Wyoming, USA
Issue no. 61
On this date at some unknown point in the past, Wyoming was officially inducted into the United States. Despite issuing me a speeding ticket in the early 2000s, they continue to exist…albeit in a sort of gray area imo. Nevertheless, known for its dramatic landscapes and rich history, Wyoming is an interesting place…a scientific microcosm of North America. The research in this issue spans millennia, we’ve got tailored clothing evidenced by early Paleoindian bone needles and the discovery of a new sauropod dinosaur (Ardetosaurus viator). We also examine critical modern issues, including the health of Wyoming’s ecosystems, the restless geology of Yellowstone, and the social cost of losing community services for isolated elders.
Early Paleoindian Bone Needles from La Prele
Spencer R Pelton et al show that Early Paleoindians used canid, felid, and hare bones for needle production. These bones were the right size and handy, coming straight from pelts used in complex garments. Tailored clothing helped humans survive northern winters and eventually reach the Americas. This is some of the clearest evidence yet for how Paleoindians made and wore their clothes.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313610
New Diplodocine Sauropod from Wyoming
Tom TP van der Linden et al describe a sauropod from northern Wyoming with unusual vertebrae and limb anatomy. Ardetosaurus viator adds detail to sauropod diversity and anatomy at Howe-Stephens Quarry, showing variation across vertebrae and possible clues about sexual dimorphism in chevrons.
https://doi.org/10.26879/1380
Tracking the Decline of Western Bumble Bees
Lusha M Tronstad et al map historical and modern habitat for Bombus occidentalis in Wyoming. Despite steep declines, some foothill areas remain suitable. Species distribution models help identify where conservation could have the biggest impact.
https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12010002
Hunting Helps Limit Chronic Wasting Disease
Wynne E Moss et al use 20 years of data to show that consistent harvest of adult male mule deer reduces chronic wasting disease prevalence. High harvest over decades keeps prevalence low, offering a practical, though partial, tool to manage CWD.
https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.3089
Seismic Shifts Reshape Yellowstone Aquifers
Eric S Boyd et al track geochemistry and microbes in a borehole after a 2021 earthquake swarm. Hydrogen, sulfide, and microbial activity surged, showing the subsurface biosphere responds dynamically to seismic events.
https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf344
Yellowstone Earthquake Swarms Decoded
Manuel A Florez et al combine deep learning and a 3D velocity model to map 15 years of earthquakes. Swarms expand and migrate, controlled by slow fluid diffusion and rapid fluid injections, revealing new patterns in hydrothermal seismicity.
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adv6484
Wolves Drive Willow Recovery in Yellowstone
William J Ripple et al track riparian willows for 20 years after gray wolves returned to northern Yellowstone. Reduced elk browsing led to a ∼15-fold increase in willow crown volume, showing a strong trophic cascade. This long-term work highlights how apex predators can reshape plant communities and restore ecosystem balance.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03428
Restoring Carnivores Didn’t Fix Rivers Alone
N Thompson Hobbs et al study Yellowstone’s northern range. Even after wolves, cougars, and grizzlies returned, intense elk browsing blocked willow recovery. Riparian ecosystems resist change once apex predators vanish.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1598
Lithium from Magma to Mine
Kathryn E Watts traces Li in McDermitt caldera rhyolite. Melt inclusions show 400–1350 ppm Li pre-eruption, showing how magmatic fluids concentrated lithium in a closed system, with implications for future mining.
https://doi.org/10.1130/G53140.1
Valuing Yellowstone Bears
Leslie Richardson & Aaron J Enriquez calculate nonmarket wildlife values. Grizzly sightings add $46,000 per bear per year; black bears $15,000. Small population shifts ripple into millions of dollars of visitor value.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2024.2353250
Wyoming PACE Closure Worsens Isolation
Barbara S Dabrowski et al explore social impact after Wyoming’s only Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly closed. Loss of services worsened isolation and loneliness, showing creative social solutions remain crucial.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1426100
Are there other states that you’ve heard of? Let us know!