Top Coverage
The Latest in This Category
-
More Grizzlies Are Waking Up: What Spring Backcountry Hunters Must Do Now
A Yellowstone grizzly is already out in mid-March. Montana backcountry hunters and anglers need bear safety dialed in before spring seasons open.
-
Understanding Wildlife Management Beyond AI
Hyper-real AI wildlife clips can feel more convincing than reality—until you notice the cartoon voiceovers and emotional storylines. But wolves and grizzlies in places like Montana aren’t characters in a…
-
Four CSKT Staff Win Major Conservation Awards — Here’s What It Means for Flathead Fishing and Wildlife
Four CSKT staff earned statewide conservation awards. Here’s what their decades of work means for Flathead fishing, wildlife habitat, and Montana’s wild future.
-
Food Coma Phenomenon: Why Bears (and Humans) Crash After a Big Meal
From berry-stuffed bears to hunters nodding off at daybreak, the “eat big, pass out” pattern shows up across species. Here’s why food comas look so similar in the wild and…
-
First 2026 Yellowstone Grizzly Is Out: Montana Spring Backcountry Warning
A grizzly was spotted in Yellowstone March 10 feeding on bison. Montana backcountry users need to know what this means right now.
-
Grizzlies Are Out Early and Hungry: What It Means for Your Spring Backcountry Safety
Grizzlies are emerging early and hungry. Learn what this means for your spring fishing, shed hunting, and backcountry scouting safety in bear country.
-
11,000+ Geese and Hundreds of Tundra Swans Flood Freezout Lake: Peak Spring Migration Timing, Viewing Tips, and What It Means for Montana Hunters
Freezout Lake WMA just logged 11,000+ light geese and several hundred tundra swans in a single day—one of the clearest signs spring migration is surging along Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front.…
-
Montana Grizzlies Are Waking Up Early—What That January Yellowstone Sighting Means for Spring Turkey, Fishing, and Shed Hunts
Grizzlies emerging weeks—or even months—ahead of the old spring timeline is becoming more common across Montana and Yellowstone. Here’s why it’s happening, where bear activity concentrates first, and how shed…
-
300,000 Snow Geese Are Funneling Into Freezout Lake Right Now—Best Viewing Tips, Timing, and What to Know
Freezout Lake’s spring migration is ramping up fast, with major early flocks already confirmed and peak numbers typically arriving in late March. Here’s where to go, when to show up…
-
First Grizzly Spotted in Yellowstone Signals Montana’s Riskiest Backcountry Window—What Hunters Need to Know Now
A Yellowstone grizzly’s first spring appearance is more than a headline—it’s a warning shot for Montana hunters and backcountry users. Over the next six to eight weeks, hungry bears will…
-
Idaho Shed Hunter Stumbles on Two Napping Mountain Lions—Can You Spot Them in the Photos?
An Idaho outdoorsman looking for sheds got the surprise of a lifetime when he accidentally walked into a pair of mountain lions napping in the sun. The photos and video…
-
Idaho Lethally Removed 82 Mule Deer From a Captive Elk Facility—Here’s Why CWD Risk Drove the Decision
Idaho Fish and Game removed 82 wild mule deer that entered a captive elk facility in GMU 60A after hunters reported seeing them inside during the 2025 season. Officials said…
-
Mountain Lions Can Roam Shockingly Far: One Traveled From South Dakota’s Black Hills to Connecticut
Most mountain lions stay within a home range—but documented dispersals show some can go far beyond what most people imagine. One young tom’s journey from South Dakota’s Black Hills to…
-
Video: Coyote Chases 3-Year-Old Through Front Gate in Pasadena—Mom’s Scream Sends It Running
A coyote was captured on camera chasing a 3-year-old boy through the front gate of his Pasadena home—until his mom’s scream from inside the yard sent the animal the other…
-
Elk Hoof Disease Explained: How TAHD Spreads, What Researchers Know, and Why Hunters Are Worried
Elk hoof disease (TAHD) is a painful, polymicrobial infection that leaves elk lame and struggling to walk. First detected in Southwest Washington in the late 1990s, it surged after 2007–2008…
-
Watch a Cow Elk Defend Her Calf From a Mountain Lion in Montana (Wild Video)
A cow elk in Montana wastes no time going full defense mode when a mountain lion is near her calf. Hooves fly as the mother elk stomps and strikes—an intense…
-
Don’t Feed Wildlife: A “Calm” Elk Can Bite in Seconds When Hand-Fed
A calm-looking elk can still react fast—especially around food. In a clip shared as a reminder, a child’s fingers were nibbled while hand-feeding. Here’s why hand-feeding wildlife is risky and…
-
Are Elk Dangerous? What to Know About Aggressive Behavior During the Rut and Calving Season
Elk usually want to avoid people—but they can become dangerous fast during the fall rut or spring calving season. Learn the warning signs (pinned ears, lowered head, charging posture) and…
-
The Dramatic Dating Ritual of Bald Eagles
Bald Eagles engage in a dramatic courtship ritual called “cartwheeling,” where they lock talons and freefall, testing their compatibility and strength to ensure only the most committed pairs breed.
-
Captivating Taxidermy: The Art of Realistic Wildlife Displays
A striking black bear mount on a loft railing showcases expert taxidermy craftsmanship. This art form has evolved, capturing lifelike motion and personality, blending biology and sculpture since the 1800s.
-
Identifying the Animal: Wolf vs. Coyote Controversy
The internet is doing what it does best—arguing. The clip below from Colorado is making the rounds and has some people thinking it might be a wolf, while others say…
-
Yellowstone cougars change diets, behavior to avoid wolves
In Yellowstone, wolves and cougars clash because wolves steal elk kills, sometimes killing cougars. A long-term GPS study shows they’re rivals without reward, unlike smaller predators that scavenge for food.
-
Appreciating Unique Deer: Beyond Hunting Seasons
Before anyone checks the calendar or reaches for regulations—no, it is not Montana’s general big game season, and no, this buck isn’t even from Montana. But every now and then,…
-
What Are Coydogs?
Coydogs, true 50/50 coyote-dog hybrids, are rare and often confused with coyotes or feral dogs. Actual hybrids can be unpredictable and belong in the wild, not as pets.
-
Balancing Ecosystems: The Role of Wolves in Conservation
Wolf management in Alberta and Montana aims to maintain ecosystem balance, addressing stressed prey populations. It emphasizes science-based strategies rather than emotional reactions, ensuring both predators and prey are sustainably…
-
Why did the Montana elk walk 200 miles to South Dakota?
BRETT FRENCH | bfrench@billingsgazette.com As any hunter can tell you, elk are frustratingly smart, but they also adhere to certain habits. Studies conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks scientists in…
-
Understanding Color Variations in Wildlife
Every once in a while, nature throws us a plot twist that looks straight out of fantasy—an animal dressed in ghostly white, or one cloaked in midnight black. Turns out,…
-
Fort Peck Bald Eagles in Action–Facts and Footage
The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782, and, All About Birds reinforces that these birds are a powerful spiritual symbol for Native peoples…
-
Colorado Halts Gray Wolf Reintroduction Amid Political Pressure
Colorado has paused its gray wolf reintroduction plans due to political pressure and ranchers’ concerns, leaving the future of the program uncertain amid federal threats and local tensions.
-
Sun Valley Coyote Warning: Protect Your Dogs
Coyotes in Sun Valley, Idaho, are increasingly approaching people and pets, raising concerns following a recent fatal dog attack. Idaho Fish and Game urges residents to keep dogs close and…
-
-
-
Bears Are Confused, Winter Is Confused, Everyone Is Confused
Why was a black bear still roaming around in December?
-
Turn Valentine’s Day Feelings Into….Feedings
Check out this Valentine’s Day gift that comes with a bite….literally!
-
-
Why Pets Are Becoming Prey in Colorado’s Growing Suburbs
Coyotes are eating pets — but who’s really to blame?
-
Animals Have Some Crazy Survival Techniques
When cold weather tries to kill them, these critters just wait it out….
-
-
-
Even Bears Know When Gear is Premium
Always be prepared in bear country….especially if you’re looking for bears to take pictures of…
-
-
-
-
-
Front Row Seats (from the car) to a Live Hunt
It’s pretty cool to see some elk, but it’s even cooler to see a predator stalking them live…
-
Grizzly Bear Delisting May Be Closer Than We Think
Could Wyoming’s grizzlies be hunted again? Nesvik weighs in…
-
Massive Elk Herd Roams Through Colorado Neighborhood Yards, Stuns Mom and Daughter
A mom and daughter in Colorado were stunned when a massive elk herd took over their neighborhood yards. The same elk have also been seen along a nearby highway and…
-
The Wolf Debate Just Took a Sharp Turn in Washington
While hunters and ranchers are cheering, animal activists are fuming….
-
A Gift for Trappers That They Will Actually Use
This simple tool is changing how trappers handle non-targets…
-
When People’s Reactions to Wildlife Might Create More Chaos
Horses, humans, and a bull elk—watch what happens when they all meet at the same place….
More Recent Posts