1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: From Mediators World News Headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Cal's weekend review, presented by Steel. Steel products are available 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: only at authorized dealers. For more, go to Steel Dealers 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal callahan. A 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: new study made headlines this week for its claim that 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: eating a single freshwater fish is on par with drinking 7 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: a month's worth of contaminated water. At least, that's what 8 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: you learned if you only read the headlines. If you 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: dig a little deeper, you find that the truth is 10 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: a little more complicated, which is exhausting. I know. Thanks 11 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: to everyone who sent this in. There's a lot of you. 12 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: This peer reviewed study was published in the Environmental Research Journal. 13 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: The study looked at two sets of freshwater fish data. 14 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: One set of samples were collected from US water bodies 15 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: in the United States between two thousand thirteen and two 16 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,919 Speaker 1: thousand fifteen, and the other was collected from the Great 17 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: Lakes in two thousand fifteen. The top line numbers are 18 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: pretty darned concerning the study found that the concentrations of 19 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: a common type of forever chemical known as pfas were 20 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: higher in freshwater fish than in commercially farmed fish or 21 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: in seafood. The concentrations were twice as high in the 22 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: Great Lakes samples than in the samples from across the country, 23 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: and of the thirteen Forever chemicals measured, all were detected 24 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: in at least one fish sample. To put these numbers 25 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: in perspective, the authors compared the Forever chemical levels in 26 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: freshwater fish with the levels in drinking water. They estimate 27 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: that eating one serving of freshwater fish at the median 28 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: p FoST level is equal to drinking one month's worth 29 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: of tap water at twenty four hundred times the e 30 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: p a S Forever Chemical Coal Advisory limit. That's scary stuff, 31 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: but doesn't mean you should throw your walleye and croppy 32 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: filets in the trash. Not exactly. The authors include several 33 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: caveats that didn't make most news articles I've seen. First, 34 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: location matters a lot. Median levels of p FOSS were 35 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: two points seven times higher in urban locations compared to 36 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:32,399 Speaker 1: non urban locations, and average p FoST concentrations were one 37 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: point six times higher. What's more, the data they used 38 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: is nearly a decade old. You might assume that since 39 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: Forever chemicals don't degrade. Their quote forever. After all, the 40 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: situation can't be better today than it wasn't two thousand fifteen. 41 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: But you may be wrong. The author's note that the 42 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: forever chemical levels in freshwater fish actually went down by 43 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 1: thirty between two thousand nine and two thousand fifteen, Decreased 44 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: use of forever chemicals maybe keeping the levels down, and 45 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: it's possible the concentrations have continued to decrease over the 46 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: last few years. It's also worth noting that the way 47 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: we cook fish can impact how much chemical we ingest. 48 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: The author's point to a separate two thousand and twenty 49 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: two study which found that cooking seafood in water or 50 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: oil that is then discarded decreases forever chemicals levels by 51 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: on average. The authors don't speculate how this might apply 52 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: to freshwater fish, but they do acknowledge that there's a 53 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: difference between chemical levels and cooked and uncooked filets. Another 54 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: big unknown. Scientists still aren't exactly sure at what point 55 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: forever chemical consumption impacts an individual's health. We know these 56 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: chemicals aren't good for you, and the levels found in 57 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: freshwater fish exceed what the e p A says you 58 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: should be ingested, But further research is needed to determine 59 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: the extent of the risk, and until then, it'll be 60 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: tough for anglers to make a truly informed decision. This week, 61 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 1: you guessed at legislation plus bears and kanas lupus v 62 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: mustell a day. But first, I'm gonna tell you about 63 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: my week. In My week has been pretty darn good. 64 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: I'm sitting here sunburned and still a little bit of cold, 65 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: if I'm being honest, I reconnected with a good buddy 66 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: of mine, Casey Hawks, which many of you know as 67 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: the head of first Light customer service, Old Seahawk, and 68 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: I have been smacking quackers and working with our young dogs. 69 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: His would be Blanche, who just jumped up on the 70 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: bed that my computers resting on. Is a read this 71 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: week's script. And yes, like the Golden Girls, she's endearing, 72 00:04:52,240 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: charming and cute as a button. She's about uh, I 73 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: don't know. She's probably like fifteen pounds smaller than Snort. 74 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: She's tiny, and don't you worry. You won't have to 75 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: let your imagination do all the work, as you will 76 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: be able to see Casey's little have a Blanche on 77 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: a future Waterfowl episode soon to come to the meat 78 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: eater dot com or the meat Eater YouTube channel. You'll 79 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: also get to see all that awesome first light waterfowl 80 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: gear and the product testing that goes into it on 81 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: the screen size of your choice. And yes, first Light 82 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: waiters are real. And for those of you that are 83 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: following along, the waterfowl lineup is just amazing. Best gear 84 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: I've ever run, and I've been playing in the waterfowl 85 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: game a long time. And speaking of playing, we've been 86 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: running boats hours before sun up in the wind, fog 87 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: and snow ish kind of weather. But we're remaining dry, 88 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: warm and you know, just happy to be on the 89 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: water chasing the very last of this regular season's waterfowl. Mallard, 90 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: Spoonbill's widgeon have all been fair game, at least for me. 91 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: We've been letting the golden eyes pass. As for the 92 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: snort report, well, friends and neighbors. She is extremely unhappy 93 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: with me. She does not believe bringing a bird to 94 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 1: my side as appropriate. But she'll swim across a side 95 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: channel and heavy current on a blind retrieve, follow hands 96 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: signals and she's not lost bird yet. The nose is 97 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: magnificent as per usual, and we'll get to an understanding 98 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: on whose bird it is yet I'm sure, I mean, 99 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: I'm pretty darn sure. Lots of work, No surprise there. 100 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 1: Housekeeping listener Nick from p A writes in with another acronym, 101 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: banana build Absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone. If you listen 102 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: to last week's episode with Nimby, you'll under stand banana. 103 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: Back Country Hunters and Anglers North American Rendezvous is coming 104 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: up quick Missoula County Fairgrounds this year. We're doing it 105 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: March fift through and as per usual, incredible people, incredible food, 106 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: educational panels, back country gear, and most importantly, a diverse 107 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: mix of hunting and fishing outdoors folks you want to 108 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: get to know. I'll see you there. Also, if you're 109 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: attending all of the super cool stuff this year's Pheasant 110 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: Fest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I'll see you there Thursday, Friday 111 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: and Saturday. Really looking forward to it, and I'll just 112 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: say hey, nice to meet you. For everybody who attended 113 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: the super cool Mule Deer Foundation Migration Corridor Workshop panels 114 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: speakers uh this Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah, thanks 115 00:07:55,000 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: for saying hi. Moving on to the Legislative desk, Wyoming 116 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: residents are in for a roller coaster this year. The 117 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: legislature is considering a bunch of bills that will affect 118 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: hunting in public land, so all you cowboys staters will 119 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: want to pay attention. One bill, known as House Bill 120 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: one zero four, would allow hunters to use night vision 121 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: scopes and artificial light to kill coyotes and other predators 122 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: on public land at night. Another bill, s F five six, 123 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: would prohibit hunters from traveling through private land in order 124 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: to hunt. You might wonder why such a bill is necessary, 125 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: considering the fact that trespassing on private property is already illegal. 126 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: The legislation seems to be aimed at the corner crossing 127 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: issue because it specifically defines trustpass as quote physically touching 128 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: or driving on the surface of private property. I'm no lawyer, 129 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 1: but I believe this would remove all the quote airspace 130 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: nonsense and allow hunters to use ladders to horner cross 131 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: between public land parcels. I think this bill has already 132 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: passed the state Senate and is headed to the House. 133 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 1: Yet Another bill in Wyoming would start a negotiation process 134 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: between the state government and tribal representatives over hunting and 135 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: fishing rights granted by an eighteen sixty eight treaty. House 136 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: Bill three doesn't grant members of Native American tribes the 137 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: right to hunt and fish whenever they choose, but it 138 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: does lay the ground rules for negotiations between the Governor's 139 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: office and the tribes. It would authorize the governor to 140 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: make agreements that allow the tribes to develop their own 141 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: license requirements, and it would prohibit hunting on private property 142 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: without permission. The tribes would also agree to align their hunting, fishing, 143 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 1: and trapping seasons with those set by the Wyoming Game 144 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 1: and Fish Commission, except for limited exceptions for ceremonial, traditional, 145 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: or religious purposes. If you want to weigh in on 146 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: any of these bills, get in touch with your Wyoming representatives. Oh. Also, 147 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: one more thing that we will put up on the 148 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: Ask Calip page at the meat eater dot com is 149 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: that revised Want and Waste bill that I was talking 150 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: about a couple of episodes ago that is now live 151 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna talk about it in terms specifically regarding 152 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: grizzly bears. Once we get state management of grizzly bears, 153 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: it is going to be a long long time before 154 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: anyone is ever lucky enough to draw too grizzly bear tags. 155 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: So this will be a once in a lifetime, a 156 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: true once in a lifetime opportunity for the very very 157 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: very few people who actually get a hunt them. So 158 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: why not take it all out of the woods? Big 159 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: old mountain bears are delicious. Grizzly bears are no different 160 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 1: than big old black bears for the most part. When 161 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: it comes to table fair they are fantastic. That bill 162 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: regarding revised want waste laws in Wyoming you'll be able 163 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: to find at the meat eater dot com and uh, 164 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: you know the ask how page, So check it out. 165 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: We're gonna put the trophy where it should be, which is, 166 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: you know, on the wall and on your plate, and 167 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: you know, maybe a nice throw rug or you know 168 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: at shawl one of the ladies things that you drape 169 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: over your shoulders. You know, I think I saw the 170 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: old guy with the shotgun and um Legends of the 171 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 1: Fall weare in that too. That'd be a good one 172 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: to check into anyway. Like Wyoming, Colorado legislators are also 173 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: proposing bills that would address the corner crossing question. House 174 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: Bill to three Dash ten sixty six explicitly legalizes crossing 175 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:48,199 Speaker 1: from one public parcel to another at the corner where 176 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: the parcels touch. It prohibits public land users from touching 177 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: private property or fences, but it allows the use of 178 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: a ladder to cross the fence. It also prohibits a 179 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: land owner from building offense that is more than fifty 180 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:08,839 Speaker 1: four inches high within four ft of the corner. Nebraska 181 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: is also considering several hunting and conservation related bills this year, 182 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: and I appreciate all the corn Huskers who've written in 183 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: to tell me about them. Quickside note. Nebraska has what's 184 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: called a unicameral legislature. This means that instead of needing 185 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: to pass two chambers of Congress a House and a Senate, 186 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 1: bills in Nebraska only need to pass a single unicameral chamber. 187 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: The word comes from the Latin uni meaning one and 188 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: camera meaning chamber. Anyway, the unicameral Nebraska Legislature will be 189 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: voting on a bill LB. Four hundred that establishes the 190 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: Pheasant Restoration Act. The bill doesn't do much in the 191 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 1: way of habitat restoration. Instead, it would institute a bounty 192 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: program on nest predators, which it defines as badgers, coyotes, 193 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 1: possums or coons, red foxes, and striped skunks. Between March 194 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 1: one and July one. Anyone over the age of sixteen 195 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: who brings back one of these nest predators would be 196 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: paid ten dollars for each animal, and the Nebraska Game 197 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: and Parks Commission would offer fifty thousand bounties per year. 198 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: The idea is that reducing the populations of these nest 199 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: predators by five thousand individuals per year would help boost 200 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:28,839 Speaker 1: pheasant numbers. If you're asking me, I like it, you 201 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: gotta keep in mind there's been a general westward expansion 202 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: of several of these nest predators in the modern age, 203 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: and not only pheasants, but any ground nesting birds, including 204 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: migratory birds like our ducks, geese, and crane suffer as 205 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: critters such as raccoons expand their territories. But I don't 206 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: like about this is let's drop the age down to 207 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: at least twelve. That's a great way to work on 208 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: your am and earn a living as a twelve year old, 209 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: in case you were wondering, that's my take. The Nebraska 210 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: legislature is also considering a bill known as the Riparian 211 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 1: Protection and Water Qualities Practices Act. This bill would require 212 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: landowners to maintain a riparian buffer of native vegetation around 213 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: rivers and streams that are identified as important to maintaining 214 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: the state's water quality. If you are a landowner in Nebraska, 215 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: this one definitely deserves a closer look. The bill number 216 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: is LB forty. In West Virginia, the state legislature is 217 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: poised to pass a bill that would legalize using leashed 218 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: dogs to track mortally wounded turkey, elk, and wild boar. 219 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: It's already legal to use dogs to track dear. This 220 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: bill just adds those other three species to the list. 221 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: The bill also clarifies that the animal counts towards the 222 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: bag limit of the hunter who fired the shot, not 223 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: of any hunter who finds the animal using dogs. The 224 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: bill number is SP two hundred and it's already past 225 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: the Senate. The House should consider it soon, and it 226 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: doesn't look like there's much opposition. In Wisconsin, well, the 227 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: legislature isn't making any big moves at the moment, but 228 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: you cheeseheads should still keep a close eye on your 229 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: state Natural Resources board. Following the resignation of to Scott 230 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: Walker appointees. Current Governor Tony Evers appointed a school teacher, 231 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: Sandy Nas, to the board in April two thousand one. 232 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: Then just this month, Evers appointed another board member, a 233 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: dairy farmer named Paul Burr. Evers has now appointed five 234 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: out of the seven board members since he took office 235 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: in two thousand nineteen. Environmental groups are hopeful the board's 236 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: new makeup will spur changes in policy for forever chemicals 237 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: and night trates in groundwater. The state Senate is supposed 238 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: to confirm appointees to the board, but gubernatorial appointees can 239 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: serve until a confirmation vote fails. If the Senate never 240 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: holds a vote, that can't happen. Whatever you think about 241 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: these new appointees, one thing is pretty clear. Elections matter. 242 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: In only three years, Governor Evers has flipped the conservation 243 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: majority on the DNR Board, which was only possible because 244 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: Wisconsinites voted him into office. Just some cheese kords for 245 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: thought folks. In Alaska, the legislature will consider a bill 246 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: that would allow municipalities to regulate trapping to protect persons 247 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: and property within its boundaries. Under the bill, municipalities will 248 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: be able to set trap identification requirements, restrictions on the 249 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: types of traps used, and prohibitions on setting traps in 250 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: certain areas. The bill number is HB twelve and it's 251 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: been assigned to the Community and Regional Affairs Committee. If 252 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: you want my take, this empowers citizen to do the 253 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: job for free, instead of everybody's taxes going to pay 254 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:10,360 Speaker 1: somebody else to do it for you. Over in Arkansas, 255 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: House Bill ten thirty three would allow a minor who 256 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: resides out of state. That's not the hard hut with 257 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: the light minor, but the young uns anyway, when they're 258 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 1: visiting a parent or legal guardian in Arkansas, they can 259 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 1: pay resident fees for hunting and fishing licenses. Massachusetts is 260 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: set to consider a raft of hunting related bills this session. 261 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: HD would repeal the prohibition on Sunday hunting. S D 262 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: thirty three would allow crossbows to be used even by 263 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: hunters who are not disabled. S D four eight would 264 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: prohibit hunters who hunt migratory game birds from a watercraft 265 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: from discharging a firearm within one thousand feet of the 266 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: coastal shoreline. S D seven six is titled an Act 267 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 1: relative to Outdoor Heritage It would remove the requirement for 268 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: public land hunters to carry firearms in an enclosed case 269 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: in their vehicles, while maintaining the requirement that the guns 270 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: be unloaded. Would also liberalize bow hunting laws in the state, 271 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: and it would increase penalties for hunter harassment. If you'd 272 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: like to weigh in on any of these bills, get 273 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: in touch with your Massachusetts legislators. South Carolina bill would 274 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 1: prohibit private firearms sales by requiring all sales to be 275 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: conducted via the National Instant Criminal Background System. The bill 276 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: makes an exception for transfers between immediate family members, which 277 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: it defines as spouses, domestic partners, children, and step children. 278 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: If you'd like to give a rifle to your grandchild, 279 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: you'd still have to make sure little Johnny passes a 280 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 1: background check. Over in Washington, speaking of gun legislation, Washing 281 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,159 Speaker 1: and State is considering a bill HB one three that 282 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 1: would require prospective gun owners to obtain a permit before 283 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: purchasing a firearm. This permit could be obtained by passing 284 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: a background check and taking a safety course, among other requirements. 285 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,439 Speaker 1: The bill would also impose a ten day waiting period 286 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: to purchase a firearm. Another controversial bill in Washington State 287 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: would require an accused animal abuser to pay for the 288 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: care and boarding of their animal while it is held, 289 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: pending the outcome of the charges. That might not sound controversial, 290 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: but the bill also allows quote any prudent person to 291 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: seize an animal if they suspect the animal is not 292 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: receiving the minimum amount of care to preserve the animal's 293 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: mental health. What's more, even if the accused is eventually 294 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: deemed to be innocent, they're still on the hook for 295 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: paying for the animals room and board while it's being held. 296 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: Opponents of the bill worry that, taken together, these provisions 297 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: might be used to harass hunting dog owners by people 298 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 1: who just don't like hunting. The bill, HB one two 299 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: three four, has been assigned to the Civil Rights in 300 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 1: Judiciary Committee. I'd sure pay attention to that. On the 301 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: federal side, Back to Alaska, or as I like to say, 302 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: north to Alaska, the National Park Service wants to reinstate 303 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:25,400 Speaker 1: a ban on bear baiting on national preserves. President Obama 304 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: instituted a bear baiting ban in two thousand fifteen, but 305 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: that rule was reversed by President Trump in two thousand 306 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: twenty This return to the two thousand fifteen rule would 307 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: also change the definition of sport hunting too, among other things, 308 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: prohibit hunters from taking wolves and coyotes during the denning season. 309 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:46,959 Speaker 1: If you'd like to win on this new set of rules, 310 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: the National Park Service is accepting public comments until March ten. 311 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: Visit the meat eater dot com forward slash cow for 312 00:20:55,800 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: a link to the full rule and placed comment. The 313 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: Bureau of Land Management is also considering a new set 314 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: of rules to help protect Greater sage grouse and its 315 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: sage brush habitat. According to e any News, the new 316 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: management plan would cover the nearly seventy million acres of 317 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: sage brush habitat. The Bureau of Land Management manages it 318 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: could include redesignating some core sage grouse territory into areas 319 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: of Critical Environmental Concern, which would add new restrictions on 320 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: everything from energy development to recreational activities across potentially hundreds 321 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: of thousands of acres. Other possible revisions could include stronger 322 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: enforcement of seasonal restrictions on land use activities, such as 323 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: curbing oil and gas drilling during sage grouse mating or 324 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: brewed rearing seasons, and larger buffers around breeding grounds. These 325 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: moves also could end up restricting where new wind and 326 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: solar farms are sited. This new blueprint has not been 327 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: finalized and is not yet open for comment, but we'll 328 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:07,199 Speaker 1: keep tracking this story as it develops. Moving on to 329 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:11,719 Speaker 1: the bear desk, bird flu isn't just for the birds. 330 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The agency reported 331 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:19,679 Speaker 1: recently that three juvenile grizzly bears tested positive for highly 332 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: pathogenic avian influenza virus this fall. The three bears no 333 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: not a children's story or not a happy one, but 334 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: I'll tell it like it is. One bear near Augusta 335 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: home of the Elks, one bear near d Puller, and 336 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,360 Speaker 1: another near Callus Bell were observed to be in poor 337 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: condition and exhibited disorientation and partial blindness, among other neurological issues. 338 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: They were euthanized due to their sickness and poor condition. 339 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: These were the first documented cases of bird flu in 340 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: grizzly bears recorded in the US. Although it's uncommon for 341 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 1: mammals to contract the bird flu, it has been known 342 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: to happen. The rolling outbreak that began last year has 343 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: infected foxes, skunks, coyotes, black bears, and raccoons. Humans have 344 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: also been infected, but the CDC considers the risk to 345 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: humans pretty low. Infections generally occur among folks who are 346 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: around birds for a long time without any kind of protection, 347 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: think workers and chicken farms. As far as we know, 348 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: these three grizzly bears had not been working in a 349 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 1: chicken farm, though I have a feeling they would eagerly 350 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:33,880 Speaker 1: submit their resumes. Instead, biologists believed they contracted the flu 351 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 1: after eating infected meat. On a much more tragic note, 352 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: a polar bear killed a mother and her one year 353 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: old son in Alaska earlier this month. A report from 354 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 1: the Alaska State Troopers indicated that the attack was entirely unprovoked. 355 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: The bear entered the remote village of Whales and chased 356 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 1: multiple residents before finding the mother and son walking between 357 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: a school and a clinic around two thirty pm. The 358 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,160 Speaker 1: blinding snow and wind likely prevented the woman from noticing 359 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,360 Speaker 1: the bear before it attacked, and Alaska State trooper told 360 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 1: the Associated Press there is no law enforcement in the 361 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: remote village, so one of the local residents shot and 362 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,959 Speaker 1: killed the bear before it harmed anyone else. Unlike grizzly bears, 363 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: polar bears almost never attacked humans. According to a two 364 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: thousand seventeen study, there have only been seventy three polar 365 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,719 Speaker 1: bear attacks in one dred and forty four years in 366 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 1: the five countries where the animals live. Twenty of these 367 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: attacks were fatal. Compare that to six hundred and sixty 368 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: four brown bear attacks on humans worldwide in just the 369 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: years between two thousand and two thousand fifteen. The polar 370 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: bear study found that, also unlike grizzlies, most polar bear 371 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: attacks are perpetrated by young males searching for food. Only 372 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 1: eleven of those one and forty four attacks where a 373 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: mother protecting cubs. Officials say this most recent attack was 374 00:24:56,119 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: likely spurred by starvation. According to Megan Pleet pos Stool, 375 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: writing for The Meat Eater, the last fatal polar bear 376 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 1: maulling occurred in nineteen nine, when a man was killed 377 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: in Point Lay, Alaska. Another attack occurred when a polar 378 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,159 Speaker 1: bear broke through the window of an Air Force radar 379 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: station on the North Slope and mauled a fifty five 380 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: year old mechanic who survived. Biologists are concerned that his 381 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: climate change shrinks polar bear habitat, conflicts between humans and 382 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: bears will increase. More hungry bears forced into proximity to 383 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:33,640 Speaker 1: human settlements could result in more attacks just like this one. 384 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 1: Moving on to the wolf desk, wolves on a remote 385 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: island in Alaska have started dining almost exclusively on sea otters. 386 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,719 Speaker 1: When scientists first started studying the wolf population on Pleasant 387 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: Island and two thousand fifteen, they estimated that deer made 388 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 1: up about three quarters of their diet, But between two 389 00:25:56,520 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: thousand fifteen and two thousand twenty, the deer population amted 390 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 1: to only seven percent of its two thousand fifteen level, 391 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:07,639 Speaker 1: so the wolves adapted. They've always eaten sea otters, but 392 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: by two thousand twenty, a whopping fifty seven of their 393 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: diet consisted of these marine mammals. The rest of their 394 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,880 Speaker 1: diet consisted of fish or other sea creatures, which they 395 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 1: basically get all wrapped into a nice little package when 396 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: they eat a sea otter. What the wolves diet did 397 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: not contain was almost exclusively not dear. If you've ever 398 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 1: watched a dog swim, you know that wolves wouldn't stand 399 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: much of a chance catching a sea otter in the ocean. 400 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:38,479 Speaker 1: So they wait until an otter comes onto land to 401 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: escape a predator or a storm, then they surround it. 402 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: One scientist who visited the island said he saw two 403 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: wolves ambush and otter from either side, while another wolf 404 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 1: ran behind it to keep it from getting back into 405 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: the ocean. Wolves were first sighted on Pleasant Island two 406 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen, after having swum from the mainland. Since then, 407 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: their pack number has fluctuated between in thirteen wolves in 408 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 1: two thousand fifteen to eight wolves in two thousand twenty. 409 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: If you're an otter, you may be thinking it's time 410 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 1: to rename this island. That's all I've got for you 411 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:14,359 Speaker 1: this week. Thank you so much for listening. Remember to 412 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: write in to a s k C. A L that's 413 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: asked cal at the Meat Eater dot com and let 414 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: me know what's going on in your neck of the woods. Also, 415 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: remember to go to www dot steel Dealers dot com 416 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 1: to find a local, knowledgeable steel dealer near you. They're 417 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: gonna get you set up with what you need and 418 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: they won't try to send you home with what you don't. 419 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 1: Thanks again, and I'll talk to you next week.