Dominique Kone joins us to discuss his M.S. research and recent publication last February informing a prospective sea otter reintroduction in Oregon. He addresses habitat suitability in Oregon, population growth scenarios, and more. His research is a key piece of information suggesting that a sea otter reintroduction is feasible in Oregon, but decision-makers needs to carefully evaluate various human interactions. Dominique Kone's recent paper: https://www.elakhaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Kone-et-al-2021.pdf
Professor and Curator Dr. Madonna Moss is an anthropological archaeologist who studies the long term history of Native Americans and First Nations of the Northwest Coast of North America, with a special focus on Tlingit and Haida and their ancestors. Join us for a fascinating discussion about how zooarcheology can help defend indigenous cultural practices in the modern world. Dr. Moss's book Northwest Coast: Archaeology as Deep History Dr. Moss's recent publication about sea otters: https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.uoregon.edu/dist/e/397/files/2020/04/Moss-2020-sea-otters.pdf
In this episode three leaders from Oregon coast tribes provide heartfelt reflections, as they frame the loss of sea otters and the vision of its return with the history of their own people's struggles, and how sea otters represent their own interconnectedness to the natural world. Don Ivy Chief of the Coquille Indian tribe; Robert Kentta the Siletz Tribal Cultural Resources Director; and Peter Hatch with the Siletz tribal Cultural Resources Program.
Dr. Roberta Hall is an anthropologist and Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University. Roberta conducted numerous excavations of shell midden sites on the Oregon coast where she document use of various wildlife including sea otters, and other marine resources by ancient First Peoples. Roberta holds expertise in zoo-archaeology, medical anthropology, skeletal biology and more!
Marine Biologist and Researcher Dr. Shawn Larson from the Seattle Aquarium discusses sea otters up-close! Shawn explores sea otter diet, physiology, reproduction, and genetics - and how her research informs conservation. Video of Shawn presenting her genetics research at the 2018 Oregon Sea Otter Status of Knowledge Symposium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6vaSSrQNvU photo courtesy Vancouver Aquarium
A great conversation with leading sea otter researcher Dr. Tim Tinker. Tim discusses new science and reveals the varied issues effecting sea otter populations across their pacific range - from Alaska to California - including his perspectives on a possible Oregon reintroduction. Produced in Partnership with the Elakha Alliance
Tom Calvanese is a rockfish scientist, the Station Manager of the Port Orford Field Station, and a catalyst behind developing action to address kelp declines along Oregon's south coast. Join us for a multi-dimensional conversation about kelp conservation. Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance A great resource from the NOYO Center for Marine Science abut kelp conservation: https://noyocenter.org/help-the-kelp/
Renowned ecologist Jim Estes shares his story of discovery - from a young graduate student on the Aleutian Islands to scientific breakthroughs revealing the profound ecological effects of a keystone predator Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance Jim's memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Serendipity-Ecologists-Understand-Organisms-Environments/dp/0520285034/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&qid=1586768471&refinements=p_27%3AJames+Estes&s=books&sr=1-11 Trophic Cascades book coauthored by Jim: https://www.amazon.com/Trophic-Cascades-Predators-Changing-Dynamics/dp/1597264873/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&qid=1586768471&refinements=p_27%3AJames+Estes&s=books&sr=1-3
Marine biologist Scott Groth is undertaking one of the longest monitoring projects on Oregon's nearshore. While red sea urchin numbers appear normal, purple sea urchin populations have exploded in recent years with alarming impacts to kelp forests. Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance Articles about Scott's work: https://newportnewstimes.com/article/sea-urchin-population-explodes https://oregonmarinereserves.com/2019/10/24/urchins/
A fascinating window into new discoveries in kelp ecology and conservation with Sara Hamilton - a leading researcher studying trends in kelp forests. Sara is a PhD student at Oregon State University. Part one of a series produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance Links to learn more: A story map compiled by the Samish tribe and others about the importance of kelp and it's loss in that region:
Join me for a great conversation with Michael Schroeder, a research scientist with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Michael is a leading expert on the ecology and conservation of native grouse species of North America. Beyond technical expertise, Mike has a contagious passion for wildlife and being a wildlife biologist! Mikes article "Grouse of the Lewis and Clark Expedition" in the Columbia Magazine: http://www.washingtonhistory.org/files/library/winter-2003-04_003.pdf
Wildlife connectivity is a hot topic - especially in the West. Join for a fascinating conversation with Leslie Bliss-Ketchum (Samara Group) and Rachel Wheat (ODFW). Leslie and Rachel are experts in wildlife connectivity, road ecology, and implementing new strategies to improve wildlife movement in a human altered landscape. Oregon Conservation Strategy Key Conservation Issue: Barriers to Animal Movement House Bill 2834 Secretarial Order 3362
Geology is a fundamental discipline to major biological concepts such as evolution and biogeography. Join me in a fascinating conversation with Geologist Andrew J. Meigs as he explains the geologic principles behind plate tectonics, volcanism, and mountain-building in the Pacific Northwest. Andrew is a Professor of Geology at Oregon State University. Support this Podcast via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/northwestnaturematters Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries: https://www.oregongeology.org/ Statewide Landslide Database: https://www.oregongeology.org/slido/index.htm
Great conversation with Selina Heppell, the Chair of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. Selina discusses her research, describes her department's strategy for the future, and reflects on better ways to attract, train, inspire, and support the next generation of wildlife professionals. OSU Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife https://fw.oregonstate.edu/
An inspiring discussion with three leaders in wildlife science and management. Harriet Allen, Evie Merrill, and Wini Kessler are recognized for their scientific accomplishments while leading wildlife programs in state and federal agencies and academia. In addition to their scientific credentials, they are pioneering trailblazers and mentors for women in the wildlife profession. Harriet Allen: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFishWildlife/photos/were-celebrating-women-history-month-today-featuring-one-of-our-first-women-in-s/10152600067001761/ Wini Kessler: https://www.juneauempire.com/news/former-juneau-ecologist-becomes-second-woman-to-win-national-award/ Evie Merrill: https://wildlife.org/rmef-honors-tws-member-evelyn-merrill/
A fascinating discussion with Dr. David Shepherdson about the role of zoos in conservation. As the Deputy Director of Conservation at the Oregon Zoo, David discusses how zoos are becoming an essential foundation of conservation success; from the most significant voices in conservation education to leading experts in endangered species recovery programs. Link to books by Gerald Durrell https://www.amazon.com/Gerald-Durrell/e/B001H6MXJW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Alexis De Tocqueville's essay on American civil engagement in "Democracy in America" 1831: https://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/805328.html Video by the Oregon Zoo's Leland Brown advancing hunter awareness about non-lead ammunition: https://vimeo.com/318080907
Free-roaming horses and burros represent one of the most challenging and complex issues in the realm of western public land policy. In this episode we talk with Keith Norris, the Director of Policy and Communications with The Wildlife Society. Keith gives an overview of the issues and reveals important science based details and perspectives often left out of this otherwise emotionally driven topic. For more information from TWS:https://wildlife.org/horse-rich-dirt-poor/ Short film co-produced by Keith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6h242vy_q8 Positions statement of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PS_FeralHorsesandBurros.pdf Testimony of ORTWS: https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WHB-Oregon-Comments2.pdf To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/northwestnaturematters ORTWS Annual Meeting https://ortws.org/2019-annual-meeting/ To Support Recovering America's Wildlife Act: Thank your member of congress for supporting the Recovering America's Wildlife Act via social media (#RecoverWildlife), phone, or email. If they are not yet supporting the bill, ask your Member of Congress to co-sponsor Recovering America's Wildlife Act. You can also refer people to OurNatureUSA.com for an auto-generated letter. Consider signing the National Wildlife Federation's 1000+ group letter of support Consider joining the Alliance for America's Fish and Wildlife: https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/2215/1382/3049/AAFW_Membership_Sign-up.pdf Please share this info with your colleagues, family and friends. #RecoverWildlife
A great conversation with Christian Hagen and Jeremy Maestas about the natural history and conservation of the greater sage-grouse. Christian is a leading grouse scientist and research professor at OSU. Jeremy is a sagebrush ecologist at the NRCS and part of the Sage Grouse Initiative team implementing grouse conservation projects on private lands throughout the West. Siskadee is the Crow name for Sage Grouse. photo by Steve Chindgren To support this podcast please visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/northwestnaturematters For more information about the Sage Grouse Initiative: https://www.sagegrouseinitiative.com/ Video: Wilson Wewa discusses the tribal perspectives on the meaning and significance of the sage grouse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADW6IREJnGY Video: Excerpt from a sage grouse film produced by Steve Chindgren showing a huge winter flock in Wyoming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaVQE_HmeXI
In this episode we join leading bat experts Dr. Tom Rodhouse and Roger Rodriguez to discuss the natural history and conservation of bats. Tom and Roger reveal fascinating facts about bat biology while also discussing their research, and new impacts to bat populations in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. To learn more about the Northwest Bat Hub: https://osucascades.edu/HERS/northwestern-bat-hub To learn more about the North American Bat Monitoring Program: https://www.nabatmonitoring.org/#/home/welcome To learn more about the disease, White-nose Syndrome: https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/ To learn more about the issue of bats and wind energy: http://batsandwind.org/ To support this podcast click here: https://www.patreon.com/northwestnaturematters
In this episode we discuss sea otter population restoration with Robert Bailey, the Board President of the Elakha Alliance. "Elakha" is the Chinook and Clatsop Indian word for sea otter. In the late 1990s, the Elakha Alliance was organized by members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Coquille Indian Tribe and others to promote the restoration of sea otters and a healthy marine ecosystem on the Oregon coast. For more information click here To support this podcast series follow this link