Grasslands Unlimited

07/16/2026

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is an incredible historic and natural park in southeastern Colorado. This op-ed discusses some of the challenges it faces right now, as well as what we can all do to engage in the decision-making process going forward. Grasslands Unlimited will be involved, we are committed to working to protect the prairie's cultural, historic, and natural resources!
🦋🌾🌻🐝

The reconstructed fort celebrates its 50th anniversary this month, and now is the moment to decide its path forward.

07/14/2026

Some very welcome prairie wildlife news!! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed with our petition that new research demands reevaluating the plains spotted skunk for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Recent studies have shown it may be all but completely extirpated from Nebraska and Kansas, and habitat continues to dwindle. Next comes a 12-month review by the agency followed by a final decision of whether protections are warranted.

It took a lot of work and a lawsuit to get to this point, but we cleared the first hurdle and are hopeful the plains spotted skunk will be protected for future generations to enjoy!

🦨 🦨 🦨

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed the 90-day finding on a petition to list the plains spotted skunk under the Endangered Species Act. The petition presented substantial new information, and the Service will initiate a 12-month review of the species to determine if listing is warranted...

07/14/2026

Not quite grasslands related per se, although when bulls get wanderlust they can end up just about anywhere! An interesting analysis of Colorado's natural history! It further speaks to the reality that we have changed the state's landscape in such a way that animals are distributed completely differently than they were historically. Have you ever seen a moose in Colorado?

Officials say moose weren't established in the state until they were brought there in the late 1970s. But historical documentation and archaeological evidence indicate that they resided there long before that

07/14/2026

Tarantula hawks have the second most painful sting of any insect on Earth, but they just want to enjoy some milkweed!

07/10/2026

Once again the Trump administration shows its priorities lie with enriching the ownership class at the expensive of wildlife and anything that may benefit them. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be ashamed of their total abrogation of their statutory mission.

Grasslands Unlimited provided written comment during the rule-making stage for this change and are evaluating what legal actions to take moving forward.

In the meantime, wildlife protection is up to the normal people who care now.

🦬 🦋 🐝

Destroying an imperiled species’ nest or habitat is no longer illegal unless it’s intentional under the Trump administration’s rollback of the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act finalized Friday.

06/10/2026

Ranchers: “We’re the only true stewards of the land, no one could ever care as much as we do! We don’t need government or tree huggers to get involved.”

Also ranchers:

An investigation is underway after a female wolf died in March and a rancher in Eagle County says one of her employees shot the animal.

05/20/2026

Prairies are more than plants and wildlife, they're living landscapes that have seen centuries of human history, often unpleasant. One incredibly important chapter of this history can be seen at Amache National Historic Site in southeast Colorado. Home to what remains of a Japanese detention camp from World War II, Amache tells the story of the incredible resiliency, bravery, and knowledge of the people who were held there.

The National Park Service is currently accepting scoping comments for their site management plan, which will guide management of this public park for decades into the future. These lands belong to you, and we hope you'll engage in the planning process to make your voice heard.

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=585&projectID=135384&documentID=149963

Photo shows reconstructed guard tower, barracks, and water tower.

05/14/2026

Did you know that volunteering with the incredible folks at Bumbling Bee Native Wildflowers has been linked to a 600% reduction in existential dread? We’re fairly confident that’s how math works, so you should definitely join us tonight!

05/12/2026

Fence lizards must have been so relieved when we finally invented fences.