1 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: From Meat Eaters World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This 2 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: is Cow's Week in Review with Ryan cow Kalaan. Here's Cal, 3 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: a Washington State woman just outside of Seattle, was forced 4 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: to call the police and flee in her car last 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: week after her home was surrounded by as many as 6 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: one hundred raccoons. In a video posted on Facebook by 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: the Kitsup County Sheriff's Office, the masked bandits can be 8 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: seen meandering around her yard searching for food. Here, she 9 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: is explaining to deputies that even though she's been feeding 10 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: the animals for a long time, the raccoon flash mob 11 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: is a recent development. 12 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 2: So thirty five years ago you first started fiends raccoons, 13 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 2: and then when all of a sudden did it explode 14 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: like this six weeks ago. Six weeks ago many of 15 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: you sent me this story. I understand and why the 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 2: video is crazy if you haven't watched it yet. And 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 2: I can honestly say I've never seen so many live 18 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 2: raccoons in one place. They seem peaceful enough, but there 19 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 2: are dozens of them, and after all, they wear masks. 20 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 2: The story has gone viral, but there have been some 21 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 2: developments since it was in the news first, the sheriff's 22 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 2: office and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife determined 23 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 2: that the woman hasn't broken any laws. While the wildlife 24 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: agency strongly recommends against feeding raccoons, there isn't a lot 25 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 2: in the books that prohibits it. That's probably because most 26 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 2: people don't want raccoons around and they have the good 27 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 2: sense not to attract them onto their property. Side note, 28 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: a group of raccoons is not called a flash mob. 29 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 2: It's called a gaze, which is kind of creepy but 30 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: makes sense if you've ever shown a flashlight on a 31 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 2: bunch of raccoons in a tree at night. Happy Halloween, everyone. 32 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: A spokesperson with the Wildlife department said that they've referred 33 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 2: the woman to a wildlife control operator in her area 34 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 2: and they're working on trapping the critters. State REGs say 35 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: the animals either have to be released on site, which 36 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: would defeat the purpose of the trapping, or euthanized and 37 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: disposed of. In other words, it's not looking good for 38 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 2: these trash pandas this is usually how it goes. Despite 39 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 2: our best intentions, feeding animals and attracting them to human 40 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 2: civilization almost never works out. Well for the animals. Last 41 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 2: thing I'll say about this story. The woman who is 42 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 2: feeding the raccoons hasn't been named, and she claims that 43 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 2: even though she's been putting out food for thirty five years, 44 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: the problem only started escalating six weeks ago. The sheriff's 45 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 2: office seems to believe her, because a spokesperson told People 46 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 2: magazine that quote. Somehow the word got out in raccoon land. 47 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 2: Maybe it's just me, but that strikes me as a 48 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: little fishy unless all the other neighbors finally locked up 49 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: their trash piles. Although it's kind of funny to think 50 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 2: of out of work raccoons griping about inflation and the 51 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: economy marching their way up the ladies driveway, question remains, 52 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: would you wrap have a raccoon lady or a cat 53 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 2: lady as a neighbor. A group of cats is called 54 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: a glaring By the way, if you like that one, 55 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: here's a few more for you. Better perk up those ears. 56 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 2: For metior to trivia, if the groups of animal card 57 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 2: ever gets played, A group of tigers is a streak, 58 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 2: A group of bears is a sloth, hippos a bloat. 59 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 2: Leopards You say why that's a leap crocodiles. Now you're 60 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: asking about a group of crocodiles, Well, that would depend 61 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 2: if they're in the water or on land. A group 62 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: of crocodiles on land is called a bask like basking 63 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: in the sun. If they're in the water, they're called 64 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: a float. If you know any catchy ones, let us know, 65 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 2: but don't bore us with a zeal, which is obviously 66 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: a group of zebras. This week we've got politics, conservation, 67 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 2: bear trees, legislation, and so much more of it. First, 68 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: I'm gonna tell you about my week in My week 69 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: was spent down at the end of the world Venice, Louisiana. 70 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 2: We just wrapped up a collective three weeks of hosting 71 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: our first round of meat eater experiences and it was great, 72 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: awesome folks, great fishing, way too much food, and despite 73 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 2: the horrible hurricanes that repeatedly battered Florida, we managed to 74 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 2: hit the gap as well as we could weatherwise. A 75 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 2: little wind and rain on the front end and it 76 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,559 Speaker 2: started all over again. The night we put the rods away, 77 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 2: got red and black drum trout chiefs had a five 78 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: foot long alligator gar black fin tuna jackravall and some 79 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 2: really nice yellowfin tuna, in fact, the biggest yellowfin I 80 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 2: have ever seen in person. We managed to boat three 81 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 2: each over one hundred and fifty pounds and that's gild 82 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 2: and gutted weight on the scale, folks. Really impressive fish, 83 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 2: just super super cool, and that was like top water action. 84 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 2: We were bridling live baits and fish were coming up 85 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: from two hundred feet water to the surface and just 86 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: smashing them. Really really fun. Great group of guys, great time. 87 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 2: I can't wait to get back down there. Awesome group 88 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: of captains too, super fun. I could talk about it 89 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: all day. The alligator guar was an awesome catch as well, 90 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 2: something I've wanted to do for a long time. That 91 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: was just like bycatch and a little paddle tail jig, 92 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 2: just like you'd use for throwing a walleye out on 93 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 2: the river here in Montana. But now back in town. 94 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 2: Gotta get snored on some birds and got to slap 95 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 2: a tag on a big old bull elk here too. 96 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: Time to get serious with the backpack. Back on, kids. 97 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: A little bit of housekeeping for you. I have been 98 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: getting some good submissions on your Field Journal Game Bird 99 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 2: Survey homework. I'm still gonna give away some cow pouches 100 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: from the FAHF line and a final rise vest just 101 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: like the one I carry to the winner that we're 102 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 2: gonna randomly select. As I said, October thirty one is 103 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: going to be like the do date. So this is 104 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: your last week if you're listening to this to participate 105 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: Citizen science gang, get in, get on board, make it happen. 106 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 2: So send us those submissions and we'll randomly pick a 107 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 2: couple of you. Make sure you get some good bird 108 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 2: hunting stuff for participating in your game bird surveys and 109 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 2: field journals. On top of that, if you want to 110 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 2: hear much more about the whole Louisiana experience, we got 111 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 2: Meat Eater podcast coming out. You'll be able to dig 112 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: into that. The tailgate tour is still going on, so 113 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: be able to catch a bunch of my buddies down 114 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: at some of these college games. Look that one up 115 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 2: to see where the Meat Eater tailgate Tour is coming next. 116 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 2: You can go add a little excitement to your day 117 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 2: of non hunting, angling and watching football. Lastly, just a reminder, 118 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: this is voting season. Be sure to get out there 119 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: and vote. We got more of that talk coming up 120 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: in this podcast. But this is how we hold our 121 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 2: elected officials accountable more and more. Even in my home 122 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 2: state of Montana, folks don't vote for the individual, They 123 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 2: vote for the party line. If that's your prerogative, you'd 124 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: just be sure that you stay on that elected official 125 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 2: and say, hey, this is the stuff that matters. This 126 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 2: is not a one and done type of responsibility being 127 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 2: a voter here in the US of A. We got 128 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 2: to stay on these folks and make sure that they 129 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 2: know that we are going to hold them accountable. That's 130 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 2: the job that being said, let's move on to the 131 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 2: politics desk. American politics never gets more heated than in 132 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 2: the weeks leading up to a presidential election, and based 133 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: on my conversations with some of you on social media 134 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 2: and elsewhere, I can verify that folks are getting feisty. 135 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: This is an important election, so I get it, and 136 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 2: I have my own opinions about the political animals in 137 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 2: our state and national capitals. But a recent survey caught 138 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: my eye that I think might help lower the temp, 139 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 2: at least among conservationists. The survey was commissioned by the 140 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: Indianapolis Zoological Society and found out a striking bipartisan agreement 141 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 2: about the importance of conserving wild animals and wild spaces. 142 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 2: They contacted over one thousand individuals throughout the US and 143 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 2: found that eighty seven percent say that when thinking about 144 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: the issues they will be voting on in the twenty 145 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 2: twenty four election, a candidate's commitment to animal and environmental 146 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: conservation is important in their decision. It's tough to think 147 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 2: of another issue that nearly nine and ten Americans support, 148 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 2: and the trend is moving in the right direction. The 149 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 2: same outfit asked the same questions in twenty twenty, and 150 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 2: in that year only eighty percent of people said that 151 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 2: the candidate's commitment to conservation is important, down seven percent 152 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 2: from this year. What's more, Republican support for this issue 153 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 2: has grown even more sharply. In twenty twenty, only sixty 154 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: eight percent of Republicans wanted a conservation minded candidate, while 155 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 2: this year that number is eighty two percent, a fourteen 156 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 2: point bump. Everyone should understand by now that surveys and 157 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 2: polls can be manipulated to say pretty much anything, but 158 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 2: this isn't a one off. Twenty twenty one survey by 159 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: the Progressive Group Data for Progress found that ninety one 160 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 2: percent of voters think it is important to save at 161 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 2: risk wildlife, fish and plants for future generations, and that 162 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 2: majorities from all parties support the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. 163 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 2: Republicans are more likely to say that local collaboration is 164 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:20,839 Speaker 2: the best way to do this, but everyone agrees it 165 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 2: should be a priority. A twenty seventeen pole commissioned by 166 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 2: the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership TRCP surveyed one thousand hunters 167 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 2: and anglers and found strong bipartisan support for public land 168 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 2: and conservation eighty seven percent so they didn't want to 169 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 2: see cuts to federal conservation budgets four and five support 170 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: the Clean Water Act, and over seventy seven percent of 171 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 2: Republicans and Democrats don't want to see national monument shrunk 172 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 2: as long as they offer hunting and fishing. I could 173 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 2: go on, but I think our interactions with friends and 174 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: family bears this out. We have incredible natural and ecological 175 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 2: richness in our country, and everyone wants to conserve that 176 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,719 Speaker 2: for future generations. We may disagree on how to do it, 177 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 2: and you may think one party or candidate will do 178 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 2: it better than the other. But when you meet someone 179 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: on the street at deer camp on Instagram, remember that 180 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 2: when it comes to conservation topics, you probably agree on 181 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 2: more than you think. Moving on to the squirrel desk, 182 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish found itself 183 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 2: in some hot water last week after it announced and 184 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 2: then abruptly canceled a squirrel hunting contest. Spokespeople for the 185 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 2: department said the contest was supposed to spark interest in 186 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 2: small game hunting among young New Mexico hunters. Big game 187 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 2: gets all the attention, but the agency wanted to highlight 188 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 2: the many opportunities for animals like tree squirrels, which are 189 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 2: both delicious and fun to hunt, so they announced a 190 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: contest in which hunters and photographers would be given a 191 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 2: challenge coin for harvesting or photographing each of the state's 192 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 2: four tree squirrel species, the Aberts, fox, gray, and red. 193 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: But it didn't take long for animal rights activists to 194 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 2: get involved. It's unclear exactly how they made their feelings known, 195 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 2: but the contest was canceled within forty eight hours due 196 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 2: to quote misperception regarding the opportunities intent. Reading between the lines, 197 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 2: it sounds like uninformed people believe that contestants would be 198 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 2: tasked with killing as many squirrels as possible. That's not true, 199 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 2: because New Mexico sets season dates along with possession and 200 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 2: bag limits. Hunters would still have to abide by all 201 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: the rules they do now. But that didn't matter to 202 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 2: the anti hunters. They complained and the agency folded like 203 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 2: a cheap tent. That might be unfair. I don't know 204 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 2: all the details of this, but it seems like if 205 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 2: there was a misperception about the contest, the New Mexico 206 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 2: Department of Game and Fish should have worked to correct 207 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 2: those misperceptions, not called the whole thing off. Their decision 208 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 2: makes it seem like they were doing something wrong, but 209 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 2: they weren't. I understand that putting the word contest or 210 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 2: challenge next to hunting makes some people uncomfortable, but this 211 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 2: seems like would have blown over almost immediately. Most people 212 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 2: are reasonable and they'd understand that this contest isn't about 213 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 2: the wholesales s lilofe of New Mexico's squirrels. Instead, New 214 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 2: Mexican hunters lost out on an opportunity, and now the 215 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 2: anti hunters know they can use public pressure to dictate 216 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,599 Speaker 2: Wildlife Department decisions. The good news is that contesters know 217 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 2: there are still tons of opportunities to hunt tree squirrels. 218 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 2: In the Land of Enchantment. Squirrel hunting is allowed on 219 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 2: any big game license. The season runs from September one 220 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 2: to December thirty one, and hunters are allowed eight per day. 221 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 2: Moving on to the legislative desk. Legislation is part of 222 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 2: the reason the hunting community has paid attention to that 223 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 2: squirrel story is because it's another sign that hunting contests 224 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 2: are under attack. For example, listener Jonathan Slessinger wrote in 225 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 2: to tell me about an Illinois bill that would ban 226 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 2: contests or competitions with the objective of taking any fur 227 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 2: bearing mammal, Much like similar bills passed in other states, 228 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 2: Illinois HB two nine zeros zero would ban anyone from 229 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 2: organizing or participating in so called wildlife killing contests. This 230 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,319 Speaker 2: is mainly targeted at coyote hunting contests, and it's been 231 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 2: one of the most effective campaigns by anti hunting groups. 232 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 2: Ten states have passed similar bills, and several of them 233 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 2: have been in the last few years. This one in 234 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 2: Illinois passed the state House on a sixty two to 235 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 2: forty five vote, and now it's being considered by the 236 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 2: state Senate. Up in Minnesota, voters will have a chance 237 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 2: to renew a policy that requires forty percent of the 238 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 2: proceeds from the state's lottery to go to environmental and 239 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 2: natural resource projects. Voters first put the policy in place 240 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty eight, and since then, the lottery has 241 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 2: generated one point one billion dollars to fund about seventeen 242 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 2: hundred projects. These include everything from research on drinking water 243 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 2: and air quality, to building trails and campsites to supporting 244 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 2: the loon population. Money from the fund has been used 245 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 2: to protect the state's lakes and rivers from invasive species, 246 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 2: help kids cannoe the boundary waters, and build peers to 247 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 2: allow more people to fish. The fund is brought by 248 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 2: partisan support, but it still needs to be renewed when 249 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,319 Speaker 2: voters go to the polls this year. It's hard to 250 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 2: imagine someone voting against this policy if they'd understand what 251 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 2: it does. But I can't imagine someone voting no if 252 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 2: they see it for the first time on a ballot 253 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 2: and it hasn't been explained to them. If the ballot 254 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 2: measure fails, one hundred percent of the money from the 255 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 2: lottery will go to the general fund, and state legislators 256 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 2: will have the power to distribute it however they see fit. 257 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 2: Judging from how readily politicians raid out or funds in 258 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 2: other states, I wouldn't want to trust them to make 259 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 2: the decision big Thanks to listener Josh Ringsmouth for sending 260 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 2: us that story. Moving over to the Garden State, a 261 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 2: bad bill we covered all the way back in episode 262 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 2: one sixty has resurfaced. Thanks to listener Matthew Knoblock for 263 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 2: making us aware of this. A new Jersey bill, A 264 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 2: one four zero four, would make two changes to the 265 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 2: law that could make hunting much more difficult. First, it 266 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 2: would prohibit bow hunters from having a knocked arrow within 267 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 2: four hundred and fifty feet of any occupied building unless 268 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 2: the bow hunter has written permission from the owner or 269 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 2: lease of the building. You can see how this can 270 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 2: make hunting more difficult in a suburban setting or even 271 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 2: along the border of a rural property. There also doesn't 272 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 2: seem to be any justification for the change. The legislator 273 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 2: who introduced it, assembly Woman Shama Hater, hasn't identified any 274 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 2: instances of a bow hunter injuring or killing anything because 275 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 2: they were too close to a building. Rather than solving 276 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 2: an actual problem, this bill looks more like an attempt 277 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 2: to make it harder for hunters to be successful. That 278 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 2: also seems to be the motivation behind the other new 279 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 2: component of the bill. A one four zero four would 280 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 2: require the owner of a property to provide a written 281 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 2: notice to all their neighbors whenever they plan to hunt 282 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 2: the property. The notice must include that date, time, and 283 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 2: duration of the hunt, which tells me this bill was 284 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 2: written by someone who's never set foot in the woods. 285 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 2: I don't know about you, but I've never been able 286 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: to predict how long my hunts will last. Property owners 287 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 2: must receive written confirmation from each neighbor that they've received notice, 288 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 2: which is just impossible gang, and they have to provide 289 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 2: notice at least twenty four hours prior to hunting. The 290 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 2: bill technically doesn't require the neighbors to grant permission, but 291 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 2: they could easily keep a property owner from hunting by 292 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 2: not sending a written confirmation. Again, this seems like a 293 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 2: solution in search of a problem, not to mention a 294 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 2: gross violation of private property rights. If someone owns a 295 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 2: peaceful land and they follow all other hunting laws to 296 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 2: stay safe and legal. They shouldn't have to notify their 297 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: neighbors every time they planned to go hunting. This bill 298 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 2: didn't even get a committee vote when it was introduced 299 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty two, and I think we can all 300 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 2: hope for the same outcome this year. Either way, be 301 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 2: on the lookout. Moving from the state to the national level, 302 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 2: I'm pleased to report that, for the first time ever, 303 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 2: the United States House of Representatives will consider a comprehensive 304 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 2: piece of legislation aimed at conserving our country's vital grassland ecosystems. 305 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 2: A bipartisan group of representatives announced last week their intention 306 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 2: to file the North American Grasslands Conservation Act. The Grassland 307 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: Act is modeled after the wildly successful North American Wetlands 308 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 2: Conservation Act, which was first passed in nineteen eighty nine. 309 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 2: The Grasslands Act would essentially create a fund that landowners 310 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,959 Speaker 2: and conservation groups can tap into to do vital grassland 311 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 2: conservation work for one of our country's most imperiled ecosystems. 312 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 2: And I don't use the word imperiled. Lightly more than 313 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 2: seventy percent of America's tall grass mixed grass and short 314 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 2: grass prairies have vanished in the last century or so. 315 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 2: That's stuff that you just can't really replace. Gang. That's 316 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 2: been followed by the precipitous decline of grassland bird populations, 317 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 2: which have dropped by more than thirty percent since nineteen 318 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 2: sixty six. Elk and muldeer also rely on grasslands, not 319 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 2: to mention the dozens of non game species that live there. 320 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 2: We're talking anything from antelope to pollinators gang. This is 321 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 2: a critical ecosystem and it is literally dying on our watch. 322 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is a great step 323 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 2: in the right direction, and it's going to take a 324 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 2: lot of effort to get this one across the finish line. Now, 325 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 2: the Grasslands Act should sound familiar to regular listeners of 326 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 2: Cal's Weeken Review. The concept of Grasslands Act was first 327 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 2: introduced in the US Senate in twenty twenty two, and 328 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 2: we've covered it several times since, but it failed to 329 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 2: gain much traction, and part of that was due to 330 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 2: the fact that it didn't have any Republican co sponsors. 331 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 2: This new US House version was introduced by two Democrats 332 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: and two Republicans, and advocates say it makes some key 333 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 2: changes that might help it gain steam once the new 334 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 2: Congress convenes next year. The text of the bill hasn't 335 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 2: been released, but the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership reports that 336 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 2: the House bill aligns it more closely with Wetland Conservation Act, 337 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 2: improves tribal provisions, and is generally more bipartisan. One of 338 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 2: those changes may not come as welcome news to grassland conservationists, 339 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 2: but it might be necessary if we want it to 340 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 2: pass a closely divided Congress. Outdoor Life reports that the 341 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 2: Senate version of the bill would authorize up to two 342 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 2: hundred and ninety million per year for grasslands conservation grants, 343 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 2: while this new version would only authorize sixty million dollars 344 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 2: in annually. It's a lot less money, but advocates hope 345 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 2: that's just a starting point and the cap might be 346 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:09,199 Speaker 2: raised in future years. Keep in mind, this is money 347 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 2: for public and private land. There's a ton of cash 348 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 2: here for private landowners. Sixty million in't much to spread 349 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: around for now. The bill will head to the House 350 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 2: Natural Resources Committee for consideration, amendments, and hearings, but those 351 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: hearings aren't likely to happen until next year, so you 352 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 2: have plenty of time to get in touch with the 353 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 2: committee members to voice your support. We'll post contact info 354 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 2: over at the meat eater dot com forward slash cat 355 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 2: if you want to get ahead of that. That's Naturalresources 356 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 2: dot house dot gov forward slash contact. Moving on to 357 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 2: the bear attack Desk, yet another hunter shot and killed 358 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 2: the grizzly bear last week, this time after escaping the 359 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 2: bear's pause by climbing a tree. Montana Fish, Wildlife and 360 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 2: Parks reports the hunter called nine to one one from 361 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 2: his perch just after two pm on Saturday, October fifth. 362 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 2: The man said he'd been charged by a bear with 363 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 2: two cubs and and so he'd climbed a tree. From there, 364 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 2: he used a pistol to shoot the female grizzly, but 365 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 2: he only managed to injure it. Apparently seeking revenge, the 366 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 2: brewin hung out around the tree and prevented the hunter 367 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 2: from climbing down, so he called search and rescue, and 368 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 2: an FWP grizzly specialist was able to helicopter into the 369 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 2: area and kill the bear before the hunter sustained any injuries. 370 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 2: Because grizzlies are still protected under the Endangered Species Act, 371 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 2: this incident is under investigation by the US Fish and 372 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 2: Wildlife Service. Right now, there's nothing to indicate that the 373 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 2: hunter is lying, but there are a few discrepancies. First, 374 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 2: Montana FWP said that the hunter shot the bear after 375 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 2: climbing the tree, but the Gallatin County Sheriff's office said 376 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,719 Speaker 2: the hunter shot the bear and then scrambled up the tree. 377 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 2: This could just be the result of a bad note 378 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,399 Speaker 2: taking situation, but it could also be an inconsistency of 379 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 2: the hunter's story. Another potential inconsistency is whether the grizz 380 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 2: had cubs with her. The hunter claimed he was charged 381 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 2: by all three bears, but a Montana FWP spokesperson said 382 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 2: FWP staff did not see any cubs or cub tracks 383 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 2: in the area after flying over it several times. Maybe 384 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 2: agency officials just missed the signs, but it's another discrepancy 385 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 2: federal investigators will have to work out in the meantime. 386 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,360 Speaker 2: I've been interested enough to click through a new online 387 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 2: grizzly bear mortality dashboard published by Montana f TOBP. Grizzly 388 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 2: deaths are tracked closely by the US Fish and Wildlife 389 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:22,400 Speaker 2: Service and state agencies, but you'd be surprised how hard 390 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 2: it can be to find the data. Most grizzly attacks 391 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,239 Speaker 2: get coverage in the media, but you don't always hear 392 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 2: about livestock depredation, kills, vehicle accidents in other ways that 393 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:34,919 Speaker 2: grizzlies end up dead. To increase transparency, Montana f TOBP 394 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: now publishes some of that info in a simple online dashboard. 395 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 2: There have been twenty four recorded grizzly mortalities in Montana 396 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 2: this year, eight of which have been due to conflict removal. 397 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,159 Speaker 2: That's the most common reason, followed by defensive life with 398 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 2: four incidents, and mistaken identification with three. Two grizzlies have 399 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 2: been killed by cars or trains, two were killed illegally, 400 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 2: and two incidents from earlier this year remain under investigation. 401 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 2: One bear was youth and ie because it was injured 402 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 2: or sick, and two more removed alive. The bears were 403 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:08,400 Speaker 2: almost evenly split among males and females, thirteen male eleven female. 404 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 2: I want to emphasize that these aren't all the grizzlies 405 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 2: that have died so far this year. These are just 406 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 2: the ones that have involved humans and have been reported, 407 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 2: so it makes sense that conflict removal would be the 408 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 2: most common cause listed here. If you want to check 409 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 2: it out for yourself, we'll post a link over at 410 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 2: themeatbeater dot com forward slash cow. That's all I've got 411 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 2: for you this week. Thank you so much for listening. 412 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,879 Speaker 2: Remember devote public lands, waters and wildlife. You know why 413 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 2: I will. Thanks again. We'll talk to you next week.