The Latest Breaking News from American West

Old Trapper’s Lodge: Folk-art motel turns frontier myths into concrete; sculptures now scattered

John Ehn's Old Trapper’s Lodge, established in 1951, features an array of sculptures and displays that celebrate the American West. Initially showcasing a mock graveyard and an Old West museum filled with artifacts from his trapping past, the lodge became a historical landmark after Ehn’s passing in 1981. The site…

The Times of India · 13h ago

Before 1850, Americans grew Dyer’s woad for blue dye; in the Great Basin, one infestation later grew from 12,000 to 150,000 acres in eight years

Dyer's woad, once used for blue dye, has become an invasive species in the American West. This plant produces a high number of seeds and thrives in disturbed soils, making it hard to control. Control efforts require extensive knowledge of its lifecycle and persistent manual and chemical treatment. A recent…

The Economic Times · Oct 20

Wyoming Ranch Grew From 160 Acres to a 320-Acre Dude Ranch Before NPS Sale

White Grass Ranch began as a homestead in Wyoming's Jackson Hole valley before developing into a dude ranch. It accommodated paying guests from around 1919, offering recreational activities related to ranch life. In 1956, the property was sold to the National Park Service while allowing family use for a lifetime.…

The Times of India · Oct 17

Wildfires reshape forests and change the behavior of animals that live there

In the arid American West, wildfires now define summer. Recent years have seen some of the worst wildfires in recorded history. Climate change, the loss of Indigenous burning practices and a century of fire suppression are increasing the risk of larger, hotter and more frequent wildfires.

The Conversation · Oct 19, 2022

Crisis looms without big cuts to over-tapped Colorado River

Dire consequences could result if states, cities and farms across the American West cannot agree on how to cut the amount of water they draw from the Colorado River

The Independent UK · Aug 19, 2022

Commentary: Why are horses jumping off a cliff?!

Perhaps no other animal exemplifies the American West more than the horse. These noble equines played an integral role in the development and expansion of our country as we know it today. Yet nearly 250 years after its founding, horses are still being used, abused and exploited by humans in…

Tribune News Service · Aug 2, 2022

Westerners struggle to manage booming wild horse populations

Wild horses hold a special place in the mythos of the American West, with images of free-roaming herds of mustangs grazing on vast public rangelands. But for some communities in New Mexico, the reality tragically differs.

Tribune News Service · Jul 22, 2022

A case for retreat in the age of fire

Wildfires in the American West are getting larger, more frequent and more severe. Although efforts are underway to create fire-adapted communities, it’s important to realize that we cannot simply design our way out of wildfire – some communities will need to begin planning a retreat.

The Conversation · Jul 13, 2022

Bodies found in drought-depleted Lake Mead could be linked to gangsters, say mob experts

Water levels at Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, are dropping to historically low levels amid the megadrought affecting the American West. Long-hidden bodies are emerging that could unlock murderous secrets of the mob, writes Sheila Flynn

The Independent UK · May 19, 2022

The window of opportunity to address increasing drought and expanding drylands is vanishing

Chile, Argentina and the American West are in the midst of a decade-long, megadrought — the driest conditions those regions have seen in a century. And many areas in Western Canada and the United States are experiencing extreme drought — a once in 20-year event.

The Conversation · May 8, 2022