Hunters take to the South Dakota prairie every year for the fall pheasant season. It can be a lifestyle or a vacation. But now the hunt on public lands faces a challenge, and some say the state is redefining the tradition.
Utah is taking new action to reduce the deaths of wildlife along roads and highways. Congress allocated $350 million in the bipartisan infrastructure package to fund projects across the country. States must provide 20% of the funds for projects, and Utah has approved $1 million to be set aside to address one of the most dangerous spots for wildlife in the state. .
Local environmental groups are voicing their concerns about a proposed mining exploration project about two miles west of California s Death Valley. The company Mojave Precious Metals wants to drill more than 100 holes to look for gold at Conglomerate Mesa, and to revive some roads in what is now considered a roadless landscape. Kayla Browne, desert-lands organizer for the group Friends of the Inyo, said the area is important to migrating mule deer and is prime habitat for the Townsend s western big-eared bat and the Inyo rock daisy. .
Landowners in Colorado could play a major role in President Joe Biden s efforts to conserve 30% of the nation s undeveloped lands by 2030, and make money at the same time. Jay Fetcher s family has been ranching cattle since 1994. He said when his family looked into the idea of a conservation easement for their property near Steamboat Springs, his father was immediately sold. .
Native American tribes manage millions of acres of wildlife habitat but face inequities in securing conservation funds. A bill in Congress would provide a boost in carrying out projects. The Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act would set aside $50 million each year for a grant program. .