This week on The Wild Line, we’re tracking the Senate confirmation hearing for Bureau of Land Management nominee Steve Pearce, a new Public Land Order revoking protections on 2.1 million acres in Alaska, federal changes to protections for the lesser prairie chicken, and a Vermont Supreme Court ruling on public trail access. From federal land oversight to wildlife policy and access rights, these stories highlight major shifts in public lands governance.

🎧 Listen to the full episode for context, analysis, and what to watch next.

Senate Questions BLM Nominee Steve Pearce on Public Land Sales

President Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, Steve Pearce, faced bipartisan questioning over past statements supporting disposal of federal public lands. Senators pressed him on a 2012 letter and on his opposition to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Pearce said a wholesale selloff of public lands would be illegal under current law and committed to divesting certain oil and gas interests, including holdings tied to Chevron, if confirmed.

Alaska Public Land Order Revokes 2.1 Million Acres of Protections

The Trump Administration issued a Public Land Order revoking 1970s-era protections on 2.1 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land in Alaska north of the Yukon River. The action opens the corridor along the Dalton Highway to state land selections that could advance mining and energy projects, including development linked to the proposed Ambler Road.

Senator Lisa Murkowski supported the move, while the Tanana Chiefs Conference warned it threatens subsistence lands and rivers relied on by tribal communities.

Federal Protections Scaled Back for Lesser Prairie Chicken

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revised federal protections for the Lesser Prairie Chicken, reclassifying the southern population from endangered to threatened and removing protections for the northern population. The move follows a Texas court ruling that vacated a 2022 listing decision after litigation from ranching and oil and gas interests.

Appeals are ongoing as the agency reconsiders the rule.

Vermont Supreme Court Affirms Town Authority to Maintain Public Trails

The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that towns have authority to maintain legal public trails, even where they cross private property. The decision restores municipal oversight of an estimated 500 miles of trail and follows recent state legislation codifying those rights.

The case stemmed from a dispute in Tunbridge, Vermont, over blocked trail access.

Proposal to Remove Historic Tree from Washakie Wilderness Advances in Wyoming

Wyoming lawmakers approved funding to remove a 132-year-old carved tree from the Washakie Wilderness in the Shoshone National Forest, near Yellowstone National Park. Supporters argue the tree should be preserved in a museum, though it stands more than 20 miles from a trailhead inside designated wilderness.

The proposal would require approval from the U.S. Forest Service.

Conservation Groups Prepare for Potential Roadless Rule Changes

An environmental review is expected in the coming months regarding possible rescission of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which restricts roadbuilding and timber harvest across 58 million acres of national forest lands. Defenders of Wildlife released updated maps showing overlap between roadless areas and habitat for threatened and endangered species.

Public engagement opportunities are anticipated as the process moves forward.

Register for our Roadless Webinar to learn more about what’s happening and why it matters.

 Next Week

That’s our report for February 27, 2026.

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Until then — Act Up and Run Wild.

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