Conservation

One of Montana's most popular spring traditions is shed hunting. Many states have implemented shed hunting regulations, and Montana may soon follow suit.

Kelli Hess writes, "Our current linear economic system is designed so that the majority of resources are extracted, manufactured, sold, used and discarded."

Arlene Montgomery writes, "Bull trout are in a precarious situation in the Swan Valley, non-native lake trout and mysis shrimp pose a threat in Holland Lake. Lack of clean water shouldn't be another hazard they have to navigate."

Mike Garrity writes, "The timber industry already has access to all roaded lands. Don’t let Tester give them categorical exclusions to log roadless lands too."

The National Park Service signed a five-year agreement with the nonprofit American Forests to help restore whitebark pine throughout the western U.S.

Changes to Missoula County's solid waste regulations will widen the bear buffer zone around the city limits and phase in the requirement of bear-resistant trash bins over the next three years.

Dave Stalling writes, "Delisting should be based on science, not on politics driven by a disdain for predators."

The act would add about 78,000 acres of wilderness to the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Mission Mountains wilderness areas and create two recreation management areas for snowmobiling and mountain biking.

Two environmental groups are suing the state of Montana for approving additional wolf trapping that could harm or kill grizzly bears.

An effort to purchase 480 acres on Marshall Mountain took another step forward on Tuesday when Missoula County approved an option agreement with Five Valleys Land Trust.

Over the past decade, the City of Missoula has taken the lead in Montana with local plans to address the climate crisis, including clean electricity, zero waste and eliminating tailpipe emissions from the city's fleet of vehicles.

The option agreement approved on Tuesday sets the purchase price for the 160-acre Izzy Dog parcel at $1.8 million.