wildlife

A new department formed within Missoula County will also have a new director to oversee everything from trails to the newly acquired public park at Marshall Mountain.

Montana Backcountry Horsemen and Anglers writes, "It would be unwise to unnecessarily eliminate some of the reassurances black bear hunters provide the general public that we’re doing it right."

Emily Cleveland writes, "If the BLM was looking for some demand for these rules, it indeed found it in the comments it has received, and in poll after poll showing that Montanans and other Westerners want the BLM to stop prioritizing industry at the expense of clean water, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities."

Keith Hammer writes, "It is time to show some compassion and adjust how we live, work and play in bear habitat. We’re the ones crowding the bears and ourselves, not the other way around."

Three organizations are suing the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest for failing to fully consider how a large logging and burning project might affect grizzly bears and Canada lynx.

After an eight-year break, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will resume efforts to shrink the invasive lake trout population in Swan Lake in order to save threatened bull trout.

Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided to add a group of whales that forage along the Oregon Coast to the state’s endangered species list.

KC York writes, "Under Montana's current trapping regulations, unlimited snares, massive leghold traps, and body crushing conibears can be set, baited, secreted, and left unattended."

FWP said it was opening another round because the department wanted to be sure it hadn’t violated state laws requiring FWP to notify county commissioners of the opportunity to comment.

Westerners are relatively consistent in their appreciation of wildlife and public land, but a recent poll registered the highest support for the prioritization of conservation over energy development, regardless of party affiliation.