“There aren’t too many animals in Wyoming that can outsmart humans. But there is one. You probably see it everyday, and it most likely knows more about you than you think. Wyoming Public Radio’s Kelly Herbinson brings us this latest piece in her intermittent series on Wyoming animals.”

Kelly Herbinson is a nonfiction writer/mfa’er hailing from the great state of california.  she won the science fair five times between 1988 and 1995; she was the California State Surfing Champion in 1996, and she set the record for shoe sales at shoe biz shoestores in san francisco in 2000.  now kelly spends her time studying animals and writing about them. her work has also appeared in Creative Nonfiction.

in her latest story for wyoming public radio, nonfiction mfa’er irina zhorov examines how and why beetle kill in the region is still no bueno:

“Millions of acres of timber are dying off due to the bark beetle. Entrepreneurs are attempting to make the best of the decimation. But, despite efforts by the Forest Service to make the logs accessible, there are many factors that make things difficult for these fledgling businesses. Startup loans are hard to come by, the infrastructure is missing, competition is grave, and no one seems to be buying. Irina Zhorov reports that, with four million acres of beetle kill in the region, these business’ success or failures could make the difference in whether the timber is wasted or not.”