Podcasts about Wildlife Service

Recently, the Secretary of Agriculture released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement that proposes to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. This has some people celebrating, and others sounding alarm bells. The guys talk a bit about both sides of the debate, and explain how you can get involved. They also highlight the US Fish and Wildlife Service's new hunt/fish rule that opens more opportunities for hunting and fishing on National Wildlife Refuges.Reminder: our email address has changed. To get ahold of us, our new email address is yourmountainpodcast@gmail.com. Do not use our old email address anymore, we won't receive it.

More public access is opening up this fall, but hunters and anglers need to know where. The Department of the Interior has finalized the largest expansion of hunting and sport fishing opportunities in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service history, creating nearly 1,500 new opportunities across 111 national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries in 32 states. More than 92 million acres, representing over 95% of the National Wildlife Refuge System, are now available for hunting. The Sportsman's Voice Roundup breaks down what this expanded access means for hunters, anglers, and anyone looking for new public-land opportunities this fall. The rule also modernizes more than 1,000 refuge-specific regulations, bringing federal requirements into better alignment with state fish and wildlife laws. That should give sportsmen clearer guidance while recognizing the role state agencies play in managing fish and wildlife. The conversation also covers the ongoing debate over nonresident hunting pressure and overcrowding, recreational red snapper management in the South Atlantic, upcoming Mid-Atlantic hunting seasons, and proposed license fee increases in Tennessee. Together, these issues highlight how access, regulation, license sales, and sportsmen's participation shape conservation across the country. Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing, and conservation policy conversations. Get the FREE Sportsmen's Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter   Follow The Sportsmen's Voice wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/1705085498  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DUCKS UNLIMITED NATION TRIP AUCTION!Learn how the survey behind duck population estimates and hunting regulations is being evaluated for the future.Host Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Dr. John Yeiser of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Frank Baldwin of the Canadian Wildlife Service to discuss an ongoing review of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey—one of the most important wildlife monitoring programs in North America.For more than 70 years, the survey has provided the foundation for waterfowl population estimates, conservation planning, and harvest management decisions. Now, agencies and partners are evaluating how new analytical tools, technologies, and datasets can improve efficiency while maintaining the long-term integrity of one of wildlife management's most important data series.Topics Covered:Why the breeding population survey is being reviewedHow duck population estimates influence hunting regulationsThe role of banding, harvest surveys, and breeding surveysPotential future uses of remote sensing and new technologiesChallenges associated with survey timing and changing conditionsWhy long-term datasets remain critical to waterfowl managementHow the U.S. and Canada work together to monitor duck populationsListen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.orgSPONSORS:Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you're winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly. DUCKS UNLIMITED NATION TRIP AUCTION!

On this week's episode of Fresh Tracks Weekly, we break down massive public land wins, controversial federal approvals, and real-world bowhunting gear data, followed by an in-depth conversation on science storytelling in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and a highlight of the Bison Jam Podcast. You can listen to the Bison Jam Podcast here - https://www.bisonjam.com/ In the News • USFWS Drain Tile Victory: A massive win for waterfowl hunters in the Prairie Pothole Region—over 200,000 public comments pushed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep critical wetland drain tile setbacks intact. • Links • https://fieldandstream.com/stories/feds-backtrack-on-prairie-potholes-rule-change • AI Data Center on BLM Land: The Bureau of Land Management quietly swaps a clean solar project for an 86-acre AI data center in Boulder City, Nevada. Bypassing NEPA environmental reviews and public comment, this project threatens to pull 167 megawatts of power and up to 600,000 gallons of water annually from record-low Lake Mead. • Links • https://fieldandstream.com/stories/conservation/public-lands-and-waters/data-center-approved-forpublic-land-in-nevada • https://www.blm.gov/announcement/approved-decision-townsite-data-center • Boundary Waters Mining Block: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signs an executive order halting nonferrous mineral mining permits in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed, shifting the battle over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Watershed directly to the upcoming election. • Links • https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/#/detail/appId/1/id/764186 • https://www.eenews.net/articles/walz-throws-up-new-roadblock-to-mining-near-boundary-waters/ •https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MNGOV/2026/08/18/file_attachments/3749654/bwca-eo-onepager-FINAL.pdf Bowhunting Metrics with the TRAKR App: Analyzing data from 2,500+ tracking missions to reveal real-world setup effectiveness—including why pass-through shots nearly double recovery rates (48% vs. 26%) and how top broadheads like QAD and SEVR stack up. • https://www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/data-recovering-wounded-deer/ • https://open.spotify.com/episode/1j4VuK9mjCXeWkJtKw1Bqp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every hunter has heard the phrase, “Protect the habitat, and you'll protect the wildlife.” But what happens when there's disagreement over what protecting that habitat actually means?This week, we're diving into one of the biggest conservation stories in the hunting world. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing policies surrounding drain tile setbacks for protected wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region—an area often called North America's “Duck Factory” because of the incredible number of ducks it produces each year.At first glance, it might sound like just another government policy discussion. But when you dig a little deeper, you'll find a debate that touches on private property rights, agriculture, conservation easements, Duck Stamp dollars, and the future of some of the most important waterfowl habitat on the continent.In this episode, we're breaking down what drain tile actually is, why these wetlands matter to hunters across North America, what both landowners and conservation groups are saying, and why it's important to understand the facts before choosing a side.Whether you're a duck hunter, a deer hunter, a conservationist, or simply someone who cares about the future of our outdoor heritage, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.So settle in, turn the volume up, and join us for another episode of the Under Pressure Outdoors Podcast.Under Pressure Outdoors UPO Social Media- https://linktrh.ee/underpressureoutdoorsBecome a Patron- https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45295718Deep Roots Rifle Company- Use Code UPO10 to save 10%

In recent weeks, Delta's policy team has worked with conservation partners, lawmakers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and more than 220 Delta chapters across 44 states to reinforce the importance of protecting these wetlands. These easements provide habitat for an estimated 1.7 million breeding pairs of ducks and were built in large part through the investments of generations of duck hunters.In this update, we break down what's happening, what Delta has done, and why protecting these wetlands matters for ducks and duck hunters for generations to come.Learn more from Delta Waterfowl:Delta Waterfowl's full updateWebsite and Social Media Links: Delta Waterfowl: https://deltawaterfowl.org Facebook: /DeltaFans/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deltawaterfowl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeltaWaterfowl/Delta Waterfowl:  https://deltawaterfowl.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeltaFans/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deltawaterfowl/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeltaWaterfowl/

A conversation with Tackle Terry Tuma plus a talk with Megan Bradley a Mussel Biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Genoa. She discusses freshwater mussels and their importance in the river ecosystem plus some of the research that she does. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashlee is joined by Ducks Unlimited Senior Waterfowl Scientist and DU Podcast Co-Host Dr. Mike Brasher and Senior Director of Conservation Strategy Dr. Scott Stephens as they discuss the current proposal by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service to potentially withdrawal the current wetland drainage rule in the Prairie Pothole region, which is the primary breeding ground for nearly 75% of the ducks in North America, the implications of this proposed change, the timeline of the request for proposed comments, and suggestions for any alternatives to the current rule, and how exactly permanent wetland easements operate in practice. This is one to listen to this week! Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org  Support our Conservation Club Members! Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/  FTW Ranch: https://ftwsaam.com/  Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/  See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io This podcast is brought to you by Bushnell, who believes in providing the highest quality, most reliable & affordable outdoor products on the market. Your performance is their passion. https://www.bushnell.com  This podcast is also brought to you by Silencer Central, who believes in making buying a silencer simple and they handle the paperwork for you. Shop the largest silencer dealer in the world. Get started today! https://www.silencercentral.com  Don't forget to go subscribe to our new The Origins Foundation Podcast Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginsFoundationPodcast - who knows, you may be a lucky subscriber who wins some cool stuff from our partner companies! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While we were up north, a new threat to duck hunting emerged, so when we got home we recorded and released this podcast as soon as we could, because there is urgent action needed to protect duck hunting. Wetlands that were protected in easements from the US Fish and Wildlife Service are now threatened by a potential change to regulations around land tiling. These wetlands are crucial for duck habitat and production, and without them our birds could be in trouble. Scott Stephens from Ducks Unlimited joins the show and gives us all the details on the issue and what we all need to do to help protect ducks and geese. Bret Amundson asks Scott his opinion on Minnesota exploring a 3 duck splash bag limit and other concerns around the waterfowl hunting world. Bret and Dan Amundson tell some stories about their fishing trip to the Yukon. A deer tested positive for CWD in the Twin Cities, and Joe Henry has the latest fishing report from Lake of the Woods. Sign the DU petition and submit your comments: https://www.ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory Make sure you're “following” us on your favorite podcast streaming platform so you never miss a show, and if you like what you're hearing, leave us a rating and a review. We'd love to hear from you, and it helps us more than you know! Save 20% on a new OnX HUNT Membership with the code “SJR20” https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app/east https://fishhuntforever.com Find us on SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OVGMvd5vMvETdClc6ks6q?si=5bfeed6989d04b23 Find us on APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fish-hunt-forever/id1248475232 Find us on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/fishhuntforever Follow us on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fish.hunt.forever/ Follow BRET on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bret.amundson/?hl=en Follow DAN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_amundson/?hl=en Find us on TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@fishhuntforever Follow DAN on TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@dan.amundson Follow BRET on TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bretamundson Get a NEW BOAT: https://www.raysmarinealex.com/ Take a trip to LAKE OF THE WOODS: https://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/ Take a trip to DEVILS LAKE: https://www.haybaleheights.com/index.html Get in on the Rainy River/Lake of the Woods FISH MIGRATION: https://riverbendresort.com/ Learn more about SPACE TRAILERS: https://spacetrailers.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooboQSOhbWZ18_wMvVzkAIZx0uGsJiClXI22XCheqrdD8SEIUHn Learn more about CHEF ROBERTS: https://chefroberts.com/ Get OnX FISH: https://www.onxmaps.com/fish/app Visit GRAND RAPIDS, MN: https://visitgrandrapids.com Get a TOWBOAT US Membership: https://xcapeboatrentals.com/towboatu-s https://fishhuntforever.com/feed/podcast/ The post Week 726: URGENT ACTION Needed to Protect Duck Hunting appeared first on Fish Hunt Forever.

Important Links • Shop Stamps & Merch: https://shopfreshtracks.com • Check out Casey's Artwork • https://caseyunderwood.com/ • Check out Allie's Artwork • https://www.antilocapraatelier.com/ • Expedition Overland Channel • https://www.youtube.com/@ExpeditionOverland • Submit USFWS Drain Tile Setback Comments • https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/24/2026-14995/national-wildlife-refuge-system-request-for-information-on-implementation-of-drain-tile-setbacks • Grizzly Bear Management Open Comment • https://www.fws.gov/grizzlyrulemaking ______________________________________________________________________ On this week's deeper dive, Randy and Marcus examine the proposal to transfer grizzly management authority to Western states, Randy's background with grizzly management, what state management would look like, and the big question: will we be hunting grizzlies anytime soon? The public comment window close on August 17th. To provide your comment please visit the site below. https://www.fws.gov/grizzlyrulemaking ______________________________________________________________________ IP28 has FAILED The "PEACE Act" initiative fails to reach the required signature threshold and will NOT appear on the November ballot. A breakdown of signature verification, out-of-state/foreign funding, and what this means for the future of hunting and agriculture in Oregon. • News Article Links • https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/oregon-hunting-ban-fails/ • https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/07/a-controversial-oregon-measure-misses-the-november-ballot.html?outputType=amp https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/pages/state-law.aspx • https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/05/26/campaign-behind-initiative-to-criminalize-hunting-fishing-and-any-intentional-injury-to-animals-in-oregon-submits-required-number-of-signatures/ • https://www.yesonip28.org/post/julypress ______________________________________________________________________ USFWS opens short public comment window regarding drainage tiles The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is requesting public feedback on drain tile setback calculations near intermittent wetlands in North America's "duck factory." Learn how Duck Stamp-funded easements protect waterfowl habitat and how you can submit public comment to help balance private property rights with long-term habitat preservation. • News Article Links • https://fieldandstream.com/stories/proposed-rule-change-threatens-prairie-potholes • https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/usfws-wetland-easement-request/ • https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/24/2026-14995/national-wildlife-refuge-system-request-for-information-on-implementation-of-drain-tile-setbacks# Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are joined by Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam to recap an unforgettable weekend at the Ducks Unlimited Expo and discuss the organization's continued growth heading into its 90th anniversary.Adam also breaks down the recent threat facing the Prairie Pothole Region—North America's legendary "Duck Factory"—as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opens a 14-day public comment period on proposed changes affecting critical conservation easements. He explains why these wetlands are vital to waterfowl populations, what the potential changes could mean for duck hunters and conservation, and how the hunting community can help protect this irreplaceable habitat.The conversation also looks ahead to the future of Ducks Unlimited, the importance of hunter-driven conservation, and the work still to be done to ensure healthy duck populations for generations to come.Head over to ducks.org to make your voice heard and protect the "Duck Factory"!!

Take Action Now!! Submit your public comment/Sign the petitionhttps://www.ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory For decades, duck hunters have invested in protecting the Prairie Pothole Region through duck stamp purchases and wetland easements. Now, a proposed change by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could weaken protections for more than 1.7 million acres of these critical wetlands. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Scott Stephens, Senior Director of Conservation Strategy for Ducks Unlimited, and Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist for Ducks Unlimited, to break down exactly what's happening, why it matters, and what it could mean for the future of waterfowl hunting. We discuss: • What wetland easements are and how they work• What drain tile setbacks are and why they matter• Why Ducks Unlimited is urging hunters to take action• How this could affect duck production in the Prairie Pothole Region• The science behind the current 2024 rule• What every waterfowl hunter can do before the August 7 comment deadline This is an issue that goes beyond politics or social media arguments. If you care about ducks, duck hunting, and the future of the resource, this is a conversation you need to hear. If you found this episode valuable, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another waterfowler. The more hunters who understand what's at stake, the stronger our voice will be. Partners Mentioned in This Episode Slayer Duck Callshttps://slayercalls.com Flight Day Ammunition (Use code NAW10 for 10% off)https://flightdayammo.com Mammoth Guardian Dog Crateshttps://mammothpet.com Retay USAhttps://retayusa.com Shotty Gear (Use code FDH10 for 10% off)https://shottygear.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN US AT THE 2026 DUCKS UNLIMITED EXPO! July 31 - August 2 at the RENASANT CONVENTION CENTER in Memphis, TN Follow these links!Direct link to petition:  https://ducks.quorum.us/campaign/duckfactory/Link to DU page and federal register link:   https://www.ducks.org/save-the-duck-factoryLearn why Ducks Unlimited is asking waterfowl hunters to take action on one of the most important conservation issues affecting duck production in North America. Host Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Dr. Scott Stephens for an update on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ongoing review of regulations related to drain tile setbacks around permanently protected wetland easements in the Prairie Pothole Region. Building on an earlier emergency update, Mike and Scott explain new information regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services's Request for Information on determining drain tile setbacks for landowners on property where the Service  owns wetland easements. They discuss a newly found document that states the Service's proposal to repeal the 2024 rule. They remind us why these easements matter, how Duck Stamp dollars have helped protect millions of acres of critical waterfowl habitat, and why DU believes maintaining these protections is essential for the future of duck production and wetland conservation. Topics CoveredNew developments regarding the 2024 drain tile setback ruleHow wetland conservation easements workThe role of Duck Stamp dollars in protecting prairie habitatWhy prairie wetlands are known as the Duck FactoryHow drain tile can affect wetlands and duck productionWhat Ducks Unlimited is asking hunters to doThe importance of participating in the federal comment processWhy this issue is considered a top conservation priorityListen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.orgSPONSORS:Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you're winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly. CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

The deadline is August 7th. Act now. ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/24/2026-14995/national-wildlife-refuge-system-request-for-information-on-implementation-of-drain-tile-setbacks The prairie pothole region; stretching across Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and up into Canada, is responsible for producing up to sixty-five percent of the ducks that fly down every flyway in North America. Since the 1960s, duck hunters have invested in 1.7 million acres of wetland easements through duck stamp purchases to protect those wetlands permanently. No drainage. No impact. Forever. That protection is now being threatened. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a request for information regarding the 2024 rule that governs tile drain setbacks on those easements, and has signaled an intent to repeal it. If that rule is weakened, those wetlands could lose up to twenty-eight percent of their inundated area in the first year alone. Fewer wetlands means fewer pairs. Fewer pairs means fewer ducks. This is the science. This is what's at stake. Chad sat down with Dr. Scott Stephens, Sr. Director of Prairie and Boreal Forest Conservation Strategy at Ducks Unlimited, and Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist at Ducks Unlimited, for one of the most important conversations ever recorded on this podcast. They break down what easements are, what tile drainage is, what the 2024 rule does, why it matters, and exactly what you can do right now to protect it. If you've ever bought a duck stamp, you are an investor in this habitat. Your voice matters right now. The comment deadline is August 7th. Go to ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory to sign the petition and submit your comment to the Federal Register. The direct Federal Register comment link is also in the show notes. This episode proudly features Ducks Unlimited and is brought to you by Benelli Shotguns, Nutrien Ag Solutions, MOJO Outdoors, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, Corning Ford, LEER Truck Toppers, and GATR Coolers & Drinkware.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:A widespread weather reporting outage affected Alaska Monday causing dozens of stations that pilots and forecasters use to go offline. Southcentral Alaska residents will likely see costlier home heating bills for the next few winters. And various environmental groups are trying to stop construction on a controversial road that would pass through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaska Peninsula.Photo: Joshua Green River Valley in Izembek Wilderness. By USFWS - US Fish & Wildlife Service

For more than 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has served as America's most effective law for preventing extinction. At its core is a simple idea: protecting wildlife means protecting the habitats they depend upon. But a major policy change by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could fundamentally alter that principle. In this episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, host Joseph Grove examines the administration's decision to rescind the longstanding regulatory definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act—a change critics say weakens one of the law's most important conservation tools by removing habitat destruction from its traditional interpretation. Joining the discussion are four leading voices in conservation, environmental law, and wildlife protection who explore what this policy change could mean for endangered species, private landowners, public lands, and one of the most controversial wildlife-management programs in recent memory: the federal plan to kill as many as 450,000 barred owls over the next 30 years. You'll hear from: Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy Scott Edwards, environmental attorney and conservation advocate Ted Williams, veteran wildlife journalist and conservation writer Heather King (“Thee Owl Queen”), wildlife rescuer, photographer, and owl advocate This episode examines: Why habitat protection has long been central to the Endangered Species Act What the administration's new interpretation of “harm” actually changes How courts may respond to legal challenges already underway The role habitat restoration has played in recovering endangered species Whether wildlife conservation and private property rights can coexist Why critics believe the new rule threatens decades of conservation progress The contradiction between weakening habitat protections while authorizing the killing of hundreds of thousands of barred owls The scientific, ethical, and financial questions surrounding the federal barred-owl management plan Humane alternatives to large-scale wildlife killing What citizens can do to defend wildlife and the ecosystems upon which endangered species depend The debate over endangered species has never been simply about individual animals. It has always been about whether we are willing to protect the places that sustain life itself. This episode explores what may be at stake if that commitment begins to erode. Listen now to learn why many conservationists believe this may be one of the most consequential changes to the Endangered Species Act in decades—and what it could mean for America's wildlife future. Take action! Let your legislators know you demand a stop to the insane scheme to kill 450,000 barred owls. Take action here TODAY! Watch our webinar on the barred owl kill plan—and why it needs to be stopped. And please subscribe, rate, and share the Animal Wellness Podcast to help amplify the movement for stronger protections for wildlife and the habitats they call home.   The Animal Wellness Podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. The show focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and around the world through stronger public policy, scientific innovation, and corporate responsibility. Hosted by veteran journalist and animal advocate Joseph Grove. ABOUT Animal Wellness Action: https://animalwellnessaction.org Center for a Humane Economy: https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/ X: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/ https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ  

The National Parks and Wildlife Service claims new legislation will give it "real teeth" protect the flora and fauna of the Burren. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan, has secured Cabinet approval for Ireland's first National Parks Bill. The bill will put the Burren National Park on a dedicated statutory footing, supporting the long-term conservation of its distinctive limestone landscapes and mix of plant species. NPWS Divisional Manager for the Midwest region, William Cormican, says it'll give them powers to interact with people who aren't acting in the best interests of the park.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has launched a formal review to determine whether the Cascade red fox and three native Goose Lake fish should receive federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.

The new Burren Interpretative Centre is on track to be delivered by 2030. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has submitted a tender valued at just over €16.6m for a contractor to carry out the project at Riverview in Corofin. The NPWS estimates the works will take over 4 years, and it's understood construction could commence from 2027. Mayor of Clare and Corofin Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Killeen is confident the new centre can increase local bed nights.

Monday (20th), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the Rim Rock crowned snake, the Key ringneck snake, and the Florida Keys mole skink as eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act -- the first species added under the second Trump administration. That followed a long legal battle. Ragan Whitlock is a Florida-based staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity and talks about how it got here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sermon by the Mel Robinson, Chaplain at Oregon Episcopal School, recorded live on Sunday, July 19, 2026.   About Mel: Melissa (Mel) Robinson serves as Chaplain to both the Lower School and Middle School at Oregon Episcopal School in Portland, Oregon. This is her ninth year spending time with amazing kids and families, walking with them as they navigate growing up in this world at this time. Prior to serving as a school chaplain, Mel worked as a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and for different nonprofits in the environmental education field. She holds a Masters of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and received her MDiv from EDS in 2015. She is also an aunt to two rad kids and has a five year old Doberman/cattle dog mix named Bodhi.

Members of the Kerry Fire Service spent nearly seven hours battling the blaze, which is understood to have damaged around 15 hectares of the national park. Jerry spoke to Cllr Martin Grady who’s a firefighter, Eamonn Meskell, Divisional Manager at National Parks and Wildlife Services, and Vincent Horgan, acting Director of Roads Maintenance and Operational Services with Kerry County Council.

 This week, we catch up with Sam Droege with the US Geological Survey and Clare Maffei with US Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss the origins and evolution of the Bee Lab and its role as a support hub for bee biodiversity work. Sam describes shifting from designing national monitoring programs for birds and other taxa to pollinators, finding bee monitoring statistically difficult due to high year-to-year variance and identification bottlenecks, and pivoting to developing sampling techniques, the Very Handy Bee Manual, Discover Life online ID guides, photography resources, and a large specimen database with substantial backlog. Claire outlines her path through a US Fish and Wildlife Service pollinator fellowship into a refuge-support role, producing updated bee inventory/monitoring frameworks and protocols, data management, and publishing over 500,000 records to GBIF. Together they emphasize collaboration with students, refuges, parks, and researchers, training via weekly livestreamed bee ID videos, and ongoing method development (e.g., emergence trapping, brine in traps, hanging shrub traps) while noting funding uncertainty and focusing on practical conservation through plant–bee relationships and better baseline data. Bee Lab website:  https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eesc/science/usgs-bee-lab-eastern-ecological-science-center

NBA and two-time Olympic champion Jayson Tatum talks about "Baby Dunks-A-Lot: The Day the Basketballs Stopped Bouncing," his new children's picture book. Then, the razorback sucker has been swimming in the Colorado River for an estimated 5 million years before humans nearly fished them out of existence. Now, high schoolers are teaming up with a local baseball team and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save this beloved fish. Colorado Public Radio's Stina Seig reports. And, food writer Karen Solomon tells us about why consumers are embracing all sorts of pickled-flavored products on store shelves.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Steve Farris is a man of a thousand...acres. After an incredibly successful music career, Steve turned his focus to his second love: Land. He's shaped thousands of acres of land into a fish and wildlife service where he worked in several states developing, designing, and building habitat and wetlands restoration. He's even been hired by the Fish and Wildlife Service, along with Ducks Unlimited, to lend his expertise to their organizations. And while he's officially retired from music, he still employs lessons he's learned from music into this second career. On this episode of Inside MusiCast, Steve reminisces about his path through the music business, the connections he made along the way, and that fateful audition that landed him the gig in Mr. Mister. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Steve Farris.

The bald eagle has been the patriotic symbol of America for 250 years. Most folks can remember the first time they saw this majestic bird soaring in the wild. There was a time when sighting them, even on Lake Superior,  was rare, but today these birds of prey are making a comeback. Their return represents one of America's most visible conservation successes. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Ed Hahn, Director of Advancement and Marketing Communications at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota, about the bald eagle's recovery, how to recognize young eagles and what visitors can learn by meeting an eagle ambassador face to face.QuotesEd Hahn says the species has made "a complete and total recovery" and calls that "a truly incredible accomplishment for Americans to take some pride in," adding, "We accomplished that through public action."“But just like everyone else, we truly do wish that they could be living their full lives as intended as wild eagles out in the wild.”“We have to work with them to educate the public and we have to be sharing those birds with the public.”“Bald eagles are covered in approximately 7,000 feathers.”“There's always new things to learn about eagles.”Helpful LinksLearn more about the National Eagle Center:https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/Plan a visit to the National Eagle Center:https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/visit/Meet the National Eagle Center's eagle and raptor ambassadors:https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/the-ambassadors/Watch the EagleWatch Cam overlooking the Mississippi River:https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/eaglewatch-cam/Learn what to do if you find an injured bird:https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/found-an-injured-bird/Learn about bald eagle recovery and management from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:https://www.fws.gov/program/eagle-managementConnect With Us:Lake Superior Podcast Page – https://nplsf.org/podcastFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundationSponsors:Cafe Imports – Minneapolis-based importers of specialty green coffees since 1993, focused on sustainability. Learn more: cafeimports.comNational Parks of Lake Superior Foundation – Donate to protect Lake Superior's five national parks: nplsf.org/donate

The legal, environmental, and logistical challenges surrounding SpaceX's expansion in South Texas. Conservation groups and indigenous organizations have filed multiple lawsuits to block a land exchange with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to challenge frequent beach closures that restrict public access. While the Texas Supreme Court recently upheld the state's authority to close beaches for launches, federal litigation remains active regarding the protection of endangered species and sacred lands. Simultaneously, SpaceX is advancing its "Starpipe" project, an eight-mile natural gas pipeline designed to replace truck convoys and support a significantly higher launch cadence. This infrastructure push coincides with the company's record-breaking initial public offering, signaling a strategic move toward total vertical integration of its fuel supply chain. However, local opposition persists over concerns regarding industrial wastewater discharge and the long-term ecological health of the South Bay estuarine environment.

Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsBibliographyAguilar, L. A., et al. “Total Solar Eclipse Triggers Dawn Behavior in Birds.” Science, 2025. Used for the updated science support showing that the April 8, 2024 total eclipse altered North American bird behavior, including dawn-like vocal responses.Britannica. “9 Celestial Omens.” Used for the Thales / Battle of the Eclipse tradition and the broader theme of celestial events being interpreted as historical omens.Britannica. “Apopis.” Used for Apep/Apopis as the serpent enemy of Re/Ra, the demon of chaos, and the force outside the ordered cosmos.Britannica. “Eclipse — Medieval European.” Used for medieval eclipse records, especially the 733 CE annular eclipse described as a “black and horrid shield.”Britannica. “Hindu Calendar.” Used for Hindu sacred timing, lunar-solar calendrical structure, and the religious context that helps explain eclipse observance as ritually serious time.Britannica. “Ma'at.” Used for Ma'at as truth, justice, balance, and cosmic order in ancient Egyptian religion.Britannica. “Navagraha.” Used for Rahu and Ketu as eclipse-associated shadow planets and lunar-node powers in Indian astral religion.Britannica. “Samudra Manthana / Churning of the Ocean of Milk.” Used for the mythic background of devas, asuras, amrita, Vishnu, Mohini, Rahu, and Ketu.Britannica. “Solar Eclipse.” Used for basic solar-eclipse definition and the Moon's shadow crossing Earth.Britannica. “The Sun Was Eaten: 6 Ways Cultures Have Explained Eclipses.” Used for comparative eclipse mythology, especially devourer myths, Chinese dragon traditions, Rahu, and Batammaliba reconciliation themes.Britannica. “What Causes Lunar and Solar Eclipses?” Used for clear basic mechanics of lunar and solar eclipses.CDLI / Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. “Solar Omens of Enūma Anu Enlil: Tablets 23 (24)–29 (30).” Used for bibliographic information on van Soldt's edition of the solar omen tablets.European Space Agency. “27 August.” Used for the 413 BCE lunar eclipse during the Athenian retreat from Syracuse and Nicias' delay.Exploratorium. “Eclipse Stories from Around the World.” Used for global comparative eclipse stories, including Norse wolves, Batammaliba reconciliation, and other recurring mythic patterns.Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. “Practice During Solar and Lunar Eclipses.” Used for Tibetan Buddhist practice advice, merit multiplication, and eclipse as intensified sacred time.Izzuddin, Ahmad, Mohamad A. Imroni, Ali Imron, and Mahsun. “Cultural Myth of Eclipse in a Central Javanese Village: Between Islamic Identity and Local Tradition.” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 2022. Used for Batara Kala, eclipse devouring myths in Java, pregnancy/livestock concerns, and living village practice.NASA. “Why Do Eclipses Happen?” NASA Science. Used for solar and lunar eclipse geometry, alignment, lunar nodes, and the reason eclipses do not occur every month.NASA Space Place. “Lunar Eclipses and Solar Eclipses.” Used for simple public-facing explanations of solar and lunar eclipse mechanics.National Folk Museum of Korea. “Solar and Lunar Eclipse / Ilsik, Wolsik.” Used for Bulgae, the Korean fire dogs from the Dark World who cause eclipses by biting the Sun and Moon.NOAA NESDIS. “NOAA Satellites View Total Solar Eclipse.” Used for environmental effects during totality, including temperature drops, changes in local air circulation, cloud behavior, and animal confusion.Rochester, University of. “Surprising Facts and Beliefs About Eclipses During Medieval and Renaissance Times.” Used for the point that medieval astronomers understood eclipse prediction while still interpreting eclipses as morally or religiously serious.Sefaria. Sukkah 29a. Used for rabbinic material treating eclipses as ominous signs.Sunnah.com. Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 16, “Eclipses.” Used for the hadith that the Sun and Moon do not eclipse because of the life or death of any person and that the correct response is prayer and invocation.The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The Solar Eclipse and the Substitute King.” Used for Mesopotamian eclipse omens, danger to the king, priestly divination, substitute kingship, and the šar pūḫi ritual.U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Wildlife Behavior and a Solar Eclipse.” Used for darkening skies, cooling temperatures, and wildlife shifting toward nighttime routines.University of Pittsburgh World History Center. Lilly Taylor, “Solar Eclipses and World History.” Used for the Batammaliba tradition of making peace and ending disputes during eclipse.van Soldt, Wilfred H. Solar Omens of Enūma Anu Enlil: Tablets 23 (24)–29 (30). Leiden: Nederlands Historisch-Archaeologisch Instituut te Istanbul, 1995. Used for Mesopotamian solar omen literature and the textual archive of unusual solar phenomena.This keeps Part 1 sourced without dragging Part 2's Mesoamerica, Andes, North American Indigenous, Australian, Arctic, Pacific, colonial, and modern eclipse-pilgrimage sources into the wrong half.Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A

It is billed as “the world's longest and toughest snowmachine race”. Next year, the Iron Dog Race plans to add three checkpoints to its over 2,000-mile course. As KOTZ's Desiree Hagen reports, a new race route, announced earlier this month, has been several years in the making and crosses through two national wildlife refuges. The new route adds the communities of Huslia, Shungnak, and Ambler. Rick Paquette is the executive director of the Iron Dog. He says it will not add miles, but would traverse through new terrain. He says the race has been working on permitting for the route for a while. “This isn’t something like overnight that happened, you know what I mean. This was over seven years in the making, this is a really big deal, and we’re super excited to do this.” Why did it take so long? The proposed race route passes through federally protected land, more than 100 miles of it (79 miles on Koukuk, 34 miles on Selawik) through the Koyukuk and Selawik National Wildlife Refuges. Both refuges rejected the initial request, citing similar reasons: the race would be a public safety problem, require more budget and staff than available, and not align with the refuges' purpose or mission. A letter from Selawik Wildlife Refuge said that a portion of the proposed route would also violate the Wilderness Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (ANILCA) through 1.3 miles of trail. The managers of the refuges were unavailable for comment. Iron Dog also submitted a special use permit through Kobuk Valley National Park, but changed their race route to a section of the Kobuk River that does not fall under park service authority, according to a representative from the Western Arctic Parklands. Race organizers appealed the rejections in June 2025 and reached out to the office of U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK). A press release from the senator said he and his team played a “key role” in advancing the new route and drafted an appeal that “highlighted inconsistencies” preventing the route's expansion. “Obviously anytime you have a bunch of different organizations that you’re trying to collaborate with and get one final answer on, it’s extremely difficult. I think, new administrations, and definitely, Sen. Sullivan’s office really helped push this over and help us get to the goal line on this.” Paquette says Sullivan's office helped with letters of support, and with multiple organizations, including the Bureau of Land Management. And it paid off. In December, Sara Boario, Regional Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, overturned the previous denials, allowing for the new race routes. Boario's office did not respond to questions from KOTZ news. Paquette says there are challenges with a race this large, which passes through 23 mostly remote checkpoints. “It’s a beast to put on this race logistically, and there’s always struggles with fuel and getting equipment out, and getting, you know, resources out there.” Both Ambler and Shungnak have experienced prolonged fuel shortages in the last several years, often in winter when storms can ground fuel planes. Still, Paquette says Iron Dog is prepared for those challenges. “We do our best to make sure we get all the resources for the communities that we need to put a strong race.” Paquette says Iron Dog has several programs that the new race communities will benefit from, including free helmets and free life jackets for local youth. Last year, Iron Dog established the Iron Pup program, which fosters young racers. Iron Dog also founded the Make it Run program that partners with schools and engineers to encourage technical and mechanical training. Paquette says there is also economic benefits to the new communities. “There’s gonna be publicity, there’s gonna be people going through these areas, you know. We send resources up there, spending money, and, you know, giving a chance for these folks to see this incredible race.” The Iron Dog race typically begins in early February. A date has not been set for next year’s race. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, June 24, 2026 — Affordable housing progress misses Native priorities

Big Oaks NWR, the largest national wildlife refuge in Indiana could close to public use if the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service choses to scrap its real estate agreement. The 50,000-acre property is the second-largest parcel of public land in the state. Full story: https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/feds-consider-closing-big-oaks-national-wildlife-refuge/ Hosted by news editor Dac Collins. Reporting by hunting and conservation editor Andrew McKean. Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're discussing the intersection of science and politics, specifically regarding how motorized travel impacts elk populations. Randy's Garage Sale: https://shopfreshtracks.com/collections/gear-list Comment on Federal Grant Rule Change: https://www.regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001 Wildlife Society Video on How To Comment: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSQRnjLDjRP/?igsh=eDBzY3ZtaGd0Z2Zn A few news items also include; The National Park Service continues its efforts to remove non-native mountain goats from Grand Teton National Park. Proposed federal rule changes regarding grant funding may allow the executive branch to prioritize political agendas over scientific research. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering ending its management lease for the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana due to budget and staffing shortages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across the United States, from Alaska to Puerto Rico, there are about 112 million acres of officially designated wilderness. That amounts to about 5 percent of the country's land mass. It might appear to be even smaller when you consider that more than half of those 112 million acres protected as wilderness are in Alaska. To say that wilderness is at risk from the human imprint isn't hyperbole. While there are millions of acres of proposed, recommended, and potential wilderness across the country, Congress acts extremely slowly on these matters. Indeed, it was back in 1989 when America's Red Rock Wilderness Act was first proposed in Congress to protect 8 million acres in Utah as official wilderness. The clock continues to tick on that proposal. Without official designation as wilderness, lands can be impacted by motorized and mechanized activities, from logging and mining and energy development to off-road-vehicle recreation. But the threats to both unofficial and official wilderness might be growing, as the Trump administration has called for a review of wilderness management on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and even the National Park Service. To explore what's at stake with wilderness in America under these proposals, we have Kevin Proescholdt, the conservation director for Wilderness Watch, a nonprofit advocacy organization, and Bob Krumenaker, chairman of Keep Big Bend Wild, a nonprofit advocating for official wilderness designation in Big Bend National Park and a long-time National Park Service manager joining us today. Public comment on the Interior secretary's directives is being taken through mid-August. Here are links to the public comment pages: BLM https://www.regulations.gov/document/BLM-2026-0034-0001 https://www.regulations.gov/docket/BLM-2026-0068 https://www.regulations.gov/docket/BLM-2026-0069 https://www.regulations.gov/docket/BLM-2026-0067 NPS regulations.gov - NPS 2026-0101 regulations.gov - NPS 2026-0100 FWS Wilderness Administration and Resource Stewardship; Managing Climbing Activities in Wilderness https://www.regulations.gov/document/FWS-HQ-NWRS-2026-1618-0001

First developed for midcontinent mallards, Adaptive Harvest Management has since been expanded to eastern and western mallards, black ducks, pintails, and scaup. Dr. Scott Boomer, wildlife biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, joins the DU Podcast to discuss modern changes to AHM and provides insights on what all has to be considered when expanding AHM to new species or entertaining alternative ideas for harvest regulations. Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.orgSPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you're winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

When the Russian crew on board the ISS decided to perform an unusual procedure on the station's Zvezda module, it caused quite an agreeable break in the routine of the day on board the orbiting laboratory. The crew on the US segment entered an emergency evacuation posture aboard their Crew Dragon, but all returned to normal after a few hours. The team discusses what happened and why.  The astronauts for the Artemis III mission were introduced to the world at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, with much fanfare and some controversy: No female astronauts were named to the crew. Was this just a normal crew rotation, or was politics at play? The panel looks at the points of contention and weighs in on the Artemis III mission itself.  NASA's X59 Quesst aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin, is an incredible experiment aimed at reducing a sonic boom to a barely audible thump. If successful, the project has far-reaching implications for the future of civil aviation. Our Mark Ratterman reports on this unique aircraft's first flight tests and its implications.  SpaceX launched something its CEO, Elon Musk, said he would never do: turn SpaceX into a public company and, in the process, turn Musk into the world's first trillionaire. Heather Smith has been watching this story for us for a while now and delivers some insight into what happens next. On the heels of the SpaceX IPO, environmental groups in and around Cameron County, Texas, are fighting a plan by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to reallocate land inside the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge to SpaceX to support Starship Operations.  Want to send your name to the stars on board NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Telescope launching no earlier than August 30th? Use this NASA link to find out how! Team Members for this Episode: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman and Heather Smith  

The movements of three Irish cuckoos are being tracked this year in conservation efforts to understand their decline and safeguard their future. Sam Bayley, Conservation Ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Andy Bleasdale, Director of Scientific Advice and Research with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, discusses the progress made on saving the hen harrier from extinction.

Dr. Jim Dubovsky, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service central flyway representative, rejoins the DU Podcast to provide nostalgic reflection as he share insights on the role of sex-specific duck regulations, how they were formulated under the point system, and what determined if a bird was worth 10, 15, or 35 points. Despite being conceptually sound, the point system was withdrawn in 1994, largely due to challenges with the practicality of its implementation and enforcement.Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.orgSPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you're winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

Few people have shaped environmental policy and conservation efforts in Acadiana as persistently as Harold Schoeffler. Known to many as part of the family behind Schoeffler Cadillac, Harold’s legacy extends far beyond the automobile business. For more than six decades, he has been a tireless advocate for protecting Louisiana’s natural resources, improving public policy, mentoring young people through Scouting, and encouraging citizens to become active stewards of their communities. In this wide-ranging conversation, Harold reflects on a lifetime of work that has touched everything from oil recycling and waste reduction to flood control, wildlife preservation, and public access to Louisiana’s waterways. “The Gifts of the Earth Are Public Gifts” Harold’s philosophy is rooted in a simple belief: “We have private gifts, our health and our intelligence, that we will be held accountable for. But the gifts of the earth are public gifts, and we’ll be just as accountable for that.” That conviction has guided his work for decades. Rather than simply criticizing problems, Harold has focused on finding practical solutions. One of his earliest environmental victories came in the 1970s, when he discovered that used motor oil from most Lafayette service stations was being dumped into storm drains that ultimately emptied into local waterways. At the time, 52 of Lafayette’s 54 filling stations were disposing of waste oil this way. Harold located a New Orleans recycling company willing to install storage tanks at no cost and purchase the used oil from station owners. After identifying a city fire code violation related to dumping petroleum products into storm drains, he worked with local officials to implement a citywide solution. The result? According to Harold, Lafayette became the first community in Louisiana to fully recycle used motor oil, selling it at 50 cents per gallon. “This was just money from heaven, you know.” Transforming Waste into Resources Harold’s efforts extended beyond oil recycling. He became deeply involved in helping Lafayette address mounting waste disposal challenges, particularly yard waste and sewage sludge. At a time when yard waste occupied enormous amounts of landfill space, Harold helped promote the use of tub grinders that could reduce volume by approximately 90 percent. The resulting mulch and compost products created value instead of waste. Similarly, he worked on legislation and policy changes that allowed treated sewage sludge to be safely recycled for agricultural use rather than being hauled to landfills at significant public expense. These initiatives not only reduced environmental impacts but also saved taxpayers money and created new economic opportunities. Today, Harold notes that many residents have little idea how much waste is already being recycled through these systems. Saving the Louisiana Black Bear Perhaps Harold’s most touching conservation achievement is his role in protecting the Louisiana Black Bear. In 1987, he petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to place the Louisiana Black Bear on the endangered species list. After years of advocacy and litigation, the bear was officially listed as threatened in 1992. His efforts later contributed to the protection of more than one million acres of critical habitat for the species. Harold explains that at the time he began his quest to protect the species, there may have been fewer than 300 to 400 Louisiana Black Bears remaining; yet Louisiana was continung to grant 165,000 big game hunting tags yearly before his efforts to save the black bear. His concern was never opposition to hunting itself. As an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman, he viewed conservation as ensuring that wildlife populations remain healthy enough for future generations. As he notes in our conversation, preservation of the species, not opposition to sportsmen, was always the goal. (Note: Due to recovery, the Louisiana Black Bear was officially removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species on March 11, 2016; however, it remains protected under Louisiana state law, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries continues to actively manage this subspecies.) The Atchafalaya Basin and Public Access Another major chapter in Harold’s work involves the Atchafalaya Basin. Over the years he has fought against practices he believed threatened the basin’s ecological health and public accessibility, including shell dredging operations and legal disputes involving public waterways. He recounts the landmark Larry Daigle case, in which a commercial fisherman faced criminal trespassing charges while fishing in waters Harold believed were public. The case ultimately became a significant legal battle involving questions of public access, navigable waterways, and property rights within the basin. Harold views the outcome as a victory not only for one fisherman but for the public’s rights throughout Louisiana’s waterways. His extensive firsthand knowledge of Louisiana’s waterways comes from decades spent hunting, fishing, scouting, and paddling through some of the state’s most remote landscapes. A Lifetime in Scouting Ask Harold what accomplishment makes him most proud, and his answer isn’t environmental litigation. It’s Scouting. For 42 years Harold was involved in the Scouts and helped guide 125 young men to the rank of Eagle Scout. Throughout our conversation, he repeatedly returns to the importance of believing in young people. “If you think they can, they can. If you think they can’t, you can’t. And that’s a lesson for parents. You know, if you’re going to have a negative attitude towards your kids, you’re going to get negative results. But if you think they can, you know, they can sense that also.” Harold shares lessons learned from serving on a military school board, where early special education programs demonstrated how expectations can profoundly affect a child’s success. Those same lessons shaped his approach to mentoring Scouts, many of whom achieved far more than others expected of them. His philosophy also extended to environmental stewardship. He often taught Scouts that if boys are taught not to litter before the age ten, they are unlikely to become litterers later in life. Changing behavior early, he argues, is one of the most effective ways to improve communities. The Power of Citizen Involvement One recurring theme throughout this conversation is Harold’s belief that ordinary citizens can solve extraordinary problems. Whether discussing flood control, environmental policy, waste management, or economic development, Harold consistently points to the value of public participation. He shares stories of public meetings where solutions emerged not from experts or consultants but from local residents willing to speak up and share ideas. For Harold, conservation has never been about politics. It’s about facts, integrity, and doing what is right for the long-term health of the community. “If they catch you in a lie one time, you’re dead.” Integrity, he says, must remain at the center of every public effort. Looking Ahead At a time when environmental issues often become politically polarized, Harold offers a refreshingly practical perspective. His message is simple: “If you pick up one piece of litter a day and all the people in town do it, you’d have no litter.” The lesson applies far beyond trash. Positive change often begins with small actions, sustained over time by people willing to care. Harold Schoeffler’s life demonstrates what can happen when one citizen decides that stewardship is not someone else’s responsibility. It’s ours. Topics Discussed Growing up in Lafayette and the Schoeffler family business Boy Scouts and mentoring 125 Eagle Scouts Recycling used motor oil in Lafayette during the 1970s Protecting the Vermilion River and local waterways Yard waste recycling and composting programs Sewage sludge recycling initiatives Flood control and watershed management The Atchafalaya Basin and public access rights The Larry Daigle case Shell dredging litigation The Louisiana Black Bear and endangered species protection Public engagement and environmental stewardship Why integrity matters in public advocacy

This Day in Legal History: Wallace Stands in the Schoolhouse DoorOn this day in 1963, Alabama Governor George Wallace physically stood in the doorway of Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama to block the registration of Vivian Malone and James Hood, the two Black students whose enrollment had been ordered by a federal district court. Wallace's “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” was the culmination of a long campaign of state defiance of federal desegregation orders that ran from Brown v. Board in 1954 through Cooper v. Aaron in 1958 — the case in which a unanimous Supreme Court told the Little Rock school district, and by extension every state actor, that federal constitutional rulings are the supreme law of the land and that state officials may not nullify them.President Kennedy responded to Wallace's stand by issuing Executive Order 11111, which federalized the Alabama National Guard, and ordering Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach down to Tuscaloosa to confront the governor. Wallace gave a long speech invoking states' rights and Tenth Amendment sovereignty, then stepped aside, and Malone and Hood walked in and registered. That night, Kennedy went on national television and delivered the civil rights address that put the Civil Rights Act of 1964 onto the national agenda. The legal and political throughline matters: the schoolhouse door, the executive order federalizing the Guard, the televised address, and the omnibus civil rights legislation that followed were a single coordinated federal response to massive resistance, and the institutional habit they built — the willingness of the federal political branches to back federal court orders with whatever force is necessary — is the substrate on which the modern enforcement of civil rights law sits. Whether that habit holds up under contemporary pressure is one of the live constitutional questions of our moment.The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” saga we have been following all week reached at least a partial resolution on Wednesday when Judge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia declined to extend her temporary restraining order against the program into a preliminary injunction. The reason, in essence, is that the Justice Department has now formally represented to the court, in writing and through acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, that the $1.8 billion fund is “not going forward.” Brinkema took DOJ at its word for present purposes and dissolved the TRO, which under standard mootness doctrine is the right call when a defendant credibly commits to abandoning the challenged program. But she also did something practical: she warned the government in plain terms not to “play possum with this court,” language that gives the plaintiffs a built-in mechanism to come back fast if the fund quietly re-emerges under a different name.The substantive theory the plaintiffs were pressing — that the fund is an unappropriated expenditure of public money, that the underlying Trump-IRS settlement was a litigation in which the United States was never really adverse to the President in his personal capacity, and that the program's payout criteria are based on political characterizations of past prosecutions rather than any neutral standard — is now preserved for another day rather than litigated to judgment. The practical lesson is the durability of voluntary-cessation doctrine: a government defendant who is willing to abandon a program in court usually wins on mootness, but the cost is real, because future revivals get scrutinized against the prior representation. Watch the Federal Register and the DOJ component-level budget submissions for the next six months — if there is a successor program coming, those are where the first signal appears.Judge declines to halt “anti-weaponization fund” since Blanche says it's dead, but warns DOJ not to “play possum” | CBS NewsA coalition of environmental and tribal-nation plaintiffs filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday seeking to block a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-approved land exchange that would transfer 715 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge to SpaceX, in return for 683 acres of privately owned land elsewhere. The plaintiffs are the Center for Biological Diversity, Save RGV, the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, and the South Texas Environmental Justice Network.The legal theory of the case is unusually multi-statute: the complaint alleges violations of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act, with the central administrative-law argument being that the Fish and Wildlife Service's environmental analysis failed to grapple seriously with impacts on endangered ocelots, aplomado falcons, and a long list of migratory species whose habitat the refuge was designed to protect when Congress created it in 1979. The plaintiffs describe this as one of the largest national-wildlife-refuge land exchanges outside Alaska, and the suit asks for vacatur of the exchange decision rather than damages — the standard APA remedy.The political and infrastructural backdrop is hard to miss: SpaceX's Starbase facility at Boca Chica has been expanding into the Lower Rio Grande Valley for years now, and the exchange would consolidate the company's footprint on land previously held for the protection of one of the last remaining ocelot ranges in the country. The merits of the case will turn on the rigor of the FWS environmental analysis. Expect a request for a preliminary injunction within weeks.Lawsuit challenges Trump administration's land swap with SpaceX in Texas | The Washington PostA Los Angeles County jury on Wednesday added $22 million in punitive damages to the $176 million compensatory verdict already entered against socialite and former philanthropist Rebecca Grossman and former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Erickson, bringing the total civil award to the Iskander family to roughly $198 million.The underlying facts of the case are stark: in September 2020, Grossman and Erickson left a Westlake Village restaurant after drinking and street-raced separate Mercedes SUVs through a residential neighborhood, with Grossman striking and killing two young brothers, Mark and Jacob Iskander, then 11 and 8, as they crossed a marked crosswalk with their parents.Grossman was convicted of two counts of murder in 2024 and is serving 15 years to life. The civil case the family brought is the wrongful-death companion, and the punitive damages award the jury added on Wednesday is the part that does the most policy work: the jury split the punitive award $21 million against Grossman, $1.17 million against Erickson, which under California's reprehensibility-and-net-worth framework reflects both the much greater direct culpability of Grossman as the driver and the substantial disparity in their respective financial positions.The case is notable beyond the parties involved because of how clean it is on the standard punitive-damages analysis the Supreme Court laid out in BMW v. Gore and State Farm v. Campbell: high reprehensibility, a relatively modest single-digit ratio of punitive-to-compensatory damages, and an underlying compensatory award that itself was supported by the gravity of the loss. Watch for an appeal that focuses on the compensatory rather than the punitive number — that is where the appellate leverage actually is.Jury Ups Philanthropist, Ex-Pitcher Crash Verdict To $198M | Law360 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Ed Newcomer and retired Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer Tony Latham for a look at the danger, isolation, and critical work of wildlife law enforcement. They discuss the murders of Idaho game warden Bill Pogue and Conley Elms by Claude Dallas, the cold case of Art Teed, an Idaho game warden who disappeared in 1934 while investigating illegal deer kills, and the family memory that helped bring answers to Idaho’s oldest cold murder case nearly 90 years later. Ed also explains how wildlife crimes can connect to broader criminal enterprises, how wildlife officers became part of the Christopher Dorner manhunt, and what listeners can expect from the new wolf-focused season of Nature’s Secret Service, where wolf recovery, poaching investigations, and the politics of conservation collide. Highlights: (0:00) Sheryl McCollum opens Zone 7 with the danger and isolation of wildlife law enforcement before welcoming guests Ed Newcomer and Tony Latham (2:45) Why wildlife crimes are often connected to broader criminal activity (4:00) Tony recounts the murders of Idaho game wardens Bill Pogue and Conley Elms by Claude Dallas (7:00) How the Christopher Dorner manhunt unexpectedly intersected with California wildlife officers (11:45) The 1934 disappearance of Idaho game warden Art Teed (13:30) Art Teed’s locked vehicle, uneaten lunch, and the massive search that followed his disappearance (15:15) The false report that shifted the case and left Art Teed’s family without answers for generations (17:15) Karen Downing reads a local newspaper and connects a family story to Art Teed’s murder (19:00) George Pentland, two child witnesses, and the family accounts that finally helped close Idaho’s oldest cold murder case (21:45) Ed previews the wolf-focused season of Nature’s Secret Service and the controversy around wolf recovery (26:30) Sheryl closes with Theodore Roosevelt’s words on the courage and hardiness of game protectors Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire. Ed Newcomer is a former special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he spent more than 20 years investigating wildlife trafficking and other wildlife crimes. He is the host of Nature’s Secret Service, a true crime podcast focused on wildlife law enforcement, poaching, trafficking, and the officers who protect wild animals and plants. Tony Latham is a retired Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer and regional investigator who worked on overt and covert wildlife crime investigations, including cases involving the illegal killing of Idaho’s big game. He is the author of A Case So Cold: The Murder of an Idaho Game Warden, which examines the 1934 murder of Idaho game warden Art Teed. Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing. Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. Social Links: Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com X: @ColdCaseTips Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mathematics was once a required practice in the duck blind, courtesy of the point system of the 70s and 80s. Dr. Jim Dubovsky, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service central flyway representative, joins Dr. Mike Brasher for a trip down memory lane to discuss the origination, objectives, implementation, and critiques of the old point system, a once common regulatory alternative for duck harvest. Although liked and enjoyed by managers and hunters alike, it wasn't without its challenges. Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.orgSPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you're winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

Today I am speaking with a woman from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about volunteering at a fish hatchery in Kentucky. Marsha Hart is from Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Jamestown, Ky. The hatchery raises nearly a million trout each year and serves as a popular attraction for campers, anglers, school groups and families. Marsha explains how Workampers help operate the visitor center, assist guests, care for educational animals and support special events throughout the year. She also shares why this volunteer opportunity is ideal for couples, what makes the campsites so appealing and how volunteers become an important part of the hatchery’s mission. More importantly, you’ll learn about the flexible schedule which gives volunteers plenty of time to explore Kentucky, Tennessee and the many attractions surrounding Lake Cumberland. If you enjoy meeting friendly people, sharing your love of the outdoors and helping visitors discover one of Kentucky’s most beautiful destinations, then this episode is for you. While the volunteer positions focus primarily on welcoming visitors and operating the visitor center, Workampers quickly become part of a close-knit community. With spacious full-hookup campsites, beautiful surroundings, abundant wildlife and a schedule that provides many consecutive days off, it’s easy to understand why many volunteers return year after year. We also learned that volunteers play an important role in helping the hatchery fulfill its mission of conservation, education and outdoor recreation. Whether assisting with fishing events, interacting with visitors or helping behind the scenes, Workampers make a meaningful contribution to the experience enjoyed by thousands of guests each year. For those who love nature, enjoy meeting people and want to spend time near Lake Cumberland, this could be an outstanding opportunity. To learn more about volunteering at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, visit the agency's website at www.fws.gov/fish-hatchery/wolf-creek. You can also contact Marsha Hart directly by phone or text at 270-566-3036 or by email at marsha_hart @ fws.gov. That's all for this week's show. Next time I will be speaking with a  Workamper who had such an interesting experience as a camp host for many years, that he wrote a book about it. I'll have that interview on the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thanks for listening and if you like these interviews, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.

Waterfowl science is entering a new era — and Ducks Unlimited is right in the middle of it.In this episode, host Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by co‑host Dr. Jerad Henson and guest Dr. Patrick Donnelly, Research Scientist with Ducks Unlimited's Western Region, for a deep dive into how emerging technologies are transforming the way we understand ducks, wetlands, and flyways.Patrick brings decades of experience from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, joint ventures, and academia, and now applies cutting‑edge tools like AI, cloud computing, GPS telemetry, remote sensing, and environmental DNA to answer some of the most important conservation questions at continental scales.In this episode, listeners will hear about:Patrick Donnelly's journey from the Fish & Wildlife Service to Ducks UnlimitedMovement ecology and why scale matters for migratory birdsHow GPS transmitters revolutionized waterfowl researchUsing satellite imagery to map wetlands across 40+ years“Functional wetland loss” and why water matters as much as land protectionThe role of snowpack, hydrology, and climate in western wetlandsDisease risk, botulism, and crowding during molting periodsLinking bird movements, habitat conditions, and timeThe Western Mallard Project and tracking 800 birds across the Pacific FlywaySentinel and Landsat satellites explained in plain languageCloud computing and why conservation can now run at scaleUsing citizen‑science data (eBird) alongside satellite dataNew applications of environmental DNA (yes — duck poop)How AI helps identify patterns humans can't seeTraining the next generation of conservation scientistsWhy this moment feels like a “second revolution” in waterfowl scienceThis episode pulls back the curtain on how Ducks Unlimited is using modern science to maximize conservation return on investment, ensuring that every dollar delivers the greatest benefit for waterfowl now and into the future.Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.orgSPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you're winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

Photo: Ice jam flooding in Chalkyitsik, Alaska on May 7, 2026. (Courtesy National Weather Service) Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) issued a disaster declaration Monday for two Interior Alaska communities, after they were inundated with severe ice jam flooding. The declaration covers the areas near Chalkyitsik on the Black River and Hughes on the Koyukuk River, as The Alaska Desk’s Shelby Herbert from KUAC reports. Jeremy Zidek is a spokesperson for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He says almost a dozen homes became flooded in Chalkyitsik, but the situation is especially dire in Hughes. The state is working to deliver emergency supplies to the community, but the water is still high. “They had water and ice on their runway. The water has gone down a little bit, but the runway is not serviceable by fixed-wing aircraft at this time. We're looking at an alternate runway that is nearby.” He says when the flooding peaked on May 9, most of the community's nearly-80 residents had to shelter at the Hughes Tribal Hall. Zidek says spring breakup is in full swing, and the danger hasn't passed for many other riverside communities in the Interior. “We're still looking at other areas of the state that could be impacted by ice jam flooding. And so, if there is a necessity to add new areas, the governor will consider the information we provide to him, and then make that determination.” In addition to activating the state's emergency response capabilities, the Governor's disaster declaration also opens up several assistance programs for the affected areas. The state's public assistance program focuses on restoring essential infrastructure, and can be accessed by local governments, tribes, and nonprofits. And its individual assistance and temporary housing programs can help individuals and families recover from flood-related property damage. Zidek says the state will release more information about those programs in the coming days. A House committee met Wednesday to review President Donald Trump's funding proposal for the Interior Department. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, a southern Arizona congresswoman took that opportunity to talk about the recent destruction of a sacred border wall site. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum shared that federal officials apologized to the Tohono O'odham Nation weeks after a border wall contractor bulldozed Las Playas Intaglio, a thousand-year-old archeological site along the US-Mexico boundary. “This is a super unfortunate thing that happened. There's a series of mistakes that happened along the way – zero intention – and we've delivered direct apologies.” But U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) stressed words aren't enough. “I mean, unfortunately, once it's destroyed, you can't undo that.” Now, Grijalva fears another O'odham cultural site of concern, a desert oasis called Quitobaquito Springs, could be damaged next. It sits just south of Ajo inside Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. “So will you commit that [the] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service avoid Quitobaquito Springs and minimize impact by not using groundwater within five miles, and monitor those water levels closely as the border wall is being built?” Burgum replied, “Well, I – that's a very specific thing that I won't jump ahead and commit to.” Missing person Benjamin Stepetin, 42, stands in downtown Juneau, Alaska. (Courtesy Stepetin family) Divers are searching the murky waters of Gastineau Channel this week for the body of a Juneau, Alaska man missing for nearly a year, as KTOO's Clarise Larson reports. Benjamin “Benny” Stepetin, a 42-year-old Juneau resident, disappeared last June. His family believes he may have fallen or been pushed into the water near the downtown seawalk. His brother, Martin Stepetin Sr., says the family hasn't given up hope. “We just want to find our brother, you know. And we really miss our brother, and if we could get some closure to finding him, then that would be amazing.” The search, funded by the Juneau Police Department (JPD), includes divers and underwater sonar vehicles. Police are investigating the case as criminal and say some people may be withholding information. The search includes both divers and underwater vehicles with sonar technology. The team is scanning up and down the downtown seawalk, while thousands of cruise ship visitors walk above them. Martin says that his family believes their brother may have fallen or been pushed into the water along the seawalk. JPD is currently investigating the case as a criminal investigation. Deputy Chief Krag Campbell says police believe there may have been people involved in Benjamin's disappearance who are withholding information. “Our ultimate goal is to get a successful resolution to this investigation, and if at all possible, recover or find the body and missing person for the family. So doing those things whenever we can, I think, is very important.” People can share information by calling JPD's dispatch line at 907-586-0600 or submitting an anonymous tip through Juneau Crime Line. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, May 15, 2026 – Native In The Spotlight: Washington State Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis

If North America's duck populations are the engine of waterfowl hunting, the Prairie Pothole Region is its factory—and keeping that factory running requires permanence, partnerships, and people on the land.In this episode, DU Senior Waterfowl Scientist and host, Dr. Mike Brasher, continues the regional operations series with Dr. Johann Walker, Director of Operations for the Great Plains Region, based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Johann brings more than two decades of experience working in the heart of the prairie duck factory and offers a candid, detailed look at habitat conditions, conservation delivery, and the role of permanent easements in sustaining duck populations and rural communities.The conversation covers current wetland conditions across the Dakotas, migration timing, and how improved spring moisture may influence breeding distribution this year. From there, it dives deep into DU's most important conservation tool in the prairies: voluntary grassland and wetland easements.In this episode, listeners will hear about:Spring habitat conditions across the Prairie Pothole RegionWet years vs. dry years and what Johann has seen over 22 years on the prairiesHow migration timing interacts with available wetland conditionsWhy permanent grassland and wetland easements are critical for the future of duck productionHow the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Small Wetlands Acquisition Program worksWhy easements are voluntary, minimally restrictive, and landowner‑drivenHow Duck Stamp dollars directly fund prairie easementsThreats to conservation easements and what DU is doing to defend them Why permanence matters for both wildlife and working ranchesThe rancher's perspective on protecting grassland for future generationsPhilanthropic support accelerating large‑scale habitat protectionAdditional DU programs restoring grasslands, wetlands, and migration habitatExpanding public access while supporting private landownersWhy protecting prairies today matters for hunters tomorrowThis episode offers one of the clearest explanations yet of how Ducks Unlimited protects the prairie duck factory—and how every duck stamp buyer plays a role in that success.SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you're winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

Everyone's trying to get rid of it—but around the world, it's treasured as medicine. What if pennywort could change the way you see your backyard?Pennywort (Hydrocotyle spp.) is one of those plants that many people overlook (or actively try to remove!). Yet across the globe, it's commonly harvested and enjoyed as both a nourishing food and a traditional remedy. In this conversation, herbalist and botanist April Punsalan shares how this unassuming, persistent plant became one of her most meaningful allies.Drawing from her background with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and years of hands-on experience with wild plants, April brings a unique perspective that blends ecology, science, and intuition. She explores pennywort's rich chlorophyll content, its role as a fresh, nutrient-rich herb, and why she prefers working with it in simple preparations that feel more like daily nourishment than “taking medicine.” Along the way, she invites us to rethink our relationship with the plants growing all around us—and to consider what we might discover if we slow down enough to truly notice them.April shares a simple, vibrant way to bring fresh plant nourishment into your daily routine with her Hydrocotyle Chlorophyll Refresher. You can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card for this delightful, energizing drink here.By the end of this episode, you'll know:► Why pennywort is so widely used around the world (even though it's often seen as a weed in the US!)► What makes fresh pennywort preparations uniquely potent—and why drying may reduce its benefits► How the botany and habitat of pennywort can help clue you in to its health benefits► Several ways pennywort can support your health—providing benefits for the skin, the urinary system, the brain, overall vitality, and more!► Why herbalism is as much about connecting with plants as it is about their medicinal uses► and so much more…For those of you who don't know her, April Punsalan is a botanist, herbalist, author, and founder of Wild Herb Academy, an online school devoted to ecological remembrance and plant-based healing. A former botanist for the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, she spent years protecting endangered plants before answering a deeper call to teach.April's lifelong relationship with plants led to degrees in botany and more than twenty-eight years of studying medicinal and edible species. Today, she weaves together botany, ethnobotany, Ayurveda, and intuitive plant wisdom, helping people reconnect with the Earth as stewards, healers, and conscious participants in the living ecosystem worldwide today.Whether you've been pulling pennywort out of your garden or walking past it without a second glance, I hope this episode inspires you to pause, look closer, and maybe even begin a new relationship with this humble plant.----Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.comWould you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video.You can find April at WildHerbAcademy.com.For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram!Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter.If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it!On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health.Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com.----Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.