife Federation

The Department of Interior is proposing changes to oil and gas leasing rules in the name of “unleashing energy.” Environmental groups say these changes threaten environmental protections and limit public input.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced a proposal Tuesday to return the federal management of grizzly bears to state governments. While details of the new rule are unclear, environmental groups are preparing for changes.

A new survey released Thursday has found bipartisan support from Montana voters for new federal oil and gas leasing reforms.

Montana wildlife officials agreed to join a multi-state plan to manage grizzly bears around Yellowstone National Park. The deal will go into effect if grizzlies in the ecosystem are delisted from federal endangered species protections.

The federal government is in the process of updating its policies regarding management of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Montana ranchers are worried the new rule could prohibit cattle grazing on refuge lands.

Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission passed several changes to wolf and grizzly management in their recent end of year meeting.

The report projects a declining snowpack coupled with warmer winters could shorten the skiing season by 33 days in the next few decades. And it shows that big game hunting could decline by 25% by 2050.

Two groups filed lawsuits Wednesday against the governor and the secretary of state arguing that they are violating the Constitution by not allowing lawmakers to vote on whether to override the governor’s veto of a popular bill.

Elk populations across much of the state are growing, and above ideal thresholds set by wildlife managers. In recent years landowners, hunters and outfitters have disagreed about how to update policy to match the trend. But that could change during the current session of the Montana Legislature.

The state will end this season’s wolf hunt in southwest Montana once the threshold is met, despite pleas from residents and conservationists to end it early in some areas.