CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said Wednesday that it killed the brood stock at the Sheridan Game Bird Farm in an effort to protect thousands of pheasant chicks that are expected to hatch soon. The decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” after three wild turkeys found dead near […]
Outdoors
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Yellowstone: Wolf hunt altered behavior, damaged research
National Park Service, wolf watchers and some state officials are making a push to dissuade Montana from continuing aggressive pursuit of naive wolves at the national park’s doorstep. Mike Koshmrl, WyoFile A recent spate of wolf killings just outside of Yellowstone National Park has altered fundamental aspects of the canines’ behavior, and threatened the foundations […]
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Flaming Gorge water releases aim at maintaining Lake Powell levels
News Desk – SweetwaterNOW – April 26, 2022 In an effort to prevent Lake Powell’s water levels from dipping below a certain level, 500,000 acre feet of water will be released from the Flaming Gorge Reservoir over the next 12 months, according to a new drought operation plan. Lake Powell is located on the Utah/Arizona […]
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Game and Fish: Chronic wasting disease detected in five new elk, four new deer hunt areas in 2021
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said in a news release Monday that its Wildlife Health Laboratory tested 6,884 big game animal samples for chronic wasting disease in 2021, with 831 samples coming back positive. The department said that 829 of 6,486 samples were positive for chronic wasting disease in 2020 after […]
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Wyoming Game and Fish reports 300+ wolves across 40 packs in 2021; 30 killed during hunting season
CASPER, Wyo. — On Monday, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department released its annual Wyoming Gray Wolf Monitoring and Management report for 2021 and said that wolf numbers in the state continue to be above Endangered Species Act delisting criteria. Grey wolves in the region were removed from the Endangered Species Act list in 2017, […]
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Garden Creek trail study looking at land owned by Jim and Audrey Bailey Foundation
CASPER, Wyo. — A Casper Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) study is exploring the possibility that about 450 acres of land in the Garden Creek area owned by the Jim and Audrey Bailey Foundation might present some opportunities for new trails in Casper. The study is in its infancy, but Casper Area MPO GIS Technician […]
Posted inOutdoors
Anglers land some ‘monster’ fish at Laramie Plains lakes; Game and Fish reports abundance of 20+ inch trout
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Laramie Region said on Tuesday that it is encouraging anglers to fish Laramie Plains lakes this spring. “Bank fishing for Rainbow Trout at Leazenby Lake has produced some ‘monster’ fish for anglers this spring,” the news release said. “Meeboer Lake has more trout exceeding 20 inches […]
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Kortes Road closures impacting Alcova, Pathfinder access; delays possible through fall 2022
CASPER, Wyo. — A contractor working with Natrona County Road and Bridge and the Federal Highway Administration is preparing to begin work reconstructing Kortes Road near Alcova. The contractor began moving equipment on Monday, and the project is expected to last through October 31. Natrona County Road & Bridge said in a press release Wednesday […]
Posted inCrime
Wyoming Game and Fish closing vehicle access to hunting, fishing area due to vandalism, illegal dumping
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said Tuesday that it plans to close vehicle access to Willwood Public Access Area near Powell due to repeated instances of vandalism, illegal dumping and unauthorized use of the area over the years. “We have hauled off garbage, pallets, discarded appliances, and even a slide-in truck […]
Posted inWeather
Snow forces changes to Yellowstone’s plans to open select roads Friday
CASPER, Wyo. — Snow may cause a hiccup in plans to open some roads in Yellowstone National Park on Friday. The park initially planned to open select roads at 8 a.m. Friday, but the opening of some of those roads may be delayed as crews work to clear “nearly a foot of snow and remove […]
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Hogadon open for final weekend before season closure
CASPER, Wyo. — Hogadon Ski Basin will be open through Sunday, April 10 before closing its trails for the season. “Come get all the spring laps you can!” the facility’s managers posted Friday. The slopes are open until 8 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Up to an inch of snow […]
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Study: Early wildflower blooms sign of a warming Wyoming
Wyoming botanists retraced the steps of famed ecologist Frank Craighead, author of the popular phenology guide, “For Everything There Is A Season.” Dustin Bleizeffer, WyoFile Wyoming botanist Trevor Bloom spotted his first springtime blooms of the year on March 28. Bloom, while tracing the footsteps of famed ecologist Frank Craighead at Blacktail Butte in Grand […]
Posted inAnimals
Wyoming volunteers count record-high 576 eagles in Powder River Basin midwinter survey
CASPER, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming said in a press release Thursday that 95 volunteers assisted in an eagle count on the morning of January 8, 2022 along 1,500 miles of public roadways in the Power River Basin. A total of 576 eagles were counted, including 376 bald eagles and 153 […]
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BLM whistleblower loses firing appeal in Wyoming oilfield dispute
An administrative judge has ruled against an environmental specialist who claims he was fired for raising worries about impacts to migratory raptors. Angus M. Thuermer Jr., WyoFile A federal administrative judge has rejected an appeal by a whistleblower who claims he was fired from his federal job after advocating for migrating birds at a huge […]
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Yellowstone opening select roads on April 15; free entrance April 16 in celebration of National Park Week
CASPER, Wyo. — The National Park Service said in a press release Thursday that select roads in Yellowstone National Park will open to the public at 8 a.m. Friday, April 15. In addition, Yellowstone will waive entrance fees on Saturday, April 16 “in celebration of National Park Week.” The April 15 opening is weather-dependent but is […]
Posted inEnergy
DEQ: Wyoming’s underground fuel storage tanks have nation-high 93% compliance rate; U.S. averages 57.8%
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) said in a press release Wednesday that the state has the country’s highest compliance rate when it comes to regulations on underground storage tanks. “Wyoming boasts a 93% compliance rate with underground storage tanks,” Wyoming DEQ said. “The most recent report released by the U.S. […]
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Detours coming for some Alcova beaches, Miracle Mile, as Kortes Road project begins April 11
CASPER, Wyo. — Visitors to Alcova Lake’s Cottonwood Beach, Black Beach, and the Miracle Mile — as well as local ranchers — will be facing a 12-mile detour beginning April 11 as a federal construction project begins on seven miles of Kortes Road. The detour will entail continuing west on WYO 220 and taking Pathfinder […]
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Fungus that kills bats detected in Shirley Mountain caves; Wyoming cavers and climbers urged to clean gear
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Monday that Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), a fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, has recently been detected in caves that serve as winter hibernating habitat for bats in Carbon and Platte County. The fungus was detected in caves in the Shirley Mountains on Bureau of Land […]
Posted inEvents
Artists from 16 states depict Pacific marten in 39th annual Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Show
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s 39th annual Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Show will be held starting at 5 p.m. Friday, April 15 with artwork featuring the Pacific marten, a member of the weasel family. “We’re excited to host the 2023 Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Competition — and it’s sure to be […]
Posted inEvents
Wyoming Outdoor Expo returns this week to Ford Wyoming Casper
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Outdoor Expo is returning to an in-person format and is preparing to welcome families and school groups to the Ford Wyoming Center Thursday through Saturday. The expo offers activities for both children and adults and will feature over 70 booths this year, according to Game and Fish. Activities include everything […]
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Natrona County Master Gardeners 2022 Spring Gardening Conference set for April 23
CASPER, Wyo. — The Natrona County Master Gardeners 2022 Spring Gardening Conference will be held Saturday, April 23, 2021 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center. This year’s theme is “Life’s a Garden: Dig It!” Topics include planning around the weather forecast, pruning evergreens, and starting plants from seed. Early Registration […]
Posted inWyoming
Wyomingites asked to report dead birds amid national avian flu outbreak; disease poses risk to humans
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Tuesday that it is asking that anyone who observes any groups of dead birds report that information to the department. Game and Fish made the request amid a national outbreak of “highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has caused die-offs of wild and domestic birds […]
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Wyoming bison hunting applications due by midnight Thursday; fall turkey, sandhill crane, beaver, pheasant applications open in April
CASPER, Wyo. — Several Wyoming hunting application deadlines are approaching, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Hunter applications for wild bison licenses are due by midnight Thursday, March 31. Game and Fish will then begin to accept hunting applications for limited-quota fall turkey, sandhill crane and beaver at 8 a.m. Friday, April 1. […]