Most Recent

Grand County seeing bump in COVID cases amid springtime visitors
Lindsay Aerts, KSL NewsRadio | Posted Apr 20th - 6:26am
Grand County is seeing the highest COVID-19 case rates in Utah. With springtime, the home to Moab and Arches National Park is also seeing tens of thousands of visitors.

How a mass fossil site in southern Utah may have proved emerging theory about tyrannosaurs
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated Apr 19th - 4:27pm
New research from fossils located at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument seems to support a theory that tyrannosaurs hunted in packs more like wolves than loners.

Toquerville Bypass to ease Zion National Park traffic issues, usher in changes for small town
Mori Kessler, St. George News | Posted Apr 19th - 10:35am
A new roadway that will help divert national park-bound traffic away from the heart of Toquerville, as well as an announcement for a planned development that will accompany the new road, were presented to residents of the small community Saturday afternoon.
Climbing bolts found on 1,000-year-old petroglyphs in Utah
The Associated Press | Posted Apr 18th - 12:33pm
Federal public lands officials are investigating after climbing bolts damaged an ancient petroglyph site near Moab.

National Park Week includes free admission day, various themes
Ammon Teare, St. George News | Posted Apr 16th - 12:13pm
National Park Week will begin Saturday, and all visitors to national parks that day will be admitted free of charge.

3 Utah PetSmart locations halt fish sales out of concern for zebra mussels
Ladd Egan, KSL TV | Posted Apr 15th - 8:54pm
Fish sales have been paused at three PetSmart locations along the Wasatch Front due to a suspicion of invasive zebra mussels.

Can a pasta machine protect the seeds to save the West's wildlands?
Hannah Petersen, Deseret News | Posted Apr 15th - 7:38am
On their hands and knees, two scientists try to determine whether traditional practices or a pasta machine may be the best way to fight invasive weeds.

Timpanogos Cave to resume tours this spring for 1st time since COVID-19 pandemic began
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Apr 14th - 2:08pm
Timpanogos Cave will reopen for tours Memorial Day weekend for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, park officials said Wednesday.

As Utah prepares to welcome in 2 new state parks, evaluation begins on another possible park
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Apr 14th - 8:11am
New details were provided Tuesday about two new state parks that were approved during the 2021 Legislative Session; meanwhile, work for new visions of Bridal Veil Falls is underway.

Man breaks Utah's Bear Lake cutthroat fishing record; Mac Attack Fishing Derby returns
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Apr 13th - 12:20pm
Utah's fishing records continue to fall.

No Gunlock waterfalls this year due to poor snowpack levels that fuel continuing drought concerns
Mori Kessler, St. George News | Posted Apr 13th - 9:30am
If you're thinking of visiting Gunlock Reservoir for its waterfalls this year, consider a change of plans.

Cougar sighted in Draper neighborhood tranquilized, to be released into the wild
Katie Workman, KSL.com | Posted Apr 11th - 10:54am
A cougar spotted in a Draper neighborhood early Saturday morning has been tranquilized by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and will be released in the mountains.

Utah leaders bid farewell to Interior Secretary Haaland with warning against 'unilateral' decision
Katie McKellar and Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Updated Apr 9th - 5:27pm
Utah's all-GOP delegation and state leaders bid farewell to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the third day of her whirlwind tour of two controversial national monument designations, with a call for a collaborative — not unilateral — decision.

Zion National Park proposes increase to temporary shuttle ticket costs as attendance soars
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Apr 9th - 12:43pm
Zion National Park officials first instituted a temporary timed ticket system for its shuttle service amid COVID-19 concerns last year.

'We all want pretty much the same thing,' Interior Secretary Deb Haaland says after Bears Ears tour
Katie McKellar, Deseret News | Updated Apr 8th - 9:28pm
Navajo Nation leaders called for full restoration and expansion of the Bears Ears National Monument to 1.9 million acres in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

DWR dip tank clears quagga mussels off boats quicker
Mike Anderson, KSL TV | Posted Apr 8th - 6:47pm
The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources demonstrated its new dip tank process to keep harmful quagga mussels away from Utah's reservoirs.

Why Utah birders want you to go 'lights out' during spring migration season
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Apr 8th - 1:34pm
Many bird species migrate at night. It's why experts say it's important to reduce light pollution, which can disorient birds and draw them off course.

Will a third Interior secretary visit resolve debate over national monuments?
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted Apr 7th - 9:27pm
For the third time in five years, a U.S. Department of Interior secretary is visiting Utah amid a debate over two controversial national monument designations.

Arches National Park formation wins 'Utah Arch Challenge,' but it may not be the one you think
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated Apr 7th - 5:06pm
Utah has an arch champion.

Creation of transit route to Springdale moves ahead with St. George City Council approval
Mori Kessler, St. George News | Posted Apr 6th - 10:44am
The creation of a public transit route between St. George and the doorstep of Zion National Park continues to move forward with the recent approval of agreements between the city, Washington County and the state.

How severe droughts have factored into a decline in Utah's deer population
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Apr 5th - 7:01pm
While there are far-reaching impacts that droughts can have on water infrastructure, they can also factor into wildlife habitat conditions.

Forecasters warn warmer weekend could bring avalanche danger to backcountry
Mike Anderson, KSL TV | Posted Apr 3rd - 7:21am
Warmer weather could bring increased danger to Utah's backcountry this weekend, and avalanche forecasters warned the snow already on the ground could come down in large slabs.

3 Salt Lake City creeks see the light as Three Creeks Confluence nears completion
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Apr 2nd - 7:31pm
Workers on a project by the Jordan River in recent months unearthed the point where water from three Salt Lake Valley creeks merge with the Jordan River, and a new Salt Lake City park is expected to be finished later this spring.

COVID-19 PPE litter is killing wildlife
Eoin McSweeney, CNN | Posted Apr 1st - 12:15pm
Waste from lifesaving personal protective equipment is killing birds, fish and other wildlife across the globe, a study has found.

Large Duchesne County fire could be beginning of difficult fire season
Alex Cabrero, KSL TV | Posted Apr 1st - 6:58am
2020 was a record year for wildfires started by humans, and drought conditions in 2021 could mean it's more important than ever to make a plan to protect your home from fire.

Bill to extend Utah's Bonneville Shoreline Trail once again filed in Congress
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 31st - 7:33pm
Utah's top political leaders and representatives of several outdoors organizations in the state say they support a bill that would facilitate a federal-local land swap in order to extend the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Utah man sentenced to 6 months after digging for treasure in Yellowstone cemetery
Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com | Posted Mar 31st - 3:36pm
A Utah man who pleaded guilty to digging for buried treasure at a historic cemetery in Yellowstone National Park has been sentenced to six months of incarceration, authorities said Wednesday.

Mike Godfrey: 5 wildlife lessons from viral video of woman unwittingly holding venomous octopus
Mike Godfrey, KSL.com Contributor | Posted Mar 31st - 12:14pm
While walking a beach in Bali, a TikTok user inadvertently placed herself in mortal danger by catching and handling a blue-ringed octopus. Here are five lessons to be learned from the viral video.

Salt Lake City's Allen Park re-reopens following 3-month winter closure
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 30th - 4:14pm
Allen Park is once again open to the public after winter conditions prompted an emergency seasonal closure in December.

Utah officials to expand Japanese beetle eradication plans after pest detections grew in 2020
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 30th - 9:49am
The invasive Japanese beetle can cost the U.S. millions in annual agriculture damage. Utah is expanding efforts to contain the pest after its small known population tripled last year.

Recent rescues at Sand Hollow Reservoir underscore importance of life jackets
Jeff Richards, St. George News | Posted Mar 30th - 9:01am
Two people were rescued from the chilly waters of Sand Hollow Reservoir on Monday afternoon when the personal watercraft they were riding on capsized.

Overnight camping closure at Middle Fork WMA extended after unruly 2020, DWR says
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 29th - 11:05am
Officials from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said Monday it will ban most overnight camping at the wildlife management area through Sept. 9.

Oregon couple stuck on Grand County road for 24 hours; officials call road a 'chronic problem'
Graham Dudley, KSL.com | Posted Mar 28th - 4:17pm
An Oregon couple was stranded for nearly 24 hours on a secluded Grand County road before being rescued Friday evening, officials said, describing the area as a dangerous and frequent problem.

Have an idea for Central Wasatch improvement? Here's how you can submit it
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 26th - 8:52pm
A commission tasked with improvements along the central Wasatch canyons is once again accepting ideas for smaller, short-term projects.

Jobs vs. environment: What did Interior secretary learn from briefing on leasing ban?
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted Mar 26th - 6:26pm
The move by President Joe Biden to ban any new oil and gas leasing on federal public lands and offshore waters was praised as a first good step to meet his ambitious climate change agenda in a Thursday briefing and soundly criticized as a threat to good paying jobs when the United States needs them the most.

2 more Utah parks gain 'international dark sky' status
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 26th - 12:27pm
Add two more state parks to the list of best places in the world to view the night sky.

Utah wildlife officials propose cutting buck deer hunting permits by 5K this year
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 25th - 9:09pm
State wildlife biologists are seeking another cut to general season buck deer permits after a large cut last year.

Zion National Park issues danger advisory over harmful algal bloom
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 25th - 11:33am
Zion National Park visitors are being asked to avoid any contact with the North Fork portion of the Virgin River "until further notice" due to a worsening toxic algae bloom.

Utah joins a dozen other states suing Biden over oil and gas leasing ban
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted Mar 24th - 5:12pm
Utah joined a dozen other states Wednesday in a lawsuit against the federal government challenging the Jan. 27 executive order issued by President Joe Biden to ban any new oil and gas leasing on federal land and offshore waters.

20 Utah business reps co-sign letter urging Biden to restore national monument boundaries in state
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 24th - 12:16pm
More voices joined the debate over the fate of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monument boundaries.

How much would development plans near Zion National Park boost regional economy?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 23rd - 2:34pm
Future projects near the park's east entrance that could come within the next decade have the potential to result in hundreds of new jobs and generate millions of new money.

Utah agency plans to close off 29 abandoned mines in Grand County next month
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 23rd - 10:50am
Work to close off a little more than two dozen mines at a canyon popular for recreation in southern Utah is expected to begin next month, state mining officials said Monday.

Will Bridal Veil Falls be a monument or a state park?
Hannah Petersen, Deseret News | Posted Mar 23rd - 9:05am
The future of Bridal Veil Falls — be it as a state monument or state park — is in the hands of the Utah Department of Parks and Recreation.

Utah to use more water conservation PSAs amid 'very serious' drought
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 22nd - 2:32pm
Utah received plenty of precipitation over the weekend but nowhere near enough to reverse shortages.

Utah tourism officials to launch campaigns to bring tourists, responsibly
Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio | Posted Mar 22nd - 8:36am
The Utah State Office of Tourism is hoping to draw more people to the state, responsibly, as COVID-19 spread continues to decrease.

Modern mountain men test handmade hide boat for Bear River run
Hannah Petersen, Deseret News | Posted Mar 21st - 8:14pm
The grizzled mountain man steadies himself on the shore as he gingerly steps down into a buffalo-hide boat without tipping it.

This is arch: Utah geologists begin 'Arch Madness' to highlight state's many arches
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 19th - 12:22pm
Utah geologists want you to figure out what the best arch or natural bridge is in Utah for "Arch Madness."

Utah's fishing, hunting license sales surge during first year of COVID-19 pandemic
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 18th - 12:15pm
Utah's banner year for outdoors participation wasn't just reserved for state parks last year.

Third interior secretary to tour Bears Ears, Grand Staircase as part of political football
Dennis Romboy, Deseret News | Posted Mar 18th - 7:46am
Newly confirmed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland plans to visit two controversial national monuments in Utah and meet with state, local and tribal leaders.

Gov. Cox issues emergency declaration over Utah's persistent drought conditions
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 17th - 7:48pm
The emergency declaration not only acknowledges the ongoing drought conditions but warns that the state's spring runoff likely will be below average too.

Loose moose: 1K pound moose relocated after weekend stroll through Centerville neighborhood
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 17th - 1:34pm
A 2-year bull moose has a new home in Utah's wilderness after the creature found its way into the backyard of a home in Davis County over the weekend.

St. George area preparing for busy spring break
Ladd Egan, KSL TV | Posted Mar 16th - 10:28pm
Southwest Utah is gearing up for a bustling spring break season as folks along the Wasatch Front head for some fun in the sun.

Yellowstone's Steamboat Geyser much deeper than Old Faithful, researchers say, but still a science mystery
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 16th - 3:35pm
New University of Utah research into Yellowstone National Park's Steamboat Geyser, the world's largest geyser, provides a better look at how the geyser functions.

Section of Bonneville Shoreline Trail reopens in Utah County for first time since fire
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 16th - 11:28am
A section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail near Provo Canyon has reopened for the first time since a wildfire and subsequent reseeding project happened in the area last fall.

Sundance Mountain Resort announces upgrades for next ski season
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Mar 15th - 7:03pm
Sundance Mountain Resort has announced construction will begin in the coming months for changes that will be in place for the 2021-2022 ski season.

Call of the wild: Great outdoors is great escape in pandemic
Pat Graham and Tales Azzoni, Associated Press | Posted Mar 14th - 1:04pm
It's a little crowded out there.

Zion National Park search for woman cost $60K, report says
Brady McCombs, Associated Press | Posted Mar 12th - 2:33pm
A search for a California woman who was missing for two weeks last fall at Zion National Park in Utah before being found alive cost about $60,000, park officials said Thursday.
