Voices of Greater Yellowstone

When the Roadless Rule was adopted in 2001, it followed one of the most robust public engagement processes in U.S. history. Over nearly four years, the federal government hosted more than 600 public meetings across the country and received a record-setting 1.6 million public comments—an overwhelming majority 90 percent of which were in support of protecting roadless forests. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which houses the U.S. Forest Service, announced its plan to eliminate the Roadless ...

Wolves, cougars, and bears—oh my. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is home to many large carnivores and omnivores, making it unlike anywhere else on Earth. So, what happens when these masses of teeth, fur, and claws meet on the landscape? While it’s a rare sight in Yellowstone, watching two large predators encounter each other is one of the most exciting and intense experiences you could have. When an enormous male grizzly bear comes across a pack of wolves and their kill, who will be victor...

Grand Teton National Park may be known for its dramatic peaks and postcard views, but the story didn’t stop once the park was established. In many ways, that’s when a whole new chapter began. Since obtaining its national park status, the park has been shaped by decades of change—expanding boundaries, growing visitation, wildlife management, historic preservation, and ongoing debates about how people use and protect this landscape. What started as a relatively small national park eventually be...

Grand Teton National Park is one of those places that stays with you long after you’ve visited. The peaks are stunning, the wildlife is abundant, and the lakes and rivers tie it all together. Still, as iconic as the Tetons are, the story behind the park is a lot more complicated—and a lot more interesting—than most people realize. Before it became a national park, this landscape was shaped by Indigenous communities, early fur traders, ranchers, homesteaders, prospectors, conservationists, and...

Medusahead. Black Henbane. Dyer’s woad. Ventenata. Yellow starthistle. Heavy metal bands, or noxious weeds found in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem? We’re all pretty familiar with the common weeds that make their appearance in our yards and hometowns. Despite their status, I’m still a fan of dandelions. But what makes a noxious weed, a noxious weed? It’s a surprising issue found here in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Conservation topics like the politics of grizzly bears or the in...