Public Lands/Wilderness / Public News Service

America's 63 national parks and 433 National Park Service-managed sites such as New Mexico's White Sands have been ordered to remain open, despite significant worker cuts. (nps.gov)

Thursday, April 17, 2025

DOGE cuts at NM's national parks create alarm, anxiety

New Mexico's national parks generally operate year-round - but they might not operate at 100% efficiency this year due to employee firings, layoffs …

Colorado forests have not seen below-average winter temperatures in more than three decades, and four of the last five years have brought below-average precipitation. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Drought, warmer winters make CO forests 'beetle buffet'

Warmer winters and prolonged drought have turned Colorado forests into a budworm and beetle buffet, according to a new report from Colorado State …

The Texas horned lizard currently is listed as a threatened species in Texas. It can be found from the south-central United States to northern Mexico, throughout much of Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. (David McGowen/Adobe Stock)

From horny toad to Guadalupe bass, Texans work to save wildlife

Wildlife conservationists are working with landowners and concerned Texans to recover at-risk species. Currently, more than 1,100 animals from …

Wolves are not expert hunters, only succeeding about 10% of the time, but their presence keeps deer and other animals from destroying too much plant life. (Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)

Wildlife advocates decry WA wolf population decline

Wildlife advocates are alarmed by a new report from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife showing the state's wolf population fell nearly 10%…

More than 1,300 mine claims across the country are within the boundaries of units managed by the U.S. National Park Service, according to the National Park Conservation Association. (LM Swanson/Adobe Stock)

Study: 15,000 mining claims near national parks in WY, MT, ID

The number of mining claims on U.S. public lands is growing. A 27% increase since 2019 has brought the total to nearly $500,000. A new study shows …

Of the nearly half million mining claims on federal public lands across the U.S., more than 120,000 are within 30 miles of a national park or monument. (Billy Clay Myers/Adobe Stock)

Mining claim map shows encroachment on national parks, monuments

The number of mining claims on U.S. public lands is growing. A 27% increase since 2019 has brought the total to nearly a half-million. A new study …

Some two million gray wolves roamed North America in the early 1800s but today, fewer than 7,000 remain on just 10% of their historic range in the Lower 48 States. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado's Boebert targets renewed effort to remove federal wolf protections

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has introduced a bill to remove gray wolves from the list of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered …

For 2025, 14 women's wildland firefighter boot camps were scheduled, including 12 with the U.S. Forest Service and one each with the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. All have been canceled. (Adobe Stock)

Boot camps to fill wildland firefighter workforce shortage cut due to DEI

Wildland firefighting is a tough job and the industry has long struggled with worker retention. Training boot camps have helped bring new …

Common barriers to hiring and retaining federal wildland firefighters include low pay, mental health challenges and limited workforce diversity, according to a 2022 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. (BLM Oregon and Washington/Wikimedia Commons)

Women’s wildland firefighting boot camps axed by new DEI policies

Wildland firefighting is a tough job and the industry has long struggled with worker retention. Training boot camps have helped bring new …

According to the 2025 Conservation in the West poll, 65% of Western voters oppose giving state governments control over national public lands. That's up from 56% in 2017. (Adobe Stock)

Opponent calls MT resolution 'slap in the face' to public land owners

Months after the nation's highest court declined to hear a Utah case about ownership of public lands, a Montana House committee will debate whether …

Gregor Willms assists the Cedarburg High School team in the soil pit at Envirothon 2024. (Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association)

Competition prepares students for environmental science careers

A local event that brings students face-to-face with outdoor habitats is serving to ignite a lifelong passion in some that go on to pursue "green jobs…

A new land agreement in South Dakota expands the presence of Newton Hills State Park. Conservation voices said the surrounding wilderness is home to the only oak species native to the state, the bur oak, which is resilient to extreme hot and cold temperatures. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Fund)

Future murky for public lands, but SD has a success story

For decades to come, South Dakotans can make use of an expanded wilderness in the southeastern part of the state, as a new land deal will keep …

In 2021, more than 500 black bears perished on Pennsylvania roadways and 60 of the state's more than 1,400 elk were killed by vehicles. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation)

Report: Reconnecting habitats protecting Pennsylvania’s native species

A new report highlighted efforts to restore Pennsylvania's wildlife habitats and called for stronger conservation to protect native species. With …

North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers amenities such as camping and has been one of the many sites around the United States seeing surges in visitors. But park advocates said Park Service staffing cuts under the Trump administration could undermine operations. (Adobe Stock)

'He didn't cut red tape': ND mayor echoes worry about national park layoffs

As legal fights play out, national park enthusiasts in North Dakota worry about a situation where staff reductions, carried out by the Trump …

The National Park Service makes up less than 1/15 of 1% of the federal budget but delivers a $15 boost to the nation's economy for every dollar invested. (luis sandoval/Adobe Stock)

National park layoffs affect AR economy

The seven national parks in Arkansas have not been spared from job cuts by the federal government. Nationwide, 1,700 park employees have been let go …

Chuckwalla National Monument is one of two created in mid-January by President Joe Biden, just before he left office. (Bob Wick/BLM)

Two CA national monuments in peril as feds announce plan to rescind them

Two new national monuments in California are in jeopardy after the White House announced a plan to revoke them and then appeared to retreat. On …

Yosemite National Park just announced it will resume summer campground reservations next week, after previously delaying them because of staffing concerns. (Dawn Endico/Wikimedia Commons)

Sierra Club sues DOGE over mass firings

The Sierra Club predicts big problems at national parks such as Yosemite and Sequoia this summer because the Trump administration is slashing federal …

Court challenges warn the Trump administration's cuts to staff, funding and contracts will directly impact visitor safety, wildlife protection and wildfire prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Court challenges of recent mass firings of federal workers making headway

The Sierra Club is taking the Trump administration to court, joining a slew of legal challenges over the mass firings of federal workers. Sierra …

In 2023, human-caused fires accounted for 71% of all fires across the state, on all land jurisdictions, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. (Adobe Stock)

AZ groups file lawsuits to limit effects of Elon Musk's DOGE

The Sierra Club and other partners are suing Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency over the mass firing of federal workers across mult…

The nonprofit Save the Dunes said Indiana Dunes National Park is the fifth most biologically diverse national park in the United States. (Adobe stock)

Safety at risk as budget cuts hit Indiana Dunes National Park

By Danielle Zulkosky for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Serv…

One of several major concerns expressed in a statement signed by nearly 1,000 American political scientists is the Trump administration's transferal of some federal responsibilities to people who are

'Democracy is not a business,' warns MT political scientist

Nearly 1,000 political scientists from across the U.S., including Montana, have signed a statement expressing how they feel the Trump …

As of January, the Aldo Leopold House became the first cabin rental on National Forest land in New Mexico. (fsusda.gov)

NM conservationists celebrate Aldo Leopold amid cuts to Forest Service

Amid U.S. Forest Service firings and layoffs by the Trump administration, conservationists are honoring a former employee this week considered by …

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Transportation mapped out wildlife collision

Wildlife crossings would make OR highways safer, save money

New legislation would help build more wildlife crossings across Oregon highways to make roads safer for people and animals. Research shows that …

The Northern Spotted Owl has been the subject of many lawsuits impacting forest management in Oregon and Washington for decades. (gevans/Adobe Stock)

Jobs cuts at Dept. of Fish and Wildlife could harm sensitive OR species

The Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has ordered the federal government to fire 400 Department of Fish and Wildlife …

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve saw more than 1.7 million visitors in 2023, the highest attendance since the park was established in 1978. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: WV tourism gains threatened by federal job cuts

With West Virginia's tourism industry seeing dramatic growth in recent years, conservation groups are sounding the alarm about layoffs of federal …

North Carolina's congressional score in the League of Conservation Voters' scorecard went down between 2023 and 2024. (Gerry/Adobe Stock)

Low marks for NC Congress members in 2024 conservation scorecard

North Carolina lawmakers in Congress received mixed marks in the new League of Conservation Voters scorecard. The scorecard ranks members of …

According to the 2025 Conservation in the West Poll, 81% of Wyomingites supported allowing oil and gas companies the right to drill only in areas where the likelihood of production is high. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: 74% of Mountain West MAGA supporters approve of U.S. Forest Service

In its 15th annual Conservation in the West poll, the State of the Rockies Project this year found support for conservation by some of the highest …

After public outcry over the firing of thousands at the National Park Service and the Forest Service, the Trump administration has moved to re-hire some dozens of employees and additional seasonal workers. (BLM)

Poll: MAGA voters oppose cuts to parks, forest, wildlife agencies

People in Colorado and seven other Mountain West states may want to see changes in the federal government writ large but they oppose cuts to agencies …

Pollsters found 89% of Arizonans prefer decisions about public lands, water and wildlife be made by career professionals such as rangers, scientists and firefighters rather than newly appointed officials who come from other industries. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Arizonans show continued support for conservation of public lands

Colorado College's annual Conservation in the West poll has shown strong support from Arizonans for conservation on public lands for 15 years…

An attempt to open up the Arctic and Atlantic oceans to drilling was blocked by environmental groups during Donald Trump's first term as president. (paxphongtrinh/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit aims to block Trump's plans for offshore drilling in WA

Environmental groups have sued to block President Donald Trump's offshore drilling plans following his order to open the entire West Coast, including …

According to the 2025 Conservation in the West Poll, 86% of Montanans prefer decisions about public lands, water and wildlife be made by career professionals including rangers, scientists and firefighters, rather than officials appointed from other industries. (U.S. Forest Service)

Poll: 2 of 3 Republicans oppose funding cuts to federal land management

In its 15th annual year of polling on Conservation in the West, the State of the Rockies Project this year has found support for conservation by some …

Plaintiffs in a pair of new lawsuits against the Trump administration noted leaders in both political parties, thousands of businesses and millions of Americans support permanently protecting our coasts from offshore drilling. (paxphongtrinh/Adobe Stock)

Trump administration faces lawsuits over oil and gas drilling

Several environmental groups concerned about increased offshore drilling have a filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit …

More than half of respondents to a new poll in Idaho said habitat loss is a problem for fish and wildlife. (OLya_L/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Conservation important among voters in ID, West

Conservation of public lands remains a top priority for westerners, according to a new poll. The "Conservation in the West" poll from Colorado …

Fewer than 1% of cattle are lost to wolves, compared to 11.3% killed by dogs and 9.3% that succumb to weather. (Willy Mobilo/Adobe Stock)

Livestock industry flexes muscle over Democrat-controlled CO Legislature

A bill to exempt any Colorado livestock producer's personal information from the Colorado Open Records Act when they collect public dollars for livest…

Methane mitigation jobs offer median wages as high as $127,000 in the manufacturing sector and $145,000 in the service sector, according to a new report from the Environmental Defense Fund. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming ripe for growth in methane mitigation industry

Drilling and mining activities can lead to leaked methane, a gas responsible for 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions and experts said capturing …

Pollsters found 85% of Utahns prefer decisions about public lands, water and wildlife be made by career professionals such as rangers, scientists and firefighters rather than newly appointed officials who come from other industries. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Utahns value their public lands, want continued protections

As President Donald Trump starts dismantling agencies managing and protecting public lands, a new poll indicates it is unpopular in states across the …

Firings of staff at the U.S. Forest Service by the Trump administration could have a negative impact on vacationers' visits this summer. (fs.usda.gov)

NM's Gila National Forest loses workers to Trump firings

Conservation advocates say the Trump administration's firing of probationary U.S. Forest Service workers in New Mexico and other Western states could …

Montana's Lewis and Clark Caverns were first protected by the Department of the Interior under President Teddy Roosevelt in 1908. Management was transferred to the state of Montana in 1937. (Adobe Stock)

Federal bill, Interior could weaken national monument protections

Over the last 120 years, U.S. presidents have used the Antiquities Act almost 300 times to recognize national monuments, protecting portions of …

As a federal cost-cutting measure, approximately 1,000 National Park Service employees have been fired by the Trump administration. (nps.gov)

Conservationists claim 'Save Our Forests Act' could worsen climate change

Environmentalists said a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives meant to curtail forest fires in New Mexico and elsewhere will do no such …

Each year, visitors flock to Monte Vista in Colorado's San Luis Valley for a chance to see Greater Sandhill Cranes. (Adobe Stock)

Connecting the recreation dots with a two mile bike and pedestrian trail

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

More than 48% of Wyoming is public land, owned and managed by the federal government on behalf of U.S. residents. Several state bills this session were written to try to decrease the percentage. (Adobe Stock)

WY bills seek to limit federal ownership of state's public lands

Wyoming is one of several Western states where some lawmakers arguing states should have more control of the federally managed public lands within the…

In the latest Conservation in the West poll, 70% of Utahns say they prefer leaders place more emphasis on protecting water, air, wildlife habitat and recreation areas over maximizing the amount of land available for drilling and mining. (Adobe Stock)

UT national monuments scrutinized under Trump's '15-day review'

The Trump administration has mandated a 15-day review of public lands and national monuments, including those in Utah. During his first term…

In the latest Conservation in the West Poll, 77% of Arizonans say they think more emphasis should be placed on conserving wildlife migration routes than on new development, ranching or oil and gas production. (Adobe Stock)

How could 15-day review of monuments, public lands affect AZ?

New U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has issued a 15-day review of all public lands and national monuments that, until now, have been excluded …

In 2023, the Biden administration ordered a Bakersfield oil company to remove old oil rigs from Carrizo Plain National Monument in Central California. (Bob Wick/BLM)

Public lands advocates slam federal review of national monuments

Groups that fight to protect public lands are criticizing the Trump administration's new review of all oil, gas and mining on public lands. National …

New Mexico's Aztec Ruins National Monument, established in 1923, consists of preserved structures constructed by the Pueblo Indians. (nps.gov)

NM's national monuments face new development threats from Trump

Areas surrounding New Mexico's Aztec Ruins National Monument, and other monuments, are at risk of losing federal protections from the "Unleashing …

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection defines environmental justice as

Cuts to EPA's environmental justice work put Maine communities at risk

The Trump administration has begun dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency's office dealing with reducing environmental harms to minority and …

Advocates for public lands warn that even drilling on lands adjacent to such places as Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah can lead to industrial contamination of shared waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Trump order could open CO national monuments for drilling

As the Trump administration considers oil, gas and mining on lands owned by all Americans, including in national monuments designated under the …

NV Conservation League sets 2025 policy priorities

The Nevada Conservation League says its policy priorities for this year's legislative session reflect what Nevadans value - protecting the state's uni…

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