Blue Raccoon Photo: The Woman Who Really Found It
Nicole Carroll took the viral blue raccoon photos that copycat accounts reposted without credit. Here is why the raccoon was blue and where to find her.
Conservation
Refuge Hunting Rule Is Live, and It Scraps the Nine-Refuge Lead Ban
Refuge hunting access just hit a record 92 million acres under the 2026 final rule. See what changed and how to check your station before opening day.
Read the articleConservation
Wildlife, habitat and access. Agency rule changes, disease management, funding and land decisions, covered for what they mean to the people who hunt and fish.
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Chronic Wasting Disease Testing in 2026: What Hunters Need to Know
Chronic wasting disease testing is mandatory in more units for 2026. Here is what hunters need to know before the season, from sample drop-off to positive results.
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Grizzly Bear Management Shifts to the States: What Hunters Should Know
Interior proposed shifting grizzly bear management to Western states July 14, 2026. What the 4(d) rule means for hunters — and the Aug. 17 comment deadline.
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The Non-Lead Rule for 9 Refuges Was Rescinded One Day Before It Started
The lead ammo ban takes effect September 1, 2026 on eight national wildlife refuges. See which refuges, what Congress is doing, and how to switch loads.
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Federal Hunting Access Expansion Is Final: 1,450 New Refuge Opportunities
The USFWS proposed the largest federal hunting access expansion in its history. See what opens, the lead-ammo reversal, and how to comment by June 26.
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Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: 42 Years, 9 Million Acres, and a Hunter-Built Conservation Model
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has protected more than 9 million acres of big-game country since 1984. Inside RMEF’s mission, programs, chapters, and how hunters can join in 2026.
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Why Gary Metivier’s “That’s Wild” Series Is a Must-Watch for Wildlife and Animal Rescue Fans
Gary Metivier That’s Wild is a strong watch for anyone who enjoys wildlife stories, animal rescues, and nature videos that teach as they entertain. A great place to start is the featured bald eagle rescue episode, which gives viewers a closer look at how rescue and rehabilitation can help one of America’s most iconic birds….
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No Ivy Required: University of Montana’s New Center for Hunting and Conservation
These days, the real science happens outside the “hallowed, ivy-covered halls.” The University of Montana and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are excited to announce the recently formed Center for Hunting and Conservation to advance science, research, education and outreach that will shape the future of land and wildlife management in the United States. The…
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REACTION: Trump’s Make America Beautiful Again Agenda
A little while ago, we identified a portion of the “Big Beautiful Bill” that we, along with many others, felt was detrimental to our enjoyment of public lands. As it turns out, that portion of the bill was removed by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). Yes, you read that correctly; the Republican majority in Congress…
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U.S. Bighorn Sheep Going Home to Canada
It’s not deportation. It’s conservation. A few days ago, the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) flash-raised USD $186,505 to fund a translocation of California bighorn sheep from Oregon back to British Columbia to bolster struggling populations in a region where these wild sheep were originally translocated from, way back in 1954. “Naming this project ‘Coming Home’…
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Howling in Cuckoo: How Mexican Wolves are Fostered
Did you know that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is “fostering” captive-born wolf pups? I didn’t … and now I just want to know what I need to do to be the guy who walks around sneaking wolf pups into dens. Yup: Fostering is a coordinated effort of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,…
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Nessie Needs Wingmen: Saving Spawning Sturgeon
Who needs Plesiosaurs, when we have sturgeon? The animal that many scientists believe is responsible for “lake monster” sightings is actually the sturgeon. These amazing fish can survive in both salt- and freshwater, and some subspecies are capable of growing to 24 feet (yes, 24 feet!) in length. Lake sturgeon can weigh up to 200…
