Environment

Grizzly bears in the Northern Rockies could soon be managed as a single population if a proposed federal rule is finalized. That could make it harder to remove federal protections for bears in the future. The public comment period, which ends May 16, has generated a lot of input.

State biologists have been tagging trout across southwest Montana to better understand the population’s health after years of declines. They report encouraging signs, but populations are still below average due in large part to an extended drought.

Montana's U.S. Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing have joined a new bipartisan caucus dedicated to protecting the country’s public lands. The lawmakers announced the initiative in Washington D.C. on May 7.

Central Montana’s Smith River is one of few you need a permit to float, and they're notoriously hard to get. Recent changes may help Montana residents have a better shot at getting a permit.

Gov. Gianforte vetoes bill banning Styrofoam

Hundreds of acres of land once poisoned by a lead smelter in East Helena are now open for public access as part of the new Prickly Pear Park.

The collaborative group of state and federal agencies that manages grizzly bear recovery across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem met this week. The group discussed bear conflicts, population numbers and how to manage a growing bear population with a smaller team.

A pair of north-central Montana bighorn sheep have tested positive for pneumonia-causing bacteria; Montana wildlife officials are already intercepting boats fouled with invasive species.

State environmental regulators have denied a petition to list the Big Hole River as impaired. Water conservation groups worry this will continue to harm the river, and its aquatic life.

After 50 years of legal battles testing the limits of the Endangered Species Act, the snail darter is still making a big splash. New research argues it's not a separate species and was never endangered. What does that mean for the fish, and what does it say about the Endangered Species Act?