Imagine being able to track the health of an entire ecosystem from space. With the power of NASA’s Earth Science data, this vision is becoming a reality. Yet, despite the incredible potential of satellite data to enhance wildlife conservation and improve ecosystem management, a significant gap remains between the wealth of information NASA provides and the organizations that need it most.

The 28th annual Western Monarch Count has reported 9,119 monarch butterflies this winter. This is the second lowest overwintering count ever recorded since tracking began in 1997. The record lowest count in 2020 of less than 2,000 monarchs was followed by 3 years of counts greater than 200,000 monarchs each year, followed by this year’s count.

I’ve listened to the ongoing discussions surrounding non-lead ammo for years. My college roommate was a gunsmith and an avid reloader. When the Barnes X bullet was first made commercially available in 1989, he wouldn’t shut up about it. I got constant and unsolicited lectures on the bullet’s performance, specifically as related to penetration, expansion, and weight retention. Interestingly, in all those lectures, there was never any mention of the metal composition of the bullet or an environmental or food quality related reason offered in his support of this new monolithic bullet that he so loved.

In the United States, where roughly 60% of the land is privately owned, the survival of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species largely depends on the stewardship of these private lands. Traditional conservation has often relied on strict regulations, which can be seen as burdensome by landowners, much like being dictated on how to manage your garden without considering your unique situation. However, a more collaborative approach is gaining traction, exemplified by the efforts of the Conservation Without Conflict Coalition.

A new set of maps that document the movements of ungulates was published on February 6, 2025, in the fifth volume of the Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States. The maps in this collaborative U.S. Geological Survey report series reveal the migration routes and critical ranges used by ungulates, or hooved mammals, in the western U.S., furthering scientists’ understanding of the geography. Following is the University of Wyoming press release.