Kayla DeRoche

The Bridger Pipeline would start in Phillips County in north-central Montana and carry Alberta oil sands down through eastern Montana.

Fort Peck Assiniboine tribal member and Wolf Point City Councilman Lance Forstar says he fought for years against the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Indigenous activists and environmental groups have been rallying around the public comment period for the Bridger Pipeline's environmental analysis.

A spokesperson with developer Bridger Pipeline says construction is slated to begin next fall.

The pipeline still needs several permits to go ahead.

For NPR News, I'm Kayla Drosh in Billings.

Biologists in central Montana lead a boat tour through Missouri River Canyons.

At sunset, thousands of bats swoop from the cliffs down into the valley.

State bat biologist Shannon Hilty leads tours.

These sell out now in minutes to the point where people are mad that they did not get a spot.

Handheld devices amplify the animals' ultrasonic chirps.

State wildlife managers say it's important to raise awareness about bats and their vulnerability to threats like disease.

They say they save the agricultural industry millions of dollars a year by controlling bug populations.

Montana's bat experts are planning more bat observation activities and educational opportunities statewide.

For NPR News, I'm Kayla DeRoche in Billings, Montana.

Biologists in central Montana lead a boat tour through a Missouri River canyon.

At sunset, thousands of bats swoop from the cliffs down into the valley.

State bat biologist Shannon Hilty leads tours.

These sell out now in minutes to the point where people are mad that they did not get a spot.

Handheld devices amplify the animals' ultrasonic chirps.