Sailing Montana’s Flathead Lake After we left our catamaran in the Bahamas, I had to find my sailing fix closer to home. By Brianna Randall Tiller between my legs, I hold the finicky jib sheet in one hand and my sparkling water in the other. Sueños picks up speed like a horse […]
The insect world’s most successful hunters show how the toxic metal moves through our environment—and how we can reduce our exposure. Dragonflies, those colorful bugs zooming around like mini-helicopters, are more than just a spectacular sight. These iridescent predators may also be the best way to detect where and how […]
By Brianna Randall, published June 2024 in Reasons To Be Cheerful We stood on the rocky shore of the Mizque River in central Bolivia, binoculars trained on the towering cliff before us. The summer sun beat down as we scanned for birds. “There,” whispered my nine-year-old son. “A pair is […]
This marine biologist is on a mission to save endangered rays – Figuring out where the enigmatic creatures mate and migrate is key to their conservation. Read more >
Protecting the Coolest Types of Bats in North America – Bat species have unique abilities. Take a closer look at the coolest types of bats in North America and find out how they help people and the ecosystem. Read more >
The Great Salt Lake is shrinking. What can we do to stop it? A recent report suggests the lake could disappear within five years. Read all about it >
Sailing in Yellowstone National Park – Fewer than 100 people visit these remote parts of Yellowstone Lake each year. All of them come by foot, paddle or sail. Read more >
Fertile Legacy – When it comes to vanishing prairies, even the smallest remnants are worth saving. Read this cover story >
Tree-climbing carnivores called fishers are back in Washington’s forests – Learn how biologists worked together for 20 years to bring back these animals after trapping and habitat loss had wiped out the population. Read this cover story >
Burning Up – Heat, drought and wildfires are ravaging western wildlife while conservationists try to help ecosystems adapt. Read more >
In Nebraska’s Loess Canyons, Setting Trees Ablaze Gives Prairie Birds a Boost – For generations Great Plains ranchers saw fire as a foe. Now they’re banding together and embracing it as a tool to restore grassland habitat. Read more >
Where Big Data Meets Cowboy Boots – A powerful, free web app developed by University of Montana is revolutionizing how rangelands are managed. Read more >
“Grand Vision” – The ambitious America the Beautiful plan seeks to conserve and restore 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. Read more >
Underwater Investigation – Freshwater snorkeling and scuba diving reveal the habits, habitats, and numbers of Montana’s fish. Read more >
“Pulse of the Heartland” – Grasslands store carbon, cycle nutrients and sustain songbirds and other wildlife—yet less than half of all grasslands remain, and we plow up millions more acres each year. Read more >
San Juan Islands Sojourn – A family takes in the cedar trees, sea lions and fluky winds on a charter vacation in the Pacific Northwest. Read more >
“A Path Less Taken” – A young family chooses a different sort of cruising experience when they charter a 21-foot Sea Pearl for a week in the Bahamas’ Exuma Islands. Read more >
“Big Sky Sailing” – A canoe outfitted with a sailing rig turned out to be the perfect way for a young family to follow Lewis and Clark’s journey along the Missouri River. Read more >
Water for the Dry West [COVER STORY] – Simple fixes revive creeks and help fight drought and wildfires. Read more >
“Wranglers of the West” – A fully loaded mule train is a rare sight in most parts of the country, but traditional livestock packing is still thriving in Glacier National Park. Read more >
“Thinking Like A Beaver” – Elk suffer when streams and floodplains dry up. So do ranchers who need clean water and lush meadows. Stick by stick and stone by stone, low-tech stream restoration is providing a great boost to wildlife, livestock and people. And the next project is just a weekend’s […]
“Portrait: Black Cottonwood” – Cottonwoods define the rivers and streams throughout much of Montana. Learn all about their special qualities here.
“Beaver power provides year-long water to Idaho ranch” – Beavers? You read that right. Here’s how four-legged engineers helped restore an Idaho ranch. Read more >
“Kids On Board” – Taking a vacation under sail with pint-size crew? Ensure a good time is had by all by following these tips. Read more >
“Low-Tech Stream Restoration Helps “Drought-Proof” The West” – New research shows that building simple structures of sticks and stones tos tore more water pays big dividends for people and wildlife. Read more >