1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: From Mediators World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,960 --> 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 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal Callahan. Washington 5 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: State spring black bear hunt continues to be a hot topic. 6 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: Spoiler alert. The spring hunt is not back on, but 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: things are staying interesting. As you recall, the incomplete State 8 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: Wildlife Commission had a deadlocked vote of four to four 9 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: when considering this springs hunt. Without a majority vote, the 10 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,959 Speaker 1: hunt was suspended. At the time of the vote. There 11 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: was an open eastern Washington seat that would in theory 12 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: have prevented a tie, but we don't know if it 13 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: would have necessarily prevented a no hunt outcome. Now, however, 14 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: State Wildlife Commissioner Fred Coon's, who has served shy of 15 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: one year of a six year commitment, has announced his 16 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: resignation from the commission, stating that the quote commission is 17 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: currently stuck in a politicized quagmire. Well, Fred, welcome to America. 18 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: It's a broad but accurate quote. Coons goes on to say, 19 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: this is not the kind of environment in which I thrive. 20 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: I hope that your future appointments to the Commission can 21 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: be better politicians than me, as I am a conservation 22 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: biologist at heart, which is a heck of a quote. 23 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: In fact, I would bet if we were to do 24 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: a random and blind poll amongst the hunting and angling community, 25 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 1: conservation biologist would likely rank a heck of a lot 26 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: higher than politician if you wanted to select who would 27 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: be on your game Commission. Coons, however, has been criticized 28 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: for questioning the opinion of state biologists in regards to 29 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: the spring bear hunt, of which he was a no 30 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: vote despite the state's opinion in that the hunt should 31 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: be carried out, and again when considering a popular Blue 32 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: Mountain elk hunt. In both circumstances, Coon's questioned how the 33 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: data was collected and to which objectives the hunt we're 34 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: looking to serve, biological or social. The Commission is appointed 35 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: by Governor j Ininsley. He now has two seats to fill, 36 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: and most folks who like to hunt and fish are 37 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: crossing their fingers that new appointees come from eastern Washington 38 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: and at least purchase hunting and fishing licenses. This week, 39 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: we've got poison the feral cats, arm race, and so 40 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: much more. But first I'm gonna tell you about my week, 41 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: and my week has involved some serious cooking with chef 42 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: Kevin Gillespie. Kevin and I teamed up for a future 43 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: episode of Meat Eater Cooks on this one will focus 44 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: on pheasant legs and thighs. We got a quick afternoon 45 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: walk in on a friend's property and we're lucky enough 46 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: to get a couple of birds. Old snort as a 47 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: heck of a nose on her. But after two weeks 48 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: of big game hunting really no basic training, followed by 49 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: another week of me being out at Doug Duran's place, 50 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: she was like a pheasant seeking rocket. On this couple 51 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: hour walks, she decided to get a week's worth of 52 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: running in and let me tell you, she found and 53 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: flushed birds. We just weren't always there with her. On 54 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: top of that, instead of bringing birds to hand or 55 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: even within five feet of me, she would bring the 56 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: birds just into eyesight, dropped the rooster from her mouth 57 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: as soon as she made eye contact with me, and 58 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: then sprint off to go find more. Any time we 59 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: would stop. And keep in mind, we were filming, so 60 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: there was plenty of stopping snort would slide off from 61 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: heel and flush a bird by herself. Whose fault is this? 62 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: That would be me the old joke of what's got 63 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: two thumbs and needs to start training his bird dog again? 64 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:01,119 Speaker 1: This guy. Fortunately, I'm putting the big game season aside 65 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: and looking to put some ducks and geese in the freezer, 66 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: and maybe, if we get on top of it and 67 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: get real lucky a late season pheasant or two. Who knows. 68 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: But we'll be out looking for opportunities, and that's what 69 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: really matters. It's nice living in a place where there's 70 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: seasonal change. I can go skiing, go ice fishing. I 71 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: have plenty of outdoor opportunity when the hunting season ends. 72 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: But man, I just don't feel like I got enough. 73 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: I don't know if you can relate. I will tell 74 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: you this. You gotta look forward to this Meat Eater 75 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: Cooks episode. Chef Kevin Gillespie is the host and for 76 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: pheasant legs and thighs and probably any other leg and 77 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: thigh of game birds. The recipe that we cook up 78 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: is absolutely phenomenal. I would say astounding, and it's truly 79 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: not that freaking hard. It's just not it's great, though, 80 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: that's a cliffhanger for you leave some drool on your lips. 81 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: Moving on in big news here in the state of Montana. 82 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: Not unlike the Washington story I just mentioned, our state 83 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: Wildlife Agency, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are wildlife commissioners 84 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 1: and the state itself are continually trying to tick off 85 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: everyone equally, which is what I hope they are actually 86 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 1: trying to do, although I do have my doubts from 87 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: time to time. Everyone is, of course landowners, public land hunters, 88 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: private land hunters, outfitters, you me in state hunters, out 89 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: of state hunters, the collective interests in game species. The 90 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: topic is elk. The general commentary coming from the state 91 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: is that elk are over objective in many units here 92 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 1: in Montana. This is a social tolerance objective, not a 93 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: how many elk can the land support or a carrying 94 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: capacity objective. Proposals have been offered as to how ELK 95 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: numbers can be reduced and how to make the opportunity 96 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: that reduction in ELK presents equitable amongst the many stakeholders 97 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: involved in a public resource managed by the state. In 98 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: what appears to be a short term victory. One of 99 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: these proposals, in which landowners and those with access to 100 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: private land would be allowed to purchase either sex elk 101 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 1: tags in eight hunting districts over the counter, while simultaneously 102 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: reducing the number of tags available to those without access 103 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: to private property, where public land hunters was removed from 104 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: the table. Here's a quote in the Montana Free Press. 105 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 1: We threw a proposal out that was going to come 106 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: in front of the commission that was wide open, and 107 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: it went to opening general licenses for private land and 108 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 1: limiting public participation and paramitts because we wanted to make 109 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: sure we didn't harvest too many elk in those areas. 110 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: That really started a firestorm, and I take full responsibility 111 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: for that. That quote is from Montana Fish, Wildlife and 112 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: Parks director Henry hank war Such. You did hear that 113 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: right again, Elk are over objective in these units. So 114 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: the proposal was to allow private land only either sex 115 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: elk tags to be widely available while limiting the number 116 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: of public land permits so as not to kill too 117 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: many elk. When the director says firestorm, he's right. Many 118 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: many comments went up in regards to the threat of 119 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: the privatization of wildlife here in Montana. This example of 120 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: favoring private land with opportunity while reducing public land with 121 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: opportunity under the umbrella of saying we need to reduce elk, 122 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: but not too many is something that should get alarm 123 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: bells ringing. Killing cow elk is how you control elk populations. 124 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: So when you issue either sex tags and make them 125 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: only available to those behind no trespassing signs and make 126 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: the statement that you can't let public hunters participate because 127 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: you don't want too many killed, that's gonna get you 128 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: some comments. Additionally, when you state that some of your 129 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: objectives that led to this proposal are social and that 130 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: you are responding to landowners who are frustrated that they 131 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: couldn't draw tags on their own property, you know that's 132 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: going to get you some comments. To keep in mind, 133 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: there are many many ways to kill elk in Montana 134 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: if you would like to do so. There are many 135 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: many ways to move elk off of your property if 136 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: that is your actual objective. Neither of those objectives necessarily 137 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: necessitate a tag in the pocket of a landowner for 138 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: a specific piece of land. Yes, you do need a 139 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: tag to hunt elk, But if you're motivated to just 140 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: hunt elk, you aren't bound by that particular piece of 141 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: private property. I'd like to point out that a tag 142 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: is an opportunity, not a guarantee, and there are a 143 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 1: ton of public land hunters like myself this past season 144 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: who hardly had the opportunity to get out and hunt, 145 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: which I bring up because I believe that point gets confused. 146 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: A valid tag is not the equivalent of a dead elk. 147 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: If you are a landowner who wishes to kill an 148 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: elk on your property, or kill an elk in general, 149 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 1: you are not part of a special minority. You are 150 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: a part of an overwhelming majority. So I do ask 151 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: the question why the special consideration by the state of 152 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: Montana or any other state when regarding this beautiful, tasty 153 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: hay and alfalfa devouring resource. If it's actually about moving 154 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: elk off of private property and away from cash crops, 155 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: that doesn't require a license or a tag at all. 156 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: My hat is off to Director war Such for taking 157 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: responsibility and going even further. He has approval and is 158 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: forming a new committee with the intent of finding that 159 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: equitable resolution, which includes representatives from the Montana Stock Growers Association, 160 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 1: back Country Hunters and Anglers in Montana Wildlife Association, among others. 161 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: Big thanks to everyone who called rode in and testified 162 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: in regards to the aforementioned proposal. Keep it up, we 163 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: need you moving on. Oregon State police are trying to 164 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: determine who is behind a rash of wolf poisonings that 165 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: started in the eastern part of the state earlier this year. 166 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: In February, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife received 167 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: a mortality signal from a wolf caller in Union County, 168 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: southeast of Le Grand. When state police troopers went out 169 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: to investigate, they discovered five dead wolves, three male and 170 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: two female. Investigators later concluded that this was the entire 171 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 1: Catherine pack, which started as a mating pair in two 172 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: thousand fourteen, consisting of a two year old colored male 173 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: O R to four and a two year old colored 174 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: female O R to seven. This pair left their birth 175 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: packs and set out on their own. Every year from 176 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: then on to successfully produced pups that became breeding pairs 177 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: until O. R two seven died in April of two 178 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen. All of this very cool data is from 179 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website. The other 180 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: extremely interesting and likely relevant staff for this recent poisoning 181 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: news is where these wolves chose to hang out. In 182 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 1: two thousand fourteen, when they first got together, color data 183 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 1: showed that the pair stayed almost entirely on public land, 184 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 1: mostly within the Eagle Cap Wilderness, part of the two 185 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: point four million acre Wallowa Whitman National Forest, where they 186 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: weren't likely to get in all that much trouble. The 187 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: following year, the pack spent just sixty percent of their 188 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: time on public land. By they were on public land 189 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: only twenty five percent of the time. The corresponding maps 190 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 1: show the pack moving steadily westward away from the National 191 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: Forest and into the outskirts of Union, Oregon. You know, 192 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: Union Oregon home in the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, which 193 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: a hundred and thirteen years old is the longest running 194 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 1: livestock show in the Northwest. You know, the holidays are 195 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: coming up. That's lots of family time. You're gonna need 196 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: knowledge like that. You can thank me later. Without perpetrators 197 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,239 Speaker 1: in custody. We can't know the motivation behind the poisonings 198 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: of the Catherine Pack, but those range maps moving almost 199 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: entirely over private property paint the picture of livestock predation 200 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: and human conflict as a possible factor. Poisoned wolves were 201 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: discovered in the same region in March, April, and July 202 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: of this year, with evidence suggesting a single culprit. If 203 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: you have information on who that culprit or possibly culprits, 204 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 1: maybe please call the Oregon State Police tipline or write 205 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 1: an email to tip at State dot or dot us 206 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: and let them know what you got. Oregon's Wolf plan 207 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: has been the focus of intense lobbying and contention since 208 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 1: wolf numbers started growing there. In two thousand nine, there 209 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 1: were just fourteen wolves in Oregon, and that number has 210 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: grown to at least one hundred and seventy three at 211 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,559 Speaker 1: the beginning of two thousand twenty one. The state offers 212 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: wolf depredation grants that help ranchers put non lethal deterrence 213 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,959 Speaker 1: in place, as well as reimbursements for lost or injured 214 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: livestock and working dogs. All of this can be found 215 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 1: at Oregon dot gov slash o d A. O d 216 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 1: A is Oregon Department of Agriculture. Oregon delisted wolves as 217 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: an endangered species in two thousand fifteen, and the state 218 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: then put into place a process for ranchers in the 219 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: eastern half of the state where these poisonings took place 220 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: to apply for lethal control in situations of chronic livestock 221 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: depredation when non lethal measures have been unsuccessful at eliminating conflict. 222 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: In other words, there's a legal way to kill wolves. 223 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: I suppose our theme this week is social science and Oregon. Notwithstanding, 224 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: if we ever want to find some sort of working 225 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: social tolerance and wildlife management that will take all sides 226 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: and interests playing a respectful game and adhering to the 227 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: laws and biological science of the land, hunters can legally 228 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: kill wolves in Idaho. Oregon is right next door. The 229 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: politics in the two states are different, but I would 230 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: like to believe there is still a chance for legal 231 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: hunting in Oregon. In order to get there, we need 232 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: to stick to the rule book. Poison is nasty stuff. 233 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: You never know where it will end up. Let the 234 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: professionals handle it, go through the proper channels, moving on, 235 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: but sticking with the toxicity desk. Two new methods for 236 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: controlling feral cat populations in Australia recently caught my eye. 237 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: Australian feral cats either make American feral cats look lazy, 238 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: or the American cats just don't get the headlines. I'm 239 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: willing to bet it's the latter. According to Australia's National 240 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: Environmental Science Program, almost two dozen Australian mammal species have 241 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: been driven extinct by cat predation, including the pig footed bandicoot, 242 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: the lesser bilbie, the knuller board dwarf beaton, the desert rat, kangaroo, 243 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: the broad faced potteroo, and at least four species of 244 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: hopping mice, two species of rabbit rat, and the lesser 245 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: stick nest rat. If you didn't understand that, let me 246 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: try in my best Australian accent. According to Australians National 247 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: Environmental Science Program, almost two dozen Australian mammal species have 248 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: been driven extinct by cat predation, including the pig footed bendicoot, 249 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: the lesser bilbie, the nullabo dwarf beaton, the desert rat, kangaroo, 250 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: the broad faced potteroo, and at least fall species of 251 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: hopping mice, two species of rabbit rat, and the lesser 252 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: stick nest rat. Uh Is that better? Just more offensive? 253 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: I'm sure the ask call emails will let me know. 254 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: Cats have been murdered on Australian bird populations as well. 255 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: If humans hadn't introduced cat ats, the Macquarie Island parakeet 256 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: and buff banded rail would likely still be with us. 257 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: In all, feral cats in Australia kill about two billion reptiles, birds, frogs, 258 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: and mammals each year, as well as over a billion 259 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: in vertebrates and yes, that is billion with a bee. 260 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: So when biologists tried to reintroduce populations of threatened small mammals, 261 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: it's often like feeding them directly into a meat grinder. 262 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: A two thousand eleven study published in the journal Biological 263 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: Conservation showed that in ten Australian mammal reintroduction attempts over 264 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: the previous decade failed due to predation. If you want 265 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: to turn that statistic towards the positive, you could say 266 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: that out of the last ten reintroductions, there were five 267 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: successful ones. Anyway, those that succeeded did so only when 268 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: feral cat control was implemented. But feral cat control is 269 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: easier said than done. Cats don't fall for the kind 270 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: of things that work on other are feral animals. For example, 271 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: they very rarely take bait that isn't alive and moving, 272 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: which is what led scientists at the University of South 273 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: Australia to develop a poison delivery system that is especially lifelike. 274 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: The reintroduced animals themselves bump, bump bum. If that's not 275 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 1: enough to make you say crikey, I don't know what is. 276 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: The South Australia team developed poison implants the size of 277 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: grains of rice and embedded them in the skin of 278 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 1: the prey species before they were reintroduced in the wild. 279 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: The implants are coated in biostable polymers so that they 280 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: won't break down in the host body, but when that 281 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: host ends up in a cat's stomach, the acid there 282 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 1: dissolves the implants coding and releases the poison. Correct Australian 283 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 1: scientists turned rodents into suicide bombers. We have talked about 284 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: secondary toxicity a bunch on the show. Too often poisoning 285 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: one animal poisons lots of their animals in the same ecosystem, 286 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: But the South Australia team had an answer for that too. 287 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: The poison in the implant is formulated from native plants, 288 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: and therefore native predators adapted to those compounds can eat them. 289 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: Without being affected. Feral cats, on the other hand, were 290 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: introduced too recently to have developed a tolerance, and they 291 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 1: die kind of like what happens when us spokes from 292 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,719 Speaker 1: way up north of the border traveled to like cancoon 293 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: and drink the tap water. A trial population of thirty 294 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: bilbies with poison implants was recently released in the Arid 295 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: Recovery Wildlife Preserve in South Australia. Which is odd because 296 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 1: I am sitting here wondering if I should root for 297 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: a cat to eat them, and really we don't want 298 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 1: a cat to eat them. We'd want thirty individual cats 299 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: to eat thirty individual bilbies, you know, more bang for 300 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: the bilbie, as they say down under. A bilbie, also 301 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: known as the rabbit bandicoot, is a morse soupial like 302 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: a kangaroo or a koala, but about the size of 303 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 1: a large mouse or small rabbit with you know, big ears. 304 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 1: You may recall from a minute ago that the lesser 305 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: bilbie was wiped out by cats. This happened in the 306 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: nineteen fifties, so only the greater bilbie larger but not 307 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 1: that much larger, remains. Bilbies don't drink any water, as 308 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: they get all of their hydration from other organisms they eat, 309 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: from insects and spiders to seeds and bulbs, and they're 310 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 1: young only just date for twelve to fourteen days, one 311 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: of the shortest spans from conception to birth of any 312 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 1: mammal on Earth. Okay, right now, you should write that 313 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 1: down so at Christmas dinner during one of those lulls, 314 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: so you can be like, hey, Grandma, what is the 315 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 1: mammal with the shortest span from conception to birth on Earth? 316 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 1: You may want to preface that with no, it's not 317 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 1: immaculate conception. Depending on your household, it's a war on Christmas. 318 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: Another fun fact about the bilbie is they have a 319 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: power that faces backwards. Why, you may ask, because they 320 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: are such prolific burrowers that if the pouch faced forward, 321 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 1: they would fill it with dirt. I mean, that's a 322 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 1: fun fact. That's a one to punch for Granny. You're 323 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: gonna tear it up this Christmas season. Just wait. Being 324 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: the bait can't be fun. However, the study team estimates 325 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: that for every poison carrying individual who gets eaten, seven 326 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: hundred other native animals will live to fight another day. 327 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 1: A real diving onto the grenade type of deal for 328 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 1: the Greater Bilbie. The other recent cat control innovation that 329 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: crossed my radar is truly technology at its finest, a 330 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: poison spraying robot known as the Felixer, like Felix the Cat, 331 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 1: but kind of with the tone of like we're gonna 332 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 1: fix it in like a gangster sort of way. When 333 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: it comes to naming deadly animal control measures, you really 334 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 1: can't beat the Asse's. Remember the pig control formulation hog gone. Well, 335 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 1: if you don't, you do now this stuff is gold anyway. 336 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: The Felixer is a crate with a poison sprayer and 337 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 1: four laser sensors, two sensors in a line about eighteen 338 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,120 Speaker 1: inches off the ground, and then one sensor a few 339 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: inches above and one a few inches below. If an 340 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: animal bigger than a cat walks by the Felixer, the 341 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,719 Speaker 1: top sensor prevents the machine from going off. If an 342 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 1: animal smaller than a cat walks by, the bottom sensor 343 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: prevents the machine from going off. But if only the 344 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: middle two sensors are tripped, it must be a cat, 345 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 1: and the Felixer squirts a poison gel onto the cat's fur. 346 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: The cat then licks its fur and the poison takes 347 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: its course. That fur delivery method is key. The poison 348 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: is much less likely to spread to other animals when 349 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: it's focused so locally on one particular animal. In the 350 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: Felixer's first trial, none of the one thousand twenty four 351 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: non cat objects like be Tong's lizards and cars were 352 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: fired upon, and the study concluded that two thirds of 353 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: the cat population in the study area were killed by 354 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: the device over six weeks. Only time will tell if 355 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 1: either of these methods will work at scale. And don't 356 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 1: worry the felix or I'm sure as equipped with one 357 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 1: of those stickers with you know, like the toddler falling 358 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 1: into the bucket and the line through it, so you 359 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 1: know cats sized kids aren't in danger before we move on. 360 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 1: We obviously give cats a rough time on the show, 361 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 1: but it's important to add it's not the cat's fault. 362 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 1: They're a very successful parasite. It's what they do. It's 363 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: humans who are actually responsible for the kiddies, So don't 364 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: blame them for being them, Blame them for those eyes, 365 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: lifeless eyes, black eyes. Like that's all I've got for 366 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: you this week. Thank you so much for listening. If 367 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: that initial shock of winter already has your would supply 368 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:08,439 Speaker 1: running low, go to www dot steel Dealers dot com 369 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: and find a local, knowledgeable steel dealer near you. They'll 370 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 1: get you what you need and steal you away from 371 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 1: what you don't. And last, but not least, don't forget 372 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: to write in at a s K, C A L. 373 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 1: That's asked cal at the meat Eater dot com and 374 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 1: let me know what's going on in your neck of 375 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: the woods. I read every single email and a lot 376 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: of the messages to thanks again and I'll talk to 377 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: you next week.