Environment

The plan aims to create genetic connectivity between populations by translocating three-to-six bears per generation in the GYE and trying to cut down on attractants from humans that can cause bears to be killed when they no longer fear humans.

The Missoula study also found that some of the highest rates of emergency calls during extreme heat events came from rural areas, outside Missoula’s urban core.

Claire Bonino-Britsch writes, "Sunday Streets Missoula is more than a car-free day—it’s a glimpse into a future where our streets are for people."

The Missoula City Council on Monday voted to dissolve the city's volunteer Climate and Energy Team in order to free up staff time and give the city's climate experts more time to work on local solutions.

A logging and clearcutting project in the Bitterroot National Forest will impact the environment and cost taxpayers $4.2 million, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

The award will also fund the Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s project creating jobs, reducing emissions and providing cost benefits for residents across Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Devin Filicicchia writes, "As electric vehicles become increasingly common in and around Missoula, the City of Missoula is looking to be proactive and ensure that EV adoption (and the benefits associated with it) can happen in a more equitable and intentional way."

While the city's energy and climate team has helped make Missoula a regional leader in addressing climate change, the volunteer team is no longer needed, city officials said.

Federal land managers Thursday released an updated roadmap for solar energy development across 11 western states, a plan that opens about 32 million acres of federal lands to utility-scale solar development.

The question of how to regulate increasing recreation on streams is a thorny one that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has struggled with for years, but another study group has been created to seek some answers.