Most Recent
Video of kayakers being capsized by a whale resurfaces, bringing debate with it
Madison Selcho, Deseret News | Posted Aug. 6 - 2:12 p.m.
Debate over video footage of two women being knocked out of their kayak by a humpback whale from nearly two years ago is making the rounds again this week.
Utah temporarily bans target shooting at 25 wildlife management areas, citing fire risks
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Aug. 5 - 11:00 a.m.
Utah wildlife officials are banning target shooting at a little more than two-dozen wildlife management areas across the state.
Report: Glen Canyon Dam plumbing problems could cause 'massive bottleneck' on Colorado River
Kyle Dunphey, Deseret News | Posted Aug. 4 - 9:03 a.m.
A report released Wednesday suggests declining flows on the Colorado River are impacting the ability to deliver water to Nevada, California, Arizona and Mexico.
After a man burned 60 acres trying to kill a spider, here are some other head-scratching wildfires
Kyle Dunphey, Deseret News | Posted Aug. 3 - 11:04 a.m.
Nearly 85% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans. Often it's abandoned campfires or equipment malfunctions, but some causes are more puzzling.
Why are the trees buzzing? Get the skinny on southern Utah cicadas
Alysha Lundgren, St. George News | Posted Aug. 3 - 10:16 a.m.
The trees are alive with the sound of buzzing. A chorus of unique insects calls out to potential mates and fills the air with noisy whirring.
As species recover, some threaten others in more dire shape
John Flesher, Christina Larson and Patrick Whittle, Associated Press | Posted Aug. 2 - 9:29 a.m.
Recovery of some vulnerable species through restoration efforts has made comebacks more difficult for others in peril.
Is draining human-made Lake Powell a practical solution to drought in the West?
Madison Selcho, Deseret News | Posted Aug. 1 - 9:08 p.m.
The sheer enormity of Lake Powell arising out of a desert in the West is not only spectacular, it's in jeopardy.
Why Utah wildlife biologists want you to temporarily avoid these High Uintas water areas
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Aug. 1 - 1:00 p.m.
Utah wildlife biologists are set to begin yet another round of rotenone treatments at a pair of drainages in High Uintas this week as it seeks to restore native fish habitats.
Health officials advise precautions after West Nile virus found in 2 more Utah counties
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted Aug. 1 - 11:52 a.m.
The West Nile virus has now been found in three counties in Utah this summer.
Have You Seen This? Massive bear greets visitors at national park
Grant Olsen for KSL.com | Posted July 31 - 3:29 p.m.
What would you do if one of the Katmai National Park brown bears walked right up to you?
Poll asks how Utahns want to respond to drought, record-low levels of the Great Salt Lake
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted July 31 - 7:14 a.m.
Utah's drought is pounding residents with relentless heat, arid conditions with no foreseeable end in sight.
How the ailing Great Salt Lake might get a lift from the US Senate
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted July 29 - 12:54 p.m.
The U.S. Senate has passed the Great Salt Lake Recovery Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Mitt Romney, to study historic drought conditions and protect the long-term health of the lake.
How much did Yellowstone National Park flooding impact visitor numbers?
Carlene Coombs, Deseret News | Posted July 26 - 10:13 p.m.
After heavy flooding washed out roads, caused rockslides and damaged homes last month, Yellowstone National Park saw a 43% decrease in recreational visits compared to June 2021.
9 cars towed Saturday as parking enforcement escalates in American Fork Canyon
Andrew Adams, KSL-TV | Posted July 26 - 11:05 a.m.
After publicized warnings that parking would be more strictly enforced in American Fork Canyon, UHP had nine illegally-parked cars towed in and around Timpooneke Campground Saturday.
Can expanding Salt Lake City's urban forest improve air quality, ease historic inequality?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 25 - 9:05 p.m.
Salt Lake City planners argue there's a lot to be gained by planting more trees.
How to survive a rattlesnake bite — or better yet, avoid one
Forrest Brown, CNN | Posted July 24 - 10:25 p.m.
The thickest concentration of rattlesnakes is in the U.S. Southwest and northern Mexico. The estimated 36 rattlesnake species are adaptable, living in forests, grasslands, swamps and deserts. They may take up residence where people live and work.
Monarch butterfly lands on international endangered species list
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted July 24 - 4:52 p.m.
The iconic and much beloved orange and black Monarch butterfly was added to the "red list" or classified as endangered on Thursday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Woman who scared off Montana grizzly bear was killed when it attacked later, investigation finds
Madison Selcho, Deseret News | Posted July 24 - 2:11 p.m.
A new investigation report says a woman was killed during a camping trip in Montana last year when a bear attacked her in her camp site.
Why the travel industry wants national parks to adjust new reservation programs
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 23 - 12:25 p.m.
Hundreds of travel and leisure businesses and travel associations signed a letter acknowledging their displeasure, including organizations in Utah.
Have You Seen This? Don't put your face too close to an anaconda
Grant Olsen for KSL.com | Posted July 22 - 6:34 p.m.
If you encounter a 30-foot snake in the wild, it's best to admire it from a distance.
Latino Conservation Week in Utah includes star gazing, river cleanups and more
Sydnee Gonzalez, KSL.com | Posted July 21 - 2:08 p.m.
A weeklong push to celebrate and expand Latino involvement in the outdoors and conservation efforts is wrapping up this week — but Utahns still have time to take advantage of river cleanups, star gazing parties and more.
Sen. Mitt Romney: Saving Great Salt Lake will likely be a multibillion-dollar effort, but worth it
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 20 - 7:14 p.m.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney says more of his colleagues are understanding why the drying Great Salt Lake is "an American problem."
National Park officials warn of extreme heat after hiker's death at Canyonlands
Ashley Imlay, KSL.com | Posted July 20 - 3:04 p.m.
Crews on Tuesday found the body of a man who died while hiking in Canyonlands National Park on Sunday, authorities said.
Extreme heat returns to parts of Utah to start Pioneer Day weekend
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 20 - 12:43 p.m.
Expect a hot and dry start to the holiday weekend, especially in the western side of Utah.
Utah expands fire restrictions in 20 counties ahead of Pioneer Day weekend
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 19 - 1:46 p.m.
Utah fire experts say monsoonal moisture hasn't done enough to ease fire conditions in 20 out of the state's 29 counties.
No injuries after transformer catches fire at Hoover Dam
The Associated Press | Updated July 19 - 12:53 p.m.
Officials say no one was injured when a transformer at Hoover Dam briefly caught fire Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Reclamation said the fire ignited around 10 a.m. and was extinguished about half an hour later.
Cougar caught in Murray neighborhood; DWR getting several reports of sightings
Lauren Steinbrecher, KSL-TV | Posted July 18 - 9:22 p.m.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources captured a cougar Monday that had been hanging around Murray for weeks.
Have You Seen This? If you give a bear a GoPro
Grant Olsen for KSL.com | Posted July 18 - 3:31 p.m.
This bear not only knew how to turn on the camera, but it also captured some great footage.
Eerie abandoned passenger plane sits on the floor of Red Sea
Nourhan Elkallawy, CNN | Posted July 18 - 10:05 a.m.
Coming across this unexpected shape on the seabed is enough to take your breath away — so it's good that you'd probably have a tankful of breaths strapped to your back.
Salt Lake City teen saves a drowning woman in the Provo River
Kiersten Nuñez, KSL-TV | Posted July 17 - 10:24 p.m.
A Salt Lake City teen is being hailed as a hero after saving a woman from drowning in the Provo River on Saturday.
How duck hunters, wetlands and conservation help the Great Salt Lake
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News | Posted July 16 - 6:31 p.m.
Conservation of Great Salt Lake wetlands dates back to the late 1800s. Now it's more important than ever.
Waterskiing helps Utahns with disabilities rediscover outdoors thrill
Jed Boal, KSL-TV | Posted July 16 - 12:22 p.m.
Think of the most thrilling day you've had recently. That's the kind of day that 10 people with neurological disabilities had out behind a ski boat in Tooele County this week.
Have You Seen This? Diver 'boops' great white's nose
John Clyde for KSL.com | Posted July 15 - 3:47 p.m.
Few things are more adorable than a 'boop' on the nose — even when it's with a giant predator in the middle of the ocean.
Rangers, deputies to step up parking enforcement in American Fork Canyon
Andrew Adams, KSL-TV | Posted July 15 - 8:23 a.m.
Even on a gray day at Tibble Fork Reservoir, finding a spot along the shoreline can be difficult and finding a parking spot can be even tougher.
Is the pandemic surge over for Utah's national and state parks?
Kyle Dunphey, Deseret News | Posted July 14 - 10:24 a.m.
After a year of shattered records, it appears the crowds are thinning out across Utah's public lands.
Why are some Utah reservoirs almost empty while others are above capacity?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 13 - 8:54 p.m.
One Utah reservoir has reached 0% capacity, while two others are above 100%. Some of it has to do with spring weather and reservoir size.
Salt Lake City leaders tweak proposed $80M parks bond. Here's what is set to change
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 13 - 2:54 p.m.
If a proposed $80 million parks bond is on the ballot, what voters see likely won't look exactly like the plan Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall first proposed in May.
Here's where you might need to wear a mask at a national park
Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News | Posted July 13 - 8:37 a.m.
Heading to a national park this summer? You're going to want to pack face masks as new versions of COVID-19 continue to spread across Utah and the rest of the country.
Utah wildlife officials seek increases to hunting and fishing fees, citing inflation
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 12 - 5:53 p.m.
Inflation may result in rising hunting and fishing permit fees in the near future.
Utah weather: Warning issued for Wasatch Front heat; monsoons increase
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Updated July 12 - 5:43 p.m.
An excessive heat warning remains in effect through at least all of Thursday for parts of the Wasatch Front and northern Utah.
Extremely low levels at Lake Mead amid drought
John Locher, Associated Press | Posted July 12 - 12:35 p.m.
An abandoned old power boat juts upright from the cracked mud like a giant tombstone. Its epitaph might read: Here lay the waters of Lake Mead.
Watch: Hikers survive avalanche after glacier collapses in Kyrgyzstan
Kyle Dunphey, Deseret News | Posted July 12 - 11:50 a.m.
Terrifying video surfaced over the weekend of a glacier collapsing in the Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, triggering a massive avalanche that nearly buried 10 hikers on a guided tour.
Utah is on pace for its 3rd driest year on record, but will it end that way?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 12 - 9:04 a.m.
Utah is currently on pace for one of its driest years on record. But history shows exactly why it's difficult to predict if the second half of 2022 will be as dry.
This collaboration aims to restore what was once an abundant bighorn sheep population in Utah
Logan Stefanich, KSL.com | Posted July 12 - 8:22 a.m.
To combat a dwindling desert bighorn sheep population, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Nevada Department of Wildlife last week announced a partnership with the Skyrider Wilderness Ranch on a conservation initiative to protect the animals from diseases and restore desert bighorn sheep populations to the Beehive State.
Utah Gov. Cox urges fire safety after 23 human-caused blazes spark over the weekend
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 11 - 5:17 p.m.
Almost all of Utah's fire starts between Friday and Sunday were caused by human activity, according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Conservation groups fight against plan that would kill over 70 Yellowstone-area grizzly bears
Kyle Dunphey, Deseret News | Posted July 11 - 9:02 a.m.
The yearslong legal standoff between the federal government and conservation groups continued this week over a Trump-era policy that allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to kill dozens of grizzly bears outside of Yellowstone National Park.
Yosemite wildfire smoke chokes national park's views and air quality
Steve Gorman, Reuters | Posted July 11 - 8:03 a.m.
A wildfire threatening some of the world's oldest giant sequoia trees in California's Yosemite National Park expanded five-fold over the weekend as smoke prompted air quality alerts throughout the park and obscured views of its famed scenery.
Oklahoma City Zoo rejoices with birth of critically endangered Sumatran tiger twins
Kelly Murray, CNN | Posted July 10 - 11:51 a.m.
Twin newborn Sumatran tiger cubs are bonding with their mother, having been born minutes apart early on July 2 at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Low water levels at Bear Lake could force boat ramp closures
Lindsay Aerts, KSL NewsRadio | Posted July 9 - 10:38 p.m.
Launching a heavy boat from North Beach on the Idaho side of Bear Lake is becoming more problematic due to low water levels.
Lost Creek to implement fees, but will the new Utah state park's expansion be delayed?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 9 - 8:51 p.m.
One of Utah's newest state parks will begin to charge day-use and camping fees on Monday, ahead of work to expand it into a more significant destination.
How the Great Salt Lake's dropping water level is affecting a Utah bird refuge
Mike Anderson, KSL-TV | Posted July 9 - 5:52 p.m.
With the water in the Great Salt Lake at the lowest level ever, surrounding areas are also drying up.
Yosemite wildfire is latest threat to giant sequoia trees; crews to wrap trees in foil
The Associated Press | Updated July 8 - 9:43 p.m.
Officials say part of Yosemite National Park has been closed as a wildfire rages near a grove of California's famed giant sequoia trees. The fire tripled in size by Friday and forced park officials to close Mariposa Grove.
Fishing limits increased at 5 Utah lakes, reservoirs as drought continues to take its toll
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 8 - 12:03 p.m.
The daily limit that of fish an angler can catch is being increased at five different lakes or reservoirs across Utah because of low water levels.
How many consecutive days will Salt Lake City see triple-digit heat?
Carter Williams, KSL.com | Posted July 7 - 5:18 p.m.
Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 90s and into the 100s across Utah for the next week.
How much will UDOT's Little Cottonwood traffic solutions really cost?
Kyle Dunphey, Deseret News | Posted July 7 - 2:53 p.m.
UDOT is gearing up for a decision it says will cost north of $500 million to combat traffic in Little Cottonwood Canyon. But some say current proposals will actually cost far more.
Yellowstone flooding reveals forecasting flaws as world warms
Matthew Brown and Amy Beth Hanson, Associated Press | Posted July 7 - 12:16 p.m.
Flooding that devastated Yellowstone National Park last month have generated calls from weather experts for changes to the way the government issues weather forecasts as extreme weather becomes more frequent.
Biologists' fears confirmed on the lower Colorado River
Brittany Peterson, Associated Press | Posted July 6 - 10:27 p.m.
Confirming their worst fears for record-low lake levels, National Park Service fisheries biologists have discovered that a nonnative predator fish has made its way through Glen Canyon dam to the lower Colorado River, where it can prey on ancient native fish they have been working to reestablish.
Have You Seen This? Bear challenges car to race
Grant Olsen for KSL.com | Posted July 6 - 7:24 p.m.
The people in this car were traveling 40 mph and the grizzly was nearly keeping pace.
