Defending Wildlife

An introduction to Defending Wildlife. Land acknowledgement - This podcast was produced upon land within the territories of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples. Further, I acknowledge that 48 contemporary tribal nations are tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado.

Take a trip with me as I drive north to Montana, where I talk with Chamois Andersen, a Defenders of Wildlife representative for the Rocky Mountains Plains program. She has an inspiring amount of experience in her field. We talk about Bison recovery, Prairie dogs and Black-footed ferrets. Chamois shares with us her experience of the Fort Peck Bison release. 

Join our quest for coyote scat as I explore the backcountry in Yellowstone National Park following my academic advisor, Dr. Joanna Lambert, and her two students, Emily and Nicole. Tune in to see if we find any scat and how this field research connects to reducing conflicts with coyotes. 

I introduce to you, Lindsey Sterling-Krank. Lindsey is the Program director for the Prairie dog conflict resolution team. Come along with us as we trek into the field to explore open space in Boulder on a very hot summer day. The sound of the Prairie Dog calls echo in my mind to this very day. 

Part 1 of 2 in exploring the human dimensions and psychology behind wildlife conservation, Dr. Michael Manfredo discusses traditionalism and mutualism values in wildlife conservation and describes how these values have shifted in the U.S. since the 1900s.

Part 2 of 2 in exploring the human dimensions and psychology behind wildlife conservation, Dr. Rebecca Niemac tells us about her experiences in bridging gaps between stakeholders to empower conservation initiatives from New Zealand to Hawaii to Colorado. She discusses advocacy in science and talks about wolf restoration. 

In this episode, I talk with Senior Aquatic Biologist at Defenders of Wildlife, Dr. Aaron Hall about Beavers. Aaron discusses why Beavers are one of nature's most unique engineers. While beavers may be considered a "pest" to some, Aaron does a deep dive into how this species plays a critical role in the ecosystem. 

In this episode, I speak with the Defenders Representative, Russell Talmo. Russ is someone that has an extensive background working with a variety of animals. Since he became a new father, he is more inspired than ever to continue fighting for wildlife. We discuss Grizzly Bears and turbo fladry in Montana. Russ and I also talk about tourism in Yellowstone National Park and how following safety precautions are critically important for you and for wildlife.