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Our Wild Lives

The Wildlife Society

Our Wild Lives takes listeners into the heart of wildlife conservation, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Each episode dives into the wild lives of diverse species, explores complex ecosystems, and unpacks the urgent issues facing wildlife conservation. 

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  • 26 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 41 min
  • English

Episodes 26

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  • October 30 · 49 min

    Stronger Together: 90 Years of NWF and TWS

    The inaugural meeting of the North American Wildlife Conference in February of 1936 brought together some of the most notable wildlife conservationists of the time. It was at this meeting 90 years ago that The Wildlife Society (TWS) and the National Wildlife Federation(NWF) were formed. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” TWS and NWF celebrate 90 years of work to conserve wildlife in North America. TWS CEO, Ed Arnett, is joined by NWF President and CEO, Collin O’Mara, to discuss the history of their respective organizations. Together, they look towards the future for conservation in North America and share what is on the horizon for the two organizations. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Rohrbach and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Further reading: Learn more about the National Wildlife Federation: https://www.nwf.org/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • October 16 · 51 min

    An Inside Look at One of the Last Stands of American Ocelots

    Ocelots can be feisty, and researchers Lindsay Martinez, Meghan Murphy and Haylee Pearce are well aware that they can scratch worse than the Tamaulipan thornscrub they live in. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” East Foundation researchers and field technicians take host Katie Rohrbach and associate editor Joshua Rapp Learn to El Sauz Ranch—one of the only footholds ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) have north of the Mexican border—to check trap lines. Murphy, Pearce and Martinez discuss the challenges the small cat population faces in South Texas as well as what the East Foundation is doing to survey and protect ocelots. Learn more about the East Foundation: https://eastfoundation.net/ “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Rohrbach and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • October 2 · 51 min

    Communication in Conservation with Rae Wynn-Grant

    As a kid, Rae Wynn-Grant dreamed of traveling the world to tell stories about wildlife science. But the path to realizing this dream wasn’t always clear. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Rae Wynn-Grant, large carnivore ecologist, author, podcast host and co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild recounts the long days in the field, advanced college degrees and harsh rejections that led to her dream career as a nature show host. This episode spans tales from her work with bears and lions to the challenges she faces as a Black woman in conservation. She also shares her advice for other wildlife scientists looking to communicate their work in a new way. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Rohrbach and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Further reading: Meet Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant: https://www.raewynngrant.com/ Listen to the newest season of Mutual of Omaha’s: Wild Kingdom “Back from the Brink” podcast: https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/the-podcast “You Belong in the Wild” childrens book - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/824938/you-belong-in-the-wild-by-dr-rae-wynn-grant/ Watch Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild: https://www.youtube.com/@wildkingdom Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • September 18 · 55 min

    Where the Wind Blows: Navigating Wildlife and Wind Energy

    Since the first mass wildlife casualty events at commercial windfarms in the early 2000s, conservationists have raised concerns about the impacts of wind energy development. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Misti Sporer, senior director of Environment and Permitting at Deriva Energy and Greg Forcey, senior principal scientist at Normandeau Associates, Inc. talk about their experiences working as wildlife biologists in wind energy projects. Together they share the advancements in mitigation technologies like smart curtailment and acoustic monitoring as well as the policies and practices in place to protect wildlife at wind farms. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Rohrbach and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Resources: Connect with Misti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misti-sporer-7218637a/ Connect with Greg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregforcey/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • September 4 · 34 min

    Hawaii's Plastic Predicament

    Plastic waste travels from your doorstep to the most remote places. In the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, currents concentrate vast amounts of marine debris along the shores of what should be a wildlife paradise. Within the protected waters of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, plastic debris and derelict fishing nets threaten endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi), seabirds, sea turtles and fragile coral reef systems. These islands have become the frontline in the fight against ocean plastics. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” reporter Kaylyn Zipp and Kevin O’Brien from Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project reveal the realities of marine debris cleanup in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. From intense breath-holding training sessions to the successes and ongoing challenges of removing tons of plastic from sensitive habitats, the conversation highlights both the scale of the problem and the lifelong dedication of those working to solve it. Learn more Read the full story, “Plastic Prisoners”: https://wildlife.org/plastic-prisoners-2/ Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP): https://www.pmdphawaii.org/ “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world bringing you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Cover photo: Thousands of pounds of marine debris collect on the atolls and throughout Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument every year. Photo by Holly Richards / U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • August 21 · 48 min

    Tracking Elusive Fishers in British Columbia

    Somewhere deep in British Columbia’s boreal forest lives a small population of unique and secretive carnivores most humans never see. The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a critter exceptionally good at eluding even the most talented wildlife trackers. But for today’s guests, who have spent many cold mornings out in the field to learn more about these mustelids, even the stealthiest of fishers couldn’t keep all of their secrets. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Katie Perkins-Rohrbach, TWS digital content manager, is joined by Alexia Constantino, a PhD Candidate at the University of Victoria and Rich Weir, a senior wildlife biologist at Artemis Wildlife Consultants, to explore their combined decades of experience researching fishers. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins-Rohrbach and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • August 7 · 17 min

    Tracking the Impact of Ecotourism

    Ecotourism can bring great benefits to a struggling economy and conservation attention and investment to fragile biomes and struggling species. But is everything that glitters made of gold? This week, TWS’ associate editor Joshua Rapp Learn joins host Katie Perkins as they travel through South Texas to learn more about the positive and negative impacts of ecotourism on an otherwise struggling economy. In this episode—the companion piece to the cover feature in the latest issue of The Wildlife Society’s member magazine, The Wildlife Professional—Perkins and Learn follow tour guides in search of rare ferruginous pygmy owls, javelinas and other wildlife in South Texas. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • July 17 · 30 min

    Conservation on Tribal Land with Julie Thorstenson

    Indigenous people have been involved with wildlife conservation and management in the Americas for thousands of years. But it’s only since the 1980s when different Tribes in the U.S. organized into the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Julie Thorstenson, executive director of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) and a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation discusses her background working with black-footed ferret reintroduction on Tribal land. She also talks about her experience collaborating with Tribes and First Nations through the NAFWS and the ways that Indigenous knowledge contributes to wildlife management. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Further reading: Native American Fish and Wildlife Society - https://www.nafws.org/ From the Field Publication - https://www.nafws.org/from-the-field Connect with NAFWS LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/nafws/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nativeamericanfishandwildlifesociety# YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHRrVRBn8Lt6bDrnSm3ivig Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nafws_insta/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • July 3 · 35 min

    Following the Birds | A 30,000 KM Journey

    Every year, millions of birds make some of the most arduous journeys in the natural world. The Hudsonian whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) travels from its breeding grounds in Alaska’s High Arctic to as far south as Argentina. Two endurance athletes are preparing to embark on their own journey to follow the paths of three GPS-tracked whimbrels. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Timm Döbert, tropical ecologist and scientific explorer, and Leanna Carriere, extreme athlete, join us to talk about their upcoming 30,000 kilometer expedition titled, “Wings of Survival.’’ Döbert and Carriere will spend the next nine months on their bikes for 10 hours a day, crossing through 15 different countries along their route. Along the way, they will host virtual classrooms, conduct scientific studies and use the power of storytelling to bring awareness to migratory bird conservation. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Further reading: About Wings of Survival - https://www.wingsofsurvival.com/ About the hudsonian whimbrel - https://abcbirds.org/birds/whimbrel/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • June 19 · 50 min

    The Value of Working Forests

    How does harvesting timber impact wildlife around the world? In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Darren Miller, vice president of forestry programs for the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) and director of research programs for the NCASI Foundation, and Jessica Homyack, director of environmental research and operational support at Weyerhaeuser, explore how commercial timber forests can coexist with wildlife conservation. As the forest industry undergoes organizational shifts and public expectations around sustainability grow, managed forest land has become increasingly important for global biodiversity. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Further reading: About Jessica Homyack - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-homyack-phd-cwb-52877a16/ About Darren Miller - https://ncasi.org/about-ncasi/staff-directory/darren-a-miller_vp-forestry/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • May 29 · 40 min

    Solving a Pig Problem

    Since their introduction to North America in the 16th century, uncontrolled populations of wild pigs have wreaked havoc across North America.They can disrupt native wildlife, decimate riparian ecosystems, cause billions of dollars in agricultural damage and more. Reducing the population has proved complex, but the state of Missouri has successfully removed feral swine populations from nearly 10 million acres throughout the state since 2016. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Alan Leary, wildlife management coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation and Travis Guerrant, state director for both the Missouri and Iowa U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services programs, join us to explain how they approach eliminating this invasive species from the landscape. Read more: TWS Issue Statement: Feral Swine in North America: https://wildlife.org/tws-issue-statement-feral-swine-in-north-america/ Why has Missouri succeeded in wild pig control?: https://wildlife.org/why-has-missouri-succeeded-in-wild-pig-control/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • May 15 · 40 min

    Restoring a Cultural Keystone Species

    For Remington Bracher, working on the reintroduction of bison back to Canada is not only a win for his wildlife career, but also for his culture as a Nêhiyaw (Cree) member of Muskoday First Nation. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Bracher, an Indigenous Liaison with Parks Canada and graduate student at the University of British Columbia, shares how growing up hunting and fishing led him into wildlife conservation. His current research combines policy analysis with quantitative population modeling to see what a sustainable Indigenous bison (Bison bison) harvest could look like. He hopes it will further his dream of one day seeing Indigenous bison hunts in national parks. Alongside his experiences working with bison, Bracher also discusses the importance of relationship-building, co-creation, youth involvement, and respectful integration of Indigenous knowledge in wildlife management. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Further reading: About Remington Bracher - https://wildlife.org/remington-bracher-earns-graduate-fellowship-in-wildlife-policy/ The Native Student Development Program - https://wildlife.org/working-groups/npwmwg/ Towards reconciliation: 10 Calls to Action to natural scientists working in Canada- https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2020-0005 Singing Back the Buffalo documentary trailer - https://youtu.be/xshtMcU6fZE?si=JfKEJ3r8s8FmyjU2 Photo Caption: A bison stands in a grassland. Image by WikiImages from Pixabay Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • May 1 · 54 min

    Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain

    Wild sheep are known for their tenacity to endure some of the harshest landscapes around the world, yet the global population of the subfamily continues to decline due to a bacterium, Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi). Pneumonia caused by this bacterium can wipe out entire herds. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Kurt Alt and Corey Mason from the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) join us to talk about all things sheep conservation. They discuss the role of the WSF, the unique way sheep conservation is funded, the disease challenges wild sheep face and more. Learn more about the Wild Sheep Foundation: https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/ “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • April 17 · 33 min

    Big Cats and the Border

    New evidence reveals that mountain lions can fit through small wildlife crossing cut-outs on the border wall dividing the U.S. from Mexico. But researchers are concerned about the future connection of the population of the big cats. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” carnivore ecologist Lisanne Petracca walks us through the monitoring being done to determine the potential effects of the construction of the 30 foot high wall along the Texas border on mountain lions (Puma concolor). Preliminary results show that openings the size of a sheet of paper could be the solution keeping the United States and Mexico populations connected. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s biweekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. New episodes are released weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Read more: About Lisanne Petracca: https://www.tamuk.edu/agriculture/departments/rwsc/faculty-staff-rwsc/Petracca.html Spatial and Population Ecology of Carnivores (SPEC) Lab: https://thespeclab.weebly.com/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • April 3 · 48 min

    The Forgotten Bird Artist

    Rex Brasher was one of the greatest bird artists of his time. His life’s mission was to see and paint every bird species in North America. But today, many people–even avid birders–have never heard his name. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Cynthia Carter Ayres and Matthew Schnepf from the Rex Brasher Association join us to tell the story of the man who painted 874 different bird species of North America. Brasher's approach was unique. Unlike most other artists of his time, he painted live birds in the field, not after shooting them or from consulting stuffed study specimens. Now, the Association is working to bring his body of work to the modern age for all to enjoy. Learn more: About Rex Brasher: https://rexbrasher.org/ The digitized “Birds and Trees of North America” collection: https://rexbrasher.org/collection/birds-and-trees Cover Images courtesy of the Rex Brasher Association Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • March 27 · 47 min

    Keeping Birds on the Map: Bird Conservation in North America

    Birds have been declining since the 1970s. Now scientists, non-governmental organizations and everyday birders are doing everything they can to stabilize and rebound populations across the globe. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Katie and Ed are joined by Tammy VerCauteren, Executive Director at Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and Steve Riley, Chief Conservation Officer at American Bird Conservancy, to catch up on the state of bird conservation today. From multi-state collaborations to track birds across the annual migration cycle to backyard birders supporting populations, our guests dive into the opportunities to get involved in bird conservation. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s weekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. New episodes are released weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Further reading: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies: https://www.birdconservancy.org/ American Bird Conservancy: https://abcbirds.org/ Motus Wildlife Tracking: http://motus.org/ Bird City USA: https://birdcity.org/ Keep Cats Indoors: https://abcbirds.org/solutions/keep-cats-indoors/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • March 13 · 41 min

    Building a Better Backyard for Wildlife

    As spring begins to emerge, so does the opportunity to support wildlife and increase biodiversity in your own yard. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” TWS member Shaun McCoshum, a botanist and landscape ecologist, tells us about what has been lost from North American landscapes and how homeowners can mimic missing ecological processes to support wildlife in their own yards. McCoshum shares practical yard strategies beyond planting native plants, including amending your soil, building structures for wildlife success, underground habitat needs for pollinators and more. Whether helping a monarch butterfly on their migration or giving your local lizards a place to retreat, your yard can be the little slice of paradise for wildlife with a few, simple changes. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s weekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett, of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. New episodes are released weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Further reading: Connect with Shaun McCoshum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-mccoshum/ https://www.youtube.com/@mccoshsm Shaun’s new book: Natural Habitats and Wildlife Gardening: Inviting Nature into Your Backyard. Use code NHWG30 for 30% off https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691261003/natural-habitats-and-wildlife-gardening Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • March 6 · 27 min

    Reforestation, Reggaeton and the Recovery of Puerto Rico’s Crested Toad

    Wildlife lovers had a special treat at this year’s Super Bowl—Bad Bunny’s halftime show featured an endangered Puerto Rican toad. While it may have been the first time some viewers saw the species, the amphibian’s natural and cultural significance goes much deeper. The Puerto Rican crested toad’s story is emblematic of both environmental destruction and more recent attempts at restoration on the island. European colonizers deforested most of the island to cultivate sugar cane, leaving a devastated environment in their wake. Today, conservationists are working to rebuild these forests by following nature’s lead. The endangered Puerto Rican crested toad, a species that was almost wiped off the island entirely, is just one of the species benefiting from these efforts. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” staff writer Olivia Milloway visits Hacienda la Esperanza nature preserve to investigate how Puerto Rican nonprofit Para La Naturaleza is restoring the island’s forests for the sake of endemic birds and crested toad populations. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s weekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. New episodes are released weekly wherever you get your podcasts. This episode features reporting from a three-part online series on habitat restoration and wildlife management in Puerto Rico. Read the first part on deforestation and habitat fragmentation, the second part on Puerto Rican oriole conservation and the third part on the reintroduction of the crested toad. Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • February 27 · 34 min

    Montana’s Migration Marvel

    For a few short weeks starting in late February, there is a window of opportunity to see an enormous congregation of geese, swans, ducks and other birds at a wildlife management area in Montana during their annual migration to northern breeding grounds. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” Brent Lonner, a wildlife biologist with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and Ali Marschner, a farm bill biologist with Pheasants Forever, dive into the annual staging of hundreds of thousands waterfowl at Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area. This episode tackles several issues, including the impact of drought, how a small-town festival built a tourism industry around the spring bird liftoff and the shifting uses of wildlife management areas. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s weekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. New episodes are released weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Further reading: Wild Wings Choteau Festival: https://www.wildwingschoteau.org/ Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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  • February 20 · 52 min

    When Wildlife and Aviation Collide

    Richard Dolbeer has spent his career trying to strike out airplane collisions on birds–his pitch for a solution has always been to support management action with good science. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” host Katie Perkins sits down to learn about Dolbeer’s storied career. From reducing agricultural conflicts with the Bye-Bye Blackbird Committee to sorting through the wreckage of the “Miracle on the Hudson” for ‘snarge,’ the stories he tells are wild to say the least. At 80 years old and 50 years of TWS membership, he still has no plans to retire. He continues to research and develop ways to keep wildlife and people safe on the runways and in the skies. “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s weekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. New episodes are released weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Further reading: Richard Dolbeer’s memoir “A Life on the Wild Side” - https://a.co/d/0fK9TgAf Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here! Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/ Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesociety LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society

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Showing 1–20 of 26 episodes