Ballot initiative seeking to expand landowners’ hunting access met with committee opposition
A ballot initiative seeking to allow landowners to hunt elk, deer and black bears on their property hit a setback when the Environmental Quality Council voted not to support the measure.
Latest Environmental Reporting
Forest Service forwards plan to keep East Boulder Mine operating
Wolverines gain federal protections under Endangered Species Act
BLM bans cyanide bombs used to control predators
No shouting. No name calling. Just award-winning local journalism for Montanans by Montanans.
Sign up for our free weekday newsletter.
MORE ENVIRONMENTAL COVERAGE
Montana Supreme Court revokes Rosebud coal mine expansion
The Montana Supreme Court has halted an expansion of a Westmoreland-operated mine that supplies the Colstrip power plant with coal. The court’s decision vacated an 8-year-old permit that allowed Westmoreland to pull 12 million tons of coal from the Rosebud Mine located in southeastern Montana.
Judge halves wolf trapping season to protect grizzlies
In a 25-page order, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy wrote that the Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Citizen Task Force and WildEarth Guardians established “a reasonably certain threat of imminent harm to grizzly bears should Montana’s wolf trapping and snaring seasons proceed as planned.”
Montana Land Board signs off on 328-acre Lower Yellowstone acquisition
The Wildcat Bend property is located in a riparian area east of Forsyth. It’s a “primitive” property about 2.5 river miles downstream of the Far West Fishing Access Site. The proposal was forwarded to the Land Board after the Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously affirmed the acquisition in an October 2023 vote.
Study says Canadian coal mines put unparalleled pollution in Montana-bound waters
The concentrations of selenium and nitrate entering the Elk River and Northwest Montana’s Kootenai watershed as a result of coal-mining operations in British Columbia are likely without measured precedent, according to a new study authored by U.S. Geological Survey scientists.
The Sit-Down: Amy Fonte
Big Sky Resort aims to hit net zero emissions by 2030. In-house Sustainability Specialist Amy Fonte describes the progress — and the obstacles — on the road to green energy.
Chronic wasting disease found in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park announced that a mule deer buck inside the park’s borders has tested positive for chronic wasting disease. The detection is a first for the park, which has previously managed to dodge the always-fatal disease despite its presence in the three states that neighbor Yellowstone.

Empower your community.
Power the press!
Fuel the future of independent, public-powered news in Montana. Become a member of Montana Free Press and help bring high-quality, independent journalism to more communities in our state.