Kids’ Guides to National Parks
What I Saw in Grand Teton: A Kid’s Guide to the National Park (High Plains Book Awards finalist; reviewed in Jackson Hole News & Guide)
What I Saw in Rocky Mountain: A Kid’s Guide to the National Park (Short-listed for the Reading the West Book Awards in the Young Readers category)
What I Saw in Grand Canyon: A Kid’s Guide to the South Rim
Note: I recommend the paperback version over the Kindle version for these, as they have places for kids to write about their own experiences.
Articles
“One of world’s oldest known ospreys returns to Missoula again to nest.” Montana Outdoors, July-August 2026. (Update: Iris and her mate Clark successfully hatched and raised one chick, Wensi, to fledging!)
“Trees Worth Treasuring: Montana’s cottonwoods provide essential habitat for birds and other wildlife. But where rivers are altered, these iconic trees can struggle to regenerate.” Montana Outdoors, May-June 2026.
“Interconnected: More and more wildlife diseases are being detected in Montana. Keeping tabs on them helps protect domestic animals and people, too.” Montana Outdoors, September-October 2025. (Art director Amanda Reese won first place in graphic design and layout for this article in the 2026 Association of Conservation Information awards.)
“Montana Outdoors Portrait: Rufous hummingbird,” Montana Outdoors, March-April 2025.
“Bad Shots: Despite federal protections and the risk of jail time for perpetrators, raptors across the West are still being killed for ‘fun’ and profit.” Montana Outdoors, November-December 2024.
“Fed to Death.” Wyoming Wildlife, Special Mule Deer Issue, September 2023. (An earlier version of this article was previously published in Montana Outdoors.)
“When the Sun Goes Down: Shining a light on the secretive nighttime habits of Montana wildlife.” Montana Outdoors, July-August 2023.
“Together Again: Young grizzly siblings’ high-profile journey to the Bitterroot Valley leads to an unexpected ending.” Montana Outdoors, May-June 2023.
“The Trouble with Turbines: Wind power generates electricity while reducing carbon emissions, but the spinning rotor blades pose a threat to raptors and bats. Research and collaboration are helping reduce losses.” Montana Outdoors, March-April 2023.
“Death by Feeding: The unintended—and sometimes fatal—consequences of providing food to deer, elk, moose, and other wildlife in winter.” Montana Outdoors, November-December 2022.
“Montana Outdoors Portrait: Northern pocket gopher,“ Montana Outdoors, May-June 2022 (p. 43)
“Montana Outdoors Portrait: Yellow-bellied Marmot,” Montana Outdoors, September-October 2021 (p. 45)
“A Healthy Dose of Nature: Hiking, fishing, bird watching, and otherwise enjoying Montana’s parks, trails, and other public lands can improve our physical and mental well-being.” Montana Outdoors, July-August 2021
“It’s Not Easy Being Green: Montana’s amphibians have not escaped the die-offs plaguing much of the world. But some species are getting a boost from actions by tribal, state, and other wildlife programs.” Montana Outdoors, May-June 2021
“Montana Outdoors Portrait: Pygmy Nuthatch,” Montana Outdoors, May-June 2021
“Living Limestone: Revisiting the ever-changing geological wonders of Lewis & Clark Caverns, Montana’s First State Park,” Montana Outdoors, May-June 2020
“Montana Outdoors Portrait: Red Crossbill,” Montana Outdoors, March-April 2018
“The eagles have landed: Ten years after delisting under the Endangered Species Act, Montana’s bald eagles are putting up numbers worth celebrating.” Montana Outdoors, November-December 2017
“Montana Outdoors Portrait: Northern Goshawk,“ Montana Outdoors, July-August 2016
“Montana Outdoors Portrait: American Crow,“ Montana Outdoors, March-April 2015
“Bedtime in the Backcountry: Tips on how to take kids on overnight treks this summer.“ Montana Outdoors, July-August 2014
Fly fishing essays
“Two Knots,” Big Sky Journal, 2020 Fly Fishing Issue
“No Name Creek,“ Big Sky Journal, 2019 Summer Issue
“Fresh, Never Frozen,” Gray’s Sporting Journal, Fly Fishing Issue, March-April 2016
“Catching Bob,“ Big Sky Journal, 2014 Summer Issue
“Fallback Creek,“ Big Sky Journal, 2014 Fly Fishing Issue
“Bitterroot Reward,” Big Sky Journal, 2013 Fly Fishing Issue
“A Stick and a String,“ Big Sky Journal, 2012 Summer Issue
“Put Your Skirt On,“ Big Sky Journal, 2011 Fly Fishing Issue
Other essays
“Awake at night and listening to coyotes,” High Country News, September 4, 2017 (in print edition, titled “Overheard in Montana“)
“The Indoor Wilds at Outdoor Parks,” Christian Science Monitor, August 10, 2016
“Free haircuts—but at a cost,” Christian Science Monitor, April 27, 2016
“Take a page from the mountain goats,” High Country News, April 4, 2016 (in print edition, titled “Risk, goats, and kids in the mountains“)
“Poetry Appreciation for Dogs,“ Christian Science Monitor, December 8, 2014
“Basketball Mom,” Christian Science Monitor, June 2, 2014
“Picture This,“ Christian Science Monitor, May 6, 2013
“The Bear Necessities,“ Christian Science Monitor, May 28, 2012
© 2026 Julie Lue
