Wildlife Wire

On today's episode, Dan Parkinson discusses the history of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, the challenges they face, and the ways we can protect them.  Participate in citizen science with iNaturalist Learn where some of that data goes and about all things bighorn through the Mountain Studies Institute.

Sam plays the role of guest and talks about all things furbearer. What are furbearers? Species of animals grouped together for no other reason than people like to kill them for their fur. 

Today Sam interviews Mark about rodenticides, or rat poisons, and why they are bad news for people, pets, and wildlife. Find information on rodenticides from Project Coyote here.

Today we are joined by one of our personal heroes, the First Gentleman of Colorado, Marlon Reis.    Marlon has brilliantly leveraged his role in Colorado to advocate for animals of all kinds, from puppies in pet stores to wolves in the wild, Marlon has consistently pushed for humane treatment of all species.

We’re joined by Emma Halverson, Executive Director of Wild Fish Conservancy, to explore the historic return of fish traps to the Pacific Northwest. From their cultural roots and conservation benefits to the launch of the first Columbia River trap fishery in nearly 100 years, Emma shares how this ancient method could reshape the future of salmon and steelhead recovery. https://wildfishconservancy.org/ See a fish trap and read more about their return.

Bill serves as Senior Videographer and Editor for Wildlife Protection Solutions (WPS), where he combines his creative vision with cutting‑edge tools—like AI‑powered real‑time camera traps, immersive VR experiences, and digital platforms—to protect endangered wildlife and ecosystems around the world. www.wildlifeprotectionsolutions.org Bill's Instagram Wildlife Protection Solutions Instagram

Jay is the preserve manager for the Southern Plains Land Trust, and spends his days managing the bison herds and improving their network of protected lands for the benefit of all native wildlife species. For 30 years, Jay worked tirelessly as an attorney representing environmental organizations and individuals seeking to protect the environment. Jay also helped to start the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law and has taught a variety of courses on Wildlife, Animal, and Environmental Law. In his abundant spare time, Jay serves as a commissioner for Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Find out more about Southern Plains Land Trust  

Join Sam and Mark as they dive into the top wildlife news stories, including: Grizzly bears aren't wolves Big scary bobcats? Border wall jaguar Snakes hear with their jaws Please like and leave a review!    

Joining us is Emma Balunek. Emma’s work is a combination of conservation research and visual storytelling. In collaboration with Michael Forsberg and the Platte Basin Timelapse project, along with Dr. John Benson’s lab, Emma has been studying the cooperative hunting relationship between coyotes and badgers in prairie dog colonies across western grasslands. Coyote/Badger Sighting Form Emma's Instagram   

Join Sam and Mark for this week's wildlife news, including: Bighorn Sheep in Colorado Ghost Wolves in Texas Grand Jury for Hope  Movies that Scare Wolves

Dr. Adrian Treves is a leading voice for science, future generations, and the public trust. A Harvard-trained ecologist and Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he founded the Carnivore Coexistence Lab in 2007 to explore how humans and large carnivores, from coyotes to grizzlies, share landscapes.    For nearly three decades, his work has bridged law, ecology, and ethics, with a focus on the public trust doctrine and intergenerational equity. Dr. Treves has published more than 130 scientific papers advancing predator-prey ecology and conservation. Carnivore Coexistence Lab

Join Sam and Mark as they dive into the top wildlife news stories of the week, including: Dogs doing citizen science San Francisco whales dying ESA down-listed by president, congress and agencies Animals fleeing Yellowstone

In this episode, Sam and Mark dive into the fascinating world of bats with Dr. Tanya Dewey, a biologist whose work spans cutting-edge research on bats from North America and beyond. A must listen for bat fans and those who are bat-curious!  

Join Sam and Mark as they cover the top wildlife news stories of the week, including: Da Bears in Illinois Bobcat Mismanagement Ospreys in Decline Drilling for Oil in Alaska Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!  

Join Sam and Mark as they dive into the top wildlife news stories of the week, including: Wyoming looking out for babies New Mexico helping the beaver North Dakota grass for birds Legendary wolf dies  

Will Harlan lives in North Carolina, where he is a biologist working in the Endangered Species program for the Center for Biological Diversity as the Southeast Director and Senior Scientist. Prior to joining the Center, Will worked for Sierra Club protecting forests and indigenous lands. He also wrote a national bestselling book Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island, and his work has appeared in The New York Times and National Geographic.  Interested in taking a Hellbender Tour? Click here

Join Sam and Mark as they dive into the top wildlife news stories of the week, including: North Carolina town celebrates the hellbender Wyoming keeps killing too many lions Spa day for orcas Public lands not for sale

Today’s guest, David Neils, has been tracking wildlife since he was six years old, growing up in the remote forests of Libby, Montana. What started as a deep curiosity about the hidden lives of wild animals has grown into a lifelong commitment to understanding and tracking apex carnivores, especially mountain lions. After a close encounter with a male lion in Colorado’s Never Summer Wilderness, David dedicated himself to studying this elusive species. Over the past twenty years, he’s spent countless hours in mountain lion habitat, developing a system to accurately map their activity across the western United States, Canada, and Chile. He now offers one-on-one Mountain Lion Workshops for those interested in applying what he’s learned from over 30,000 hours in the field. Through Wild Nature Media, David captures stunning, completely wild footage—no lures, no dogs, no helicopters, no tricks—just raw, unscripted moments that celebrate the wild we crave.

Join Mark and Sam for the top wildlife news stories including coyotes in cemeteries, ticks on the move, not killing coyotes in the springtime, and the most epic videos of wildlife on an elk carcass! Learn more about tick impacts on wildlife here.   A kid friendly coyote story here.

Keegan Kuhn is an acclaimed documentary film director, producer, writer, cinematographer, and composer.  His work has sparked global conversations about the environment, health, and animal rights. His films have been executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Joaquin Phoenix. He has challenged industries and inspired countless people to reconsider their impact on the planet and their own well-being. With a passion for storytelling and social justice, he brings a unique perspective on the power of media to drive change. Though, his newest project leaves the cinematic world, opting for a real world immersive experience instead. His most famous works include the documentaries What the Health and Cowspiracy. Red Rock Natural History Museum Cowspiracy What The Health