Career employees told HCN they were unsettled by the termination email sent by HR, which cited ‘performance issues.’
Christine Peterson
Christine Peterson lives in Laramie, Wyoming, and has covered science, the environment and outdoor recreation in Wyoming for more than a decade. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Outdoor Life and the Casper Star-Tribune, among others.
Posted inJanuary 2025: The West's Most Wanted
Why the West needs prairie dogs
They’re among the region’s most despised species, but some tribes, researchers and landowners are racing to save them.
Posted inArticles
Where horses roam, sage grouse struggle
A new study shows the imperiled bird declines as free-roaming horses exceed the land’s capacity.
Posted inArticles
Wolverines may return to Colorado
But can they survive in the warming southern Rockies?
Posted inArticles
When grasshoppers attack
Is the cure for grasshopper outbreaks worse than the disease?
Posted inArticles
When a landslide blocks your commute
The Teton Pass collapse highlights the importance — and growing vulnerability — of mountain roads.
Posted inApril 2024: Epic Journeys
For these mammals, migration is a means of survival
Will Westerners repair a fractured landscape for mule deer, pronghorn, and elk?
Posted inArticles
New refuge provides hope for critically endangered toad
One of the most endangered amphibians in North America faces threats but also possibilities.
Posted inArticles
BLM has a plan to tackle booming recreation — at least in theory
The agency is taking a hard look at how to protect land and wildlife while welcoming ever more visitors.
Posted inArticles
People are shooting birds off power lines in the West
Gunshots outnumber electrocution as a cause of death, according to a new study.
Posted inArticles
When the woods get noisy, the animals get nervous
New study uses trail cameras and speakers to isolate what human sounds do to animals.
Posted inApril 1, 2023: The Path Forward
A deadly disease stalks deer and elk. Do predators help or hurt?
In the Rockies, chronic wasting disease can devastate herds; scientists are looking for solutions.
Posted inArticles
The recipe for restoring damaged lands is missing one key ingredient: seeds
A new report highlights recovery solutions to fires, droughts and other climate catastrophes.
Posted inNovember 1, 2022: The Futures of Conservation
To protect eagles, hunters and conservationists rebuild old alliances
Evidence of the toxic effects of lead ammunition on wildlife spurs a search for common ground.
Posted inArticles
Wildfires may have unexpected climate impacts
Wyoming researchers find current models may underestimate how smoke blocks sunlight and cools the planet.
Posted inMarch 16, 2020: Wiring the Wild
When the love of skiing endangers wildlife
A world-renowned athlete stopped skiing in sensitive areas. Can she convince others to do the same?
Posted inOctober 28, 2019: Where Hunting Still Has Meaning
Faced with chronic wasting disease, what’s a hunting family to do?
Hunters are critical for game management, but the spread of CWD means some may put down the rifle.
Posted inArticles
Hiking trails are a path to destruction for Colorado elk
Recreationalists in Vail are having a devastating impact on the local herd.
Posted inFebruary 4, 2019: Nizhoni Girls
Why Wyoming’s public lands are locked up
The Cowboy State has more inaccessible public lands than anywhere in the West.