Mountain Journal

Crossing Yellowstone National Park's protective boundary, the apex predators become prey. As demonstrated by two wolves — one who ventured into Montana and the other Wyoming — they don't last long in the modern Mountain West.

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Lessons on 'The Lost Bus': New Film Shows Challenge of Urban Wildfire - Mountain Journal Firefighting strategy struggles to evolve as ember storms overwhelm both town and forest defenses

“The Lost Bus," a new film starring Matthew McConoughey and America Ferrera star, is based on the devastating Camp Fire, the most destructive in California’s history.

Click below to read Robert Chaney's story on how the movie might have an impact on the national debate over wildfire strategy.

Mountain Journal and @wyofile.com teamed up for an exclusive eye-opening feature story on wolves in Yellowstone National Park available in Mountain Journal's newsletter this Sunday, Nov. 16. Sign up for free access here: bit.ly/4qrlgPF

Faces of Climate: Sierra Harris and the Art of the Climate Battle - Mountain Journal A climate organizer and Montana native reflects on the art of collaboration to mitigate impacts of a warming planet

In our "Faces of Climate" series, Katie O'Reilly profiles Montana native Sierra Harris, Greater Yellowstone Coalition's climate and water conservation manager, who reflects on the art of collaboration to mitigate impacts of a warming planet. Hint: she sometimes recommends acting like a beaver.

Are Beavers Montana’s Latest Transplants? - Mountain Journal Draft proposal to relocate beavers within state borders could improve watershed health, bolster climate resiliency

Beavers, North America's largest rodent, have long been vilified as a nuisance and its pelts marketed as a luxury, but the aquatic mammal’s ecological benefits have become undeniable.

Faces of Climate: Jen Mohler connects Weeds with the World - Mountain Journal From the 'weed lady' to award-winning steward of healthy land management

In the latest in our "Faces of Climate" series, Keely Larson profiles Jen Mohler who, after spending a career managing invasive species and weeds, found a way to connect those species to the wider world. She demonstrates their connection to everything from pollinators to red-tailed hawks.

Multiple-use Muddle: Federal Shutdown Leaves Collaborative Projects in Lurch - Mountain Journal With Congress still at impasse, funding deadlines and work details get missed as winter closes in

With Congress at impasse, funding deadlines and work details get missed with winter coming. Yellowstone National Park’s gates remain open for tourists to drive through, but most National Park Service employees monitoring the geyser boardwalks or winterizing buildings have been ordered off the clock.

Harnessing Earth’s Power, Part 2: Chasing the Underground Connection of Geothermal Energy - Mountain Journal Yellowstone National Park is home to over 10,000 geothermal features, and many more exist outside its boundaries. Officials are interested in the extent to which these resources are connected, but que...

Yellowstone National Park is home to over 10,000 geothermal features, and many more exist outside its boundaries. Officials are interested in the extent to which these resources are connected, but questions abound. Read Part 2 of our three-part series on geothermal energy

This November, Water and Housing on Bozeman Ballot - Mountain Journal Can WARD initiative help address affordable housing and water conservation without expediting urban sprawl?

Bozeman residents on November 4 will face housing and water issues head on when they’re asked to vote on the Water Adequacy and Residential Development Initiative. Known as WARD it's a citizen-led initiative that ties the city’s cash-in-lieu of water rights program to affordable-housing development.

Radiant scraps Wyoming nuclear microreactor manufacturing facility - WyoFile California-based Radiant Industries cited the state's ban on spent nuclear fuel waste and said it will build a manufacturing plant in Tennessee.

Radiant Industries cited Wyoming's ban on spent nuclear fuel waste storage for withdrawing its plans to build near Bar Nunn in Natrona County. A company official said it will instead build a manufacturing plant in Tennessee. wyofile.com/radiant-scra...

Conservation Giant Jane Goodall Honored in Montana Museum Exhibit - Mountain Journal Museum of the Rockies hosts traveling exhibit through January 18 as world mourns passing of renowned anthropologist, primatologist, humanitarian

Jane Goodall passed away peacefully in her sleep 10/1.

One of her final acts was to record a video message for the Museum of the Rockies. In it, she welcomed visitors to the “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall” exhibit which opened 10/3 running through 1/18/26.

Shutdown Smokescreen? Public Lands Furloughs Could Become Layoffs - Mountain Journal Trump administration leaders planned more job cuts before budget impasse closed federal government

As federal employees face furloughs amid congressional loggerheads over the federal budget, Yellowstone National Park employees, visitors and local businesses are navigating a series of uncertainties about operations at the destination that drew more than 4.7 million visitors last year.

Darkness and Light - Mountain Journal MoJo columnist Susan Marsh reflects on the brightness and shadows in autumn, in cranes and in a unique time in our history

MoJo columnist Susan Marsh reflects on the brightness and shadows in autumn, in cranes and in a unique time in our history.

Grizzly Homework: Judge Chastises Forest Service for Missing Details on Grazing Plan - Mountain Journal East Paradise Valley cattle use might not keep bears from moving beyond Yellowstone, but ruling rejects ‘inadequate’ EA

Looming above the Yellowstone River and Highway 89, the Absaroka Range forms an intimidating eastern wall for the Paradise Valley. Despite their impenetrable appearance, those serrated peaks may hold the passage connecting the two largest concentrations of grizzly bears in the Rocky Mountains.

Roosevelt IV Seeks to Balance Complexities of Politically Charged Landscape - Mountain Journal In presentation to MSU students, great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt focuses on GOP, conservation movement and importance of talking through differences

In a presentation to Montana State University students on September 9, Ted Roosevelt IV, the great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, focused on the conservation movement, the GOP, and the importance of talking through differences.

Montana Moves Closer to Statewide Wolf Quota - Mountain Journal Decision to establish 452-wolf quota comes after six-hours debate and public comment

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission voted on August 21 to unanimously adopt a statewide quota of 452 wolves as well as a 60-wolf quota for Region 3 in southwestern Montana, among other regulations.

Originally published by Amanda Eggert at @montanafreepress.org

USFS Chief Outlines Vision for America’s National Forests - Mountain Journal Tom Schultz says it’s ‘back to basics’ for Montana’s largest land manager. That means more logging, mining and grazing and less wildfire.

Recently appointed head of the Forest Service Tom Schultz says his “back to basics” approach will favor expedited review for natural resource management by overhauling agency guidance on NEPA and the ESA. That means more logging, mining and grazing and less wildfire.

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Wyoming Increases Wolf Hunting Quotas, Mountain Lion Limits to Remain Static - Mountain Journal At its July meeting, Game and Fish voted in limits remaining in effect through 2028

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission voted last month to increase wolf-hunting quotas, while also shifting direction on its earlier recommendation to increase limits for mountain lion quotas.

Homes on the (BLM) Range: Conservation Groups Question Goals of Public Land Sales Plan - Mountain Journal Interactive map allows users to pinpoint federal acres across West targeted for affordable housing sales

A BLM proposal announced in March envisions releasing about 535,000 acres of land situated within four miles of existing cities and towns with more than 5,000 residents. As of mid-August, no federal maps have been released.

Yellowstone’s Supporting Cast: Pikas - Mountain Journal The high-pitched mountain dwellers helping scientists track climate change

At less than 8 inches long, pikas may be tiny, but don’t let their size fool you. These plump little mammals are having an outsized impact — especially when it comes to helping scientists understand the effects of a warming world.

Feds Violated Endangered Species Act in Denying Gray Wolf Protections, Court Rules - Mountain Journal In 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied further federal protections to wolves in Western states, prompting lawsuit

A federal court in Missoula has sided with a coalition of environmental groups to block a ruling to remove Western gray wolves from protections warranted under the Endangered Species Act.

“Ultimately, management of Canis lupus must not be by a political yo-yo process," Judge Donald Molloy wrote.

Need updates on active wildfires in Greater Yellowstone? Watch Duty is providing Mountain Journal with real-time fire info. Click here for more details: mountainjournal.org#wildfire-home

Effort to Zone Rural Paradise Valley Drainage Garners Preliminary OK - Mountain Journal Park County Commission unanimously supports citizen-initiated zoning district following local opposition to high-density resort proposed by Miami-based developer

In a unanimous vote July 15 county commissioners approved a resolution to create the Suce Creek Planning and Zoning District. The commission’s vote puts the Suce Creek drainage south of Livingston on a path toward restricting high-impact commercial enterprises.

Citizen Scientists Document Greater Yellowstone’s Biodiversity - Mountain Journal As life becomes increasingly digital, some are turning to apps to learn more about the natural world

iNaturalist is a free nonprofit platform where users can upload “observations” consisting of photos of any living thing and add them to a global biodiversity database where other users and an in-app algorithm help identify what they have seen. Greater Yellowstone is home to a bustling base of users.

How Old is Paradise Valley? - Mountain Journal Montana Geology professor contrasts Archean-age rocks with Young Earth theory along the Yellowstone River

Montana Geology professor contrasts Archean-age rocks with Young Earth theory along the Yellowstone River. Read Robert Chaney's story below.

Forest Service to Abandon Nine Regional Offices - Mountain Journal As Washington continues slash-and-burn policies for federal agencies, USDA announces consolidation of offices responsible for 193 million acres of public land

As Washington, D.C. continues slash-and-burn policies for federal agencies, the USDA plans to close the Forest Service's nine regional offices responsible for 193 million acres of public land.

Robert Chaney looks at what it means for Greater Yellowstone and the Region 1 Headquarters in Missoula.

Unified Wildfire Service Plan Stalls After Congress Demands Answers - Mountain Journal House Appropriations Committee questions how Trump plan to combine Forest Service, Interior firefighters would improve existing system

In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for a consolidation of wildland firefighting resources into one agency by 2026. The House Appropriations Committee has reservations and this week questioned how this would improve the way we currently fight fire. Robert Chaney reports

As Grizzly Population Increases, Montana Unveils Bear-Conflict Tracker - Mountain Journal FWP providing tool for tracking grizzly conflicts while Greater Yellowstone lawmakers continue push to delist

As grizzly bear populations increase and their range expands, Montana wildlife officials have launched a new online dashboard to help track bear-related incidents. It comes as lawmakers push to remove federal protections for the grizzlies, including a proposal that cleared a key vote last week.

How Being a Good Neighbor in Greater Yellowstone Got Harder - Mountain Journal With NPS staff employment down since January, land managers are finding it more difficult to educate parkgoers about the importance of human-wildlife interactions. The responsibility is increasingly f...

With NPS staff employment down since January, land managers are finding it more difficult to educate parkgoers about the importance of human-wildlife interactions. The responsibility is increasingly falling on visitors.