Latest Wyoming News

AP-US-MIGRATION-ATLAS

New migration maps serve as tools to help big game in West

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — New maps of big game migrations in the Western U.S. will help identify where human development is getting in the way of animals on the move. Scientists have been using global positioning and statistical analysis to identify precisely where animals such as mule deer, elk and antelope go in pursuit of the best places to spend summer and wait out winter. Homes, roads, fences, oil and gas fields and mining operations increasingly interfere with those migrations. U.S. Geological Survey biologist Matthew Kauffman says the new wildlife migration atlas will help pinpoint places where conservation efforts are most effective.

WYOMING LEGISLATURE-KNAPP

Wyoming lawmaker appointed to fill vacant House seat

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — County commissioners in Wyoming have appointed Chris Knapp to fill a vacant House seat after Gillette Republican Rep. Roy Edwards died from COVID-19 on Nov. 2, the day before the general election. The Gillette News Record reported that Campbell County commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 at a special meeting on Monday. Knapp, a Republican, was one of three finalists interviewed during the meeting for the House District 53, which includes Gillette. Knapp previously served three terms as a county commissioner from 2001 to 2012. He will now serve the remainder of Edwards’ current term, as well as the entirety of Edwards’ upcoming two-year term, which begins next year.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WYOMING-MASKS

Wyoming health official fired after mask mandate ordered

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Officials in northern Wyoming have voted to remove Dr. Ed Zimmerman from his position as Washakie County health officer. Zimmerman says he believes it happened in response to the mask mandate he implemented. The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Washakie County Commission Chair Fred Frandson said Tuesday that Zimmerman’s departure was not a result of the local mask mandate. But Frandson said he could not discuss why Zimmerman was removed because the county does not publicly discuss personnel matters. Zimmerman says several health officials were worried they could lose their jobs by implementing a mask mandates. 

NATIONAL PARKS VISITATION

Yellowstone, Grand Teton report most ever October visitors

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park reported their highest ever number of visitors for October. The Billings Gazette reported Tuesday that Yellowstone hosted more than 360,000 paying guests, up 110% from the same month in 2019. Its previous record for tourists in October was in 2015, when just over 252,000 people visited the nearly 3,500 square-mile national park. Grand Teton, Yellowstone’s neighbor to the south, reported more than 351,000 visitors in October, a figure up 88% year-over-year. The park’s previous record number of tourists during the month of October was in 2018, when the park saw more than 207,000 visitors.