1 00:00:02,800 --> 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 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal Callahan. A 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: seventy three year old woman in Florida was impaled by 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: a sailfish last month after the one pound animal charged 7 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: her boat, leapt out of the water, and stabbed her 8 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: in the groin. Another passenger on the boat had hooked 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: the fish with the rotten line when he noticed the 10 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: giant swords swimming towards the boat. Katherine Perkins told police 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: that the incident happened so fast she didn't have time 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: to react. One second, she was standing near the center 13 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: console the boat. The next she had a sailfish bill 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: stuck somewhere below the belt. It may be more odd 15 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: that the police responded to this incident. Again, we're talking 16 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: about Florida. Her friends kept pressure on the wound until 17 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,839 Speaker 1: they got back to the dock. About an hour later. 18 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: She was rushed to a nearby hospital and is expected 19 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: to recover. Speaking of puncture wounds in strange places, a 20 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: man in Atlanta was taken to the hospital recently after 21 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: being shot the chest with a crossbow. According to the 22 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: Associated Press, the man was standing outside a convenience store 23 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,839 Speaker 1: west of downtown when someone pulled up in a gold minivan, 24 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: got out and shot him in the chest. The victim 25 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: was taken to the hospital conscious and alert, but has 26 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: so far refused to cooperate with law enforcement. Well, I 27 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: mean no kidding. You don't get shot in the city 28 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: by someone with a crossbow and go squealing to the cops. 29 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: That's totally against Dungeons and Dragons protocol. I can't wait 30 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: for this Hotlanta Larper's next move. This week we got poaching, pandemics, 31 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: red drum, and legislation. But first, I'm gonna tell you 32 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: about my week in My week has been pretty darn wild. 33 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: Recording for you currently from a cargo container house on 34 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: the Big Island of Hawaii. We're getting close to wrapping 35 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: up two future Meat Eater episodes. We've been seriously spoiled, 36 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: hunting pigs, sheep, fish, eating all the things that grow 37 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 1: on trees, meeting lots of new friends. It's been informative 38 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: and we haven't even had to get off of Montana time. 39 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: These folks are not afraid to wake up at three 40 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,799 Speaker 1: am if the situation depends on it, which I appreciate. 41 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: That's only seven am back home. A couple of highlights. 42 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: We gotta run around at six thousand feet with a 43 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: guy named Justin Lee who was an accomplished hunter and 44 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: spear fisherman, but also involved in his family business of 45 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: land management with an emphasis on restoring and cultivating native plants. 46 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: Where'd a ton about Hawaiian trees and African grasses, Hawaiian history, 47 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: and sandal would Did you know that the sandalwood tree, 48 00:02:56,240 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: aside from being Hawaii's first plant export, is in fact 49 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: a parasitic tree. It hosts off of the surrounding trees 50 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: by tapping into their roots systems. I didn't know that. 51 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: We also scared a lot of sheep, made some great stocks, 52 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 1: talked invasive species, native species, and noxious plants, and generally 53 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: had a great time. And yeah, after some embarrassingly bad shooting, 54 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: I managed to get a you who's gonna be super tasty? 55 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: Did you know that seventy two of Hawaii's native birds 56 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: have gone extinct in the last one hundred years? That's 57 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: our time, the last one hundred years. The folks with 58 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: the big brains, and we're supposed to be taking care 59 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: of stuff. Check out the big brain bread on the 60 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: same page. Hawaii just made it illegal to shoot feral cats. 61 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: Pretty clear who they value the most. We did a 62 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: lot of swimming with sharks, oceanic white tips, really good looking, 63 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: long pectoral and dorsal fans give them a larger than 64 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: they are appearance. Some were aggressive, some were far too familiar. 65 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: Others were really beautiful and graceful creatures to watch. We 66 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: did pay the tax man a couple of times, which 67 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: is the cool way of saying a shark stole my fish. 68 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: We paid three quarters of an on no or wahoo 69 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: which Kimmy had speared, and an entire tuna on a 70 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: rod and reel setup that fought like it was the 71 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: biggest of the trip, but we'll never know. On the 72 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: food side of things, we as in Danny Bolton, Kimmy Werner, 73 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: Stephen Ronnella and myself threw down on some serious food 74 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: polk sashimi, oh noah, he pilot fish, uku, sheep, pig, 75 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: mule deer, even a bunch of spoon bill ducks I 76 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: shot last season, and my buddy's rice field in California, 77 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: Big Mahollow to the Hawaii crew. I know I'm not 78 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: naming all of you, but it's supposed to be a 79 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: twenty minute podcast. I'll buy you a beer when I 80 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: come back, and I will Moving on, A shrinking percentage 81 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: of Washington State residents approve of legal regulated hun according 82 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 1: to a new survey released by the Washington Department of 83 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: Fish and Wildlife. However, that trend doesn't appear to be 84 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: driven by a dislike of hunting. Instead, Washington State residents 85 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: just don't care. The survey found approval of hunting decrease 86 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: substantially in recent years, dropping from eight percent in two 87 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: thousand fourteen to seventy five percent in two thousand twenty two, 88 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: but the survey didn't find significantly higher levels of opposition. 89 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: The decrease in support came from more residents giving neutral 90 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: or do not know responses. In fact, some questions show 91 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: decreases in both support and opposition. Only four percent of 92 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: Washington State residents hunted last year, so the fact that 93 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 1: sevent of residents support legal regulated hunting is still a 94 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: victory for the hunting community. However, it's still troubling that 95 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,679 Speaker 1: support for hunting seems to be decreasing in Washington State, 96 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: even if those folks don't outright oppose the activity. Nationwide, 97 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: surveys have found consistently that about eight percent of Americans 98 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: support legal hunting for food. This is very important stuff 99 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: to keep in mind when your outspoken Instagram page talks 100 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: about the anti hunters, or a new bill is introduced 101 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: in your state that seems to be very outrightly anti hunting. 102 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: It's our job to be informed, to share our stories, 103 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: to speak well, share some food, and talk to this 104 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: sevent of the population that does not hunt, and keep 105 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: in mind that just because they do not hunt doesn't 106 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: mean they're anti hunting. One of the strongest arguments in 107 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,239 Speaker 1: favor of hunting is that it helps maintain healthy ecosystems. 108 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: I came across several stories in just the past few 109 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: weeks that do a great job illustrating this point. In 110 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: many states, expanding white tailed deer populations are wreaking havoc 111 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: over browsing and natural areas, harms native plant species and 112 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 1: young trees. Collisions between deer and vehicles kill both people 113 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:03,679 Speaker 1: and animals. Tick infestations spread lime disease, and deer damage gardens. 114 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: And landscaping. Historically, wildlife managers have relied on hunters to 115 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: keep those populations in check. In Iowa, for example, the 116 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: Fort Dodge City Council is considering a proposal that would 117 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: allow urban archery hunting for the first time ever. This 118 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: hunt is a result of a petition drive in two 119 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: thousand twenty asking the city council to do something about 120 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: the deer. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources advised the 121 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: council that an archery hunt could be conducted. That's called 122 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: being proactive. Remember hunting his conservation only if we participate. 123 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: Moving on to the law enforcement desk. I love a 124 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: good poaching story as much as the next guy, but 125 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: the men and women who investigate those crimes are often 126 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: overshadowed by the colorful characters who actually do the poaching, 127 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: which is a shame. Our wildlife officers are hard working 128 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: folks who care about protecting our natural resources, and they 129 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: have developed all kinds of creative ways to keep poaching 130 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: to a minimum. In San Diego, for example, a nonprofit 131 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: called Wild Coast Partners with the California Department of Fish 132 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: and Wildlife was developed to nab poachers in the Lahoya Cove. 133 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: They set up a radar unit that sends boat movement 134 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: information to an artificial intelligence system that identifies potential poaching 135 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: in the co's Marine Protected Areas or m p A. S. 136 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: Kyoto and his team have worked with the California Department 137 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: of Fish and Wildlife to nab over sixty fishing violators. 138 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: With the help of their radar system, they can monitor 139 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: the water and send out automatic reports to enforcement authorities 140 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 1: in international waters. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature is 141 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: expanding a genetic database that will help wildlife officials find 142 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: and prosecute turtle poachers. Hawks bill sea turtles are prized 143 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: by poachers for their beautiful shells, which are used to 144 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: make jewelry, spectacle frames, combs, and other things we don't need. 145 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: Hawks bill turtles are considered endangered in the United States 146 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: and around world, and trade has been illegal since nineteen 147 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: seventy seven. Thousands of turtle shells are seized by law 148 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: enforcement every year, but that's often where the investigation ends. 149 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,319 Speaker 1: The Worldwide Fund for Nature is hoping to change that 150 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 1: by launching a genetic database called shell Bank. This database 151 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: will house genetic information from nesting sites and cross reference 152 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: that with turtles seized by law enforcement. Poachers often target 153 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: nesting sites, but those sites are remote and difficult to monitor. 154 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: If wildlife officials nowhere shells are coming from, they can 155 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: more effectively use their limited resources to protect those locations. 156 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: The United States has another kind of network dedicated to 157 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:41,839 Speaker 1: stopping poachers. Operation Game Thief. No doubt you've heard about this. 158 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: It's a nonprofit organization that operates independently and virtually every state. 159 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: Started in New Mexico in nineteen seventy seven and was 160 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: modeled after the original crime Stoppers program developed by the 161 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: Albuquerque Police Department. The rocks Hank now their minerals, Marie 162 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: I got some gails coming that are very delicate. At 163 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: that time, many did not consider poaching to be a 164 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: real crime. However, a study commission in the nineteen seventies 165 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish estimated 166 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: that poachers killed about thirty four thousand deer in the 167 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: state per year, which is a lot. When other states 168 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: found comparable results, and nationwide effort was launched to reduce 169 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: poaching and change the public's perception of it. Operation Game 170 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,839 Speaker 1: Thief offers cash rewards for tips that lead to poaching convictions. 171 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: The organization works closely with the state's Wildlife Crime Division 172 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: to pass along those tips, and they've successfully busted thousands 173 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,839 Speaker 1: of poachers. Game wardens will tell you that tips from 174 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: concerned citizens are crucial to their work. Wildlife crimes occur 175 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: in remote areas, and it's often impossible for game wardens 176 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: to monitor that much ground. In many states, Operation Game 177 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: Thief also works to educate the public about the seriousness 178 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: of wildlife related crime. The Operation Game Thief organization in Texas, 179 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: for example, bowl built trailers that display Taxi dean models 180 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: of the various animals that have been poached over the years. 181 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: They bring these trailers to schools and outdoor trade shows 182 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: to remind people that poaching he has a crime, not 183 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: just a prank. Next time you see them in your 184 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: neck of the woods, stop in, say hi, and check 185 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: out what you could have bumped into if it weren't poached. 186 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 1: Moving on to the pandemic desk, a federal agency with 187 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: the United States Department of Agriculture recently barred waterfowl hunters 188 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: from bringing home game birds from Mexico and sixty three 189 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: areas across Canada. The decision was made by the Animal 190 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: and Plant Health Inspection Service to limit the spread of 191 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: avian influenza otherwise known as bird flu. Listener Casey McDowell 192 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: of Indiana sent me an email on July saying that 193 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: he was prohibited from bringing his water foul across the border. 194 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: He's part of a group that has been hunting in 195 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: Saskatchewan for over thirty two years, and he was excited 196 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: to bring back his Canada snow and specled belly geese 197 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: after his most recent trip. But his tasty waterfowl were 198 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: seized at the border, and it doesn't look like he's 199 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: going to get them back. Why American officials believe they 200 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: can stop the spread of a disease by seizing the 201 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: breast meat of a migratory bird that flies thousands of 202 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: miles every year at a border that the birds don't recognize, 203 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: is you know? Unclear? Fortunately for everyone except Casey, the 204 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: restrictions on imports from Canada started to lift the day 205 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: sent me this email. Sorry, Casey. The U s d 206 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: A reported that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency had resolved 207 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: the bird flu outbreaks and some of the previously restricted areas, 208 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: so hunters should be able to start bringing back their take. 209 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: The important bands are still in place in some areas, 210 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: and you can find a list of those zones on 211 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: the U s DA's website. As of July, the restrictions 212 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: on birds from Mexico are still effective. I spoke with 213 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: meat eaters Sean Weaver, are resident waterfowl guru, and he 214 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: told me that even though you aren't seeing bird flu 215 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: as much in the news, sign atists are still very 216 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: much concerned. The flu isn't spreading as quickly among wild 217 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: birds because it's nesting season Less movement means less transmission, 218 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: which is why we've seen the decline, But transmission could 219 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: very well picked back up during fall migration. It's also 220 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: unclear whether the virus will become endemic to wild populations. 221 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: Will this be something we deal with every year. I 222 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: don't know. It's a great question. Bird flu is declining 223 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: in Canada for now, but now it looks like they're 224 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 1: dealing with another deadly pathogen. Parks Canada reported last month 225 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: that they had detected signs of a possible anthrax outbreak 226 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: among bison at Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories. 227 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: Park officials noticed that several colored buffalo had died and 228 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: when they went to investigate, two field tests showed positive 229 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: results for anthrax. Unfortunately for park visitors. Humans can get 230 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: anthrax from close contact with bison, which is probably still 231 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: not enough to get park visitors to keep their distance 232 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: from the large animals. Anthrax, contrary to popular belief, is 233 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,080 Speaker 1: not just a band name or something spread through the 234 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 1: United States Postal Service. The disease is caused by Bacillus anthrassas, 235 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 1: which is a spore forming bacteria. These spores can live 236 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 1: naturally in the soil for decades and become activated in 237 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: hot weather and fluctuating water levels. According to the American 238 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: Veterinary Medical Association, outbreaks have been identified in several U 239 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: S States and usually occur after periods of drought followed 240 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: by heavy rains. Biologists with Wood Buffalo National Park believe 241 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: bison ingested these spores while wallowing in dust baths. Park 242 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: officials have observed forty seven carcasses so far, and Canada's 243 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: Northwest Territories is apparently a hot spot for bison anthrax outbreaks. 244 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: Over three hundred bison died in the territories in two 245 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: thousand twelve. Another fifty seven and two thousand fifteen. Officials 246 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: at Wood Buffalo Parks say they do not know whether 247 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: this outbreak will have a long term impact on the herd, 248 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: but they say pass outbreaks have had minimal effect on 249 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: the larger population. Moving on to the fishing desk, a 250 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: long standing controversy in Virginia kicked into high gear last 251 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: month when a reduction fishing operation accidentally and illegally killed 252 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: a school of red drum off the coast of a 253 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: state park. Thanks to listener Bo Baden for bringing this 254 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: one to our attention, Omega Protein, whose parent company is 255 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: headquartered in Canada, was fishing for man Hayden or bunka 256 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: one mile offshore near Virginia Beach. Man Haydan or Bunka 257 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: are small, oily forage fish that are eaten by larger 258 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: fish like stripe bass, weak fish, and blue fish, not 259 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: to mention ospreys, eagles, and humpback whales. Omega Protein catches 260 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: manhaden and huge nets and reduces them down to fish 261 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: oil and fish meal, hence the term reduction fishing. So 262 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: if that's reduction fishing, I wonder what happens when you 263 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: do something really fancy with your trout that you caught 264 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: on your fly line as that enhancement fishing. Think about 265 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: it right in I want to know. They catch man 266 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 1: hayden using spotters and airplanes that direct the boats to 267 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: where drop the gnats. Omega Protein claims that a school 268 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: of red drum was swimming underneath the school of menhadan, 269 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: which is like, yeah, no kidding, so the pilots weren't 270 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: able to see the red drum from the air. When 271 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: the fishing boat raised its nat, the captain noticed the 272 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: snared red drum and ordered the net to be dropped, 273 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: but it was too late. Many fish likely died during 274 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: the incident. According to Omega Protein. The photos I've seen 275 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: show hundreds of men haden and red drum dead in 276 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: the water, and local media reports dead fish had washed 277 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: on shore for miles along the beach. This particular mistake 278 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: won't threaten the red drum or men haden populations, but 279 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 1: the incident has understandably fired up Chesapeake Bay anglers because 280 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: many say that Omega protein shouldn't be in the water 281 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: to begin with. Virginia is the only state along the 282 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: East Coast that allows reduction fishing for men hayden. Other 283 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: states have decided that the practice is too damaging to 284 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 1: the ecosystem. Given the important role men hayden or bunka 285 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: playing the food chain, Recreational fishermen are especially concerned with 286 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: how commercial men hayden fishing affects the stripe bass population. 287 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: We've covered this in a few previous episodes. Stripe mass 288 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: are on a decline along the East Coast. There are 289 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: many suspected causes for this, including serious habitat changes, commercial 290 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: and recreational stripe bass fishing, as well as others. On 291 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: June fourteenth of this year, a group of conservation organizations, 292 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: including the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership b h A, sent 293 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 1: a letter to Virginia Governor Glen yon Kin asking that 294 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: the governor prohibit reduction fishing in the chess Peak Bay. 295 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: They want omega protein to stop fishing for men haden 296 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 1: until scientists can more thoroughly study how the practice affects 297 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: stripe bass. One hundred million pounds of bunka or men 298 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: hayden are taken every year. According to a two thousand 299 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: seventeen study, men hadan or bunka fishing contributes to a 300 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: nearly thirty decline and stripe bass numbers coastwide and man 301 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 1: Hayden constitute more than thirty of stripe basses. Diet Delegate 302 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: Tim Anderson has introduced a bill that would ban reduction 303 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: fishing for man haden in the Chesapeake Bay. He told 304 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,439 Speaker 1: local media that his constituents are worried about the stripe 305 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: bass numbers and recreational fishing charters aren't seeing as many 306 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 1: large fish. Unfortunately, the bill isn't likely to pass anytime soon. 307 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: Omega Protein donates tens of thousands of dollars to state representatives, 308 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,679 Speaker 1: including a cool twenty five thousand dollar check to Governor Yunken. 309 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: Right now, it doesn't look like there's much support for 310 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: Anderson's bill. Omega Protein employs about two fifty people, whereas 311 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: stripe bass angling industry drives one hundred and sixty six 312 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 1: million dollars in Virginia alone and the larger salt water 313 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: angling industry contributes about four hundred and sixty five million 314 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: dollars to the Commonwealth's economy while supporting over sixty five 315 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: hundred jobs. Moving on to the Ledge Slation desk, Hawaii 316 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: Governor David D. J recently issued a third proclamation declaring 317 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 1: an emergency relief period for the access dear crisis in 318 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 1: Maui County. Despite ongoing efforts, the access to your population 319 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: has grown to over sixty thousand, which cannot be sustained 320 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: by the environment on Maui. According to the Governor's Office, 321 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 1: the deer of devastated pasture, forage and vegetation that are 322 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: already scarce because of continuing drought conditions. The declaration allows 323 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: the state and county to continue taking measures to reduce 324 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: and control access to your populations and to implement management strategies. 325 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: This latest emergency period will continue until September twenty. This 326 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: is a touchy subject as access deer are an incredible 327 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: food source, but not everyone has access to the access. 328 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: I know, if you're trying to grow beef on Maui, 329 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 1: you'd sure like to reduce the access population. Maybe it's 330 00:19:56,200 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 1: time to explore a public access to private land pro Graham. 331 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: If you think so, I'd sure right. The wide Department 332 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: of Natural Resources, as well as Governor e. J Now 333 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 1: a few episodes back, had told you that the Washington 334 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: Fish and Wildlife Commission was considering a move that would 335 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,880 Speaker 1: end the spring two thousand twenty three black bear season 336 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: before dates had even been set. Today, I'm sad to 337 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 1: report that the Commission has done just that. They passed 338 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: a motion that will require the Department of Fish and 339 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: Wildlife to rewrite the state's policy on the bear hunt 340 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: before setting permit levels for the upcoming spring season. This 341 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: all but guarantees there won't be a spring bear hunt 342 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: in Washington next year. The commissioners who voted in favor 343 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: of the motion claimed that they were simply concerned about process. 344 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: Commissioner Don McIsaac, who supports keeping the hunt open, pointed 345 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: out that canceling the two thousand twenty three season violates 346 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: the Commission's mandate to maximize hunting and fishing opportunities. We've 347 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: got a statutory mandate to maximize hunting and fishing opportunities 348 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: when it does not impair the resource, when it's sustainable. 349 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: Scientific experts on staff have said the bear population is 350 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: robust and healthy and that the spring bear hunt is sustainable. 351 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,719 Speaker 1: Going to zero is the opposite of maximizing, and so 352 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: any rationale to cancel consideration fails this statutory test. Time 353 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: to write your commissioners and your governor, Washingtonians and anyone 354 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: else who wants fair and regulated hunting. This isn't just 355 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,719 Speaker 1: a Washington issue. This is a hunting issue, so please 356 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 1: write in over in Washington, d C. Congress just passed 357 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,919 Speaker 1: a big spending bill called the Inflation Reduction Act. The 358 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 1: legislation would nearly double the funding for private land conservation 359 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:50,400 Speaker 1: from six million to eleven million dollars every year. Would 360 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: also fund projects that protect coastal, marine and forest habitats. 361 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: You can read a full overview at the Theodore Roosevelt 362 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 1: Conservation Partnership. This is a great opportunity to call your 363 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 1: congressional representative and say thank you. Also in Washington, an 364 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: important Senate committee recently passed a bill that would make 365 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: it harder for environmental groups to use endless litigation to 366 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: interfere with public land management. A two thousand fifteen federal 367 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: court decision known as the Cottonwood Ruling requires the U. 368 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 1: S Forest Service to constantly review its forest management plans 369 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 1: with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Under this ruling, 370 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,360 Speaker 1: the Forest Service must consult with Fish and Wildlife when 371 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 1: every new species is listed under the Endangered Species Act, 372 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 1: when new critical habitat is designated, or when significant quote 373 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: new information about a listed species becomes available. This sounds 374 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: great and reasonable, but you can imagine how this requirement 375 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 1: is used to put a stop to all sorts of 376 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: necessary activities on Forest Service lands. These drawn out reviews 377 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: stopped the Forest Service from doing their job to manage 378 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: the forest. The more time forresters spend doing paperwork, the 379 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: less time they can spend managing our public lands, reducing 380 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 1: wildfire risk, providing high quality habitat for all manner of wildlife, 381 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: including endangered species. The Cottonwood ruling is allowing protectionist groups 382 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 1: to bring constant barrage of lawsuits that are bad for 383 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: our public lands. At some point, forest management plans must 384 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: be executed. That's exactly what this new bipartisan legislation would do. 385 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,159 Speaker 1: Backed by groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the 386 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 1: Boone and Crockett Club, and back country Hunters and Anglers, 387 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 1: the legislation would reverse the Cottonwood ruling and allow critical 388 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: forest restoration work to continue. These forest management activities include 389 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: wildfire mitigation, watershed improvement, and habitat restoration. It's co sponsors 390 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 1: Senator's Mansion, a Democrat from West Virginia, and Steve Dane's, 391 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: a Republican from Montana. Is based on legal advice from 392 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: both the Obama and Trump administrations. If you'd like to 393 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: weigh in, the next step for this bill is a 394 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: boat on the floor of the Senate and it's numbered 395 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: Senate as an S to five six one. That's S 396 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: two five six one. Now that you've got your homework, 397 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: that's all I've got for you this week. It's hunting season. 398 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: Get out there, be respectful. It's also fire season. Don't 399 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 1: park in tall grass, don't throw anything out the window, 400 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,399 Speaker 1: pick up after others, and have fun. Thank you so 401 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 1: much for listening, and remember to right in to a 402 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,199 Speaker 1: S K C A L. That's ask Cal at the 403 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: Meat Eater dot com and let me know what's going 404 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: on in your neck of the woods. Also, don't let 405 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 1: a big windstorm block the road or trail to your 406 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:36,360 Speaker 1: favorite access site. Check out www dot steel Dealers dot 407 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: com and find that local, knowledgeable steel dealer near you. 408 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 1: Do like I do, put a nice, quiet, clean, battery 409 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: powered steel chainsaw underneath the truck seat for just those 410 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 1: types of occasions. If you want another pro tip, you 411 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:53,919 Speaker 1: can fill up the bar and chain with canola oil 412 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: and make quick work of that elk. Cut it right 413 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: down the spine, just like the pros do. Thanks again, 414 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 1: I'll talk to you next week.