1 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: From met Eaters World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This 2 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: is Cal's wee can Review with Ryan cal Callahan. Now 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: Here's Cal. The state that gave us Tennessee whiskey and 4 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: Jack Daniels, has banned alcohol consumption in every wildlife management 5 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: area in the state. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency made 6 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: the announcement last week due to what they say are 7 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: unacceptably high levels of alcohol induced ATV crashes. Folks were 8 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,599 Speaker 1: getting liquored up before tearing up the trails and four 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: wheelers and side by sides, and officials decided enough was enough. 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: Local media reports that there were fifty life flights in 11 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two alone in a single Tennessee county, all 12 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: to rescue injured ATV drivers. A spokesperson for the TWRA 13 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: said they're also concerned about families with kids riding the 14 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: tree as well as hunters who use the areas. Folks 15 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: will still be able to drink at campgrounds and a 16 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: long waterways, However, officials warned that they'll no longer be 17 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: tolerating drunk or disorderly conduct. This week, We've got the 18 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: legislation moose and CWD, but first I'm going to tell 19 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: you about my week, and well, we got a lot 20 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: going on. I'm sure you know the hit list by now. First, 21 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: thank you to everyone who came out to rendezvous, and 22 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: thank you to everyone who has purchased tickets for the 23 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: live show. And if you want to help more by 24 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: funding conservation, the TRCP sweepstakes is going on right now. TRCP, 25 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership does a ton of great 26 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: work up on the hill and on the ground. Cow's 27 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: wee can review news that midweek drop that we're doing 28 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: the extra drop. It's still happening as long as you 29 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: want it, So please write in and let Jordan and 30 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: I know who you want to hear from next or 31 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: what we should be discussing such ass And you may 32 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: recall this that we had an app access opportunity come 33 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: up here in Montana and the proposed hunting regulation changes. 34 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: That access opportunity was to lift a closure on the 35 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: lower Yellowstone River they think about eighty seven miles. That 36 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 1: closure is specific to migratory birds. So you can still 37 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: run jet boats down there. You can hunt deer and 38 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: upland birds from the river, but you just cannot hunt 39 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: ducks and geeks. Biologically speaking, the reason for this closure 40 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: was to provide a safe zone for the Canada goose 41 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: population to rebound, which I know that's hard to imagine 42 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: low Canada goose numbers, but yeah, there's a lot of 43 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: Canada geese these days. However, due to what some people 44 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: call overwhelming hunter opposition to this proposed regulation change, that 45 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: temporary and biologically justified closure will remain in place, even 46 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: though it's no longer biologically justified now. As I have said, 47 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: I think it's really odd to want less access to hunting, 48 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: especially when hunters always go through the roof when closures 49 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: are suggested, restrictions of much any kind, solicit responses of 50 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: hidden anti hunting agendas, and calls to tell it like 51 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: it is, this is a permanent closure, and on and 52 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: on and on. But in this case, the objective has 53 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 1: been met and it seems like a lot of hunters 54 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: have come to love the over abundance of Canada geese, 55 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: and I can only assume have invested a ton of 56 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: cash in big, expensive field hunting spreads and they don't 57 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: want to see any less action or should we call 58 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: it return on investment. That's just, for instance, something we 59 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: could chat about if anyone would like to hear about 60 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: such things, just right into ask c Al. That's Ascal 61 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: at themeeater dot com. That's what that midweek special drops for. 62 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: And I'll keep tapping all my conservation group contacts to 63 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: hit on who they are, what they do, and how 64 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: to get involved, because I know you like that. Also, 65 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: we just launched Meat Eater Experiences where you can come 66 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: on like a guided trip, come angle with the Meat 67 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: Eater crew, for instance, or come smack some ducks. There's 68 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: a lot more to it than just that. We're gonna 69 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: throw in a bunch of gear, cooking instruction, filaying instruction, 70 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: plucking knowledge, and a whole lot more. So if you're 71 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: into that and check it out, we'd love to see 72 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: you all right. Moving on to the legislative desk legislation 73 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: just top to a bill has been reintroduced in the 74 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: Illinois General Assembly that would dramatically expand stream access across 75 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 1: the state. Unlike many other states, Illinois allows landowners to 76 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: own both the stream bed and the water flowing through 77 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: that area. This allows landowners to block access to tens 78 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: of thousands of miles of rivers and streams that would 79 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: be public in most other states. In fact, of the 80 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: eighty seven thousand miles of streams and in the Land 81 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: of Lincoln, only two thousand miles are open to the public. 82 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: Illinois Bill HB four seven zero eight would change that 83 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: by allowing the public to access any segment of a lake, river, 84 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: or stream that is capable of supporting use by commercial 85 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 1: or recreational watercraft for a substantial part of the year. 86 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: This would represent a major change in Illinois, and I 87 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: know landowners will have serious concerns, but many other states 88 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: operate under this paradigm, including Montana and Texas. Why because 89 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: it's freedom, people, freedom to navigate our rivers eighty seven 90 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: thousand miles. Think of it. I'll tell you right now. 91 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: In the state of Montana, we don't see mass vandalism 92 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: or private property damage. People just float through, happily enjoying 93 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: the opportunity to fish and recreate on public waterways, which 94 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: happens to be like part of the US Constitution. While 95 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: we got away from King George, like in that nice 96 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: musical we have, you'll be better soon. You'll see you'd 97 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: remenber you belong to me. Anyway, If you live in Illinois, 98 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: send a note to your state legislators saying you support 99 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: HB four seven zero eight. Wildlife officials in Virginia are 100 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: looking at ways to mitigate conflict between landowners and hunters, 101 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: specifically hound hunters. As we've covered on this podcast before, 102 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: Virginia landowners have voiced frustration with hunting dogs being allowed 103 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: on their property. We've seen several instances of dogs being 104 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: shot and killed by those landowners, and hunters have been 105 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: rightfully outraged by those incidents. To address this issue, the 106 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: Department of Wildlife Resources put together an advisory committee to 107 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: suggest changes to mitigate these conflicts. They've officially proposed two 108 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: changes that the public will be asking to weigh in on. 109 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: One would require use of GPS dog collars for any 110 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: dog used in deer or bear hunting if the animal 111 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: is not already restrained. The other proposal would require a 112 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 1: hunter to exercise quote reasonable efforts to prevent dogs from 113 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: entering a land owner's property if either the landowner or 114 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: a conservation police officer has stated that the dogs are 115 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: not welcomed. The comment period has not officially opened as 116 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: of this recording, but Virginians will have forty five days 117 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: to voice their opinions once it does. Down in Mississippi, 118 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: the legislature is considering a bill that would add an 119 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: additional month to the white tail deer season. Mississippi is 120 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: divided into four management areas, three of which have an 121 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: archery season that begins September thirty and a final primitive 122 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: weapon season that ends January thirty. First House Bill one 123 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: five five five that's fifteen fifty five, authored by Representative 124 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: Joey Hood, would extend the primitive weapon and regular gun 125 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: season through February twenty eighth for the entire state. The 126 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: Southeast Management Area already has an archery and primitive weapons 127 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: season that ends February fifteenth to accommodate that area's later 128 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: than usual rut, but the rest of the state follows 129 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: a more standard season structure for southern states. It's already 130 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: four months long, and this bill would add an additional 131 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: month of gun season. But as politicians sometimes forget, there's 132 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: a biological reason the seasons are structured like they are. 133 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: Bucks in the northern portion of the state can lose 134 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: their antlers in February. If the season ran through the 135 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: end of February, hunters could easily mistake a buck for 136 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: a dough That kind of uncertainty makes hunter management much 137 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: more difficult, which is probably why this proposal is coming 138 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: from the legislature and not the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, 139 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: and Parks. Hunters should almost always welcome new opportunities, but 140 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: I don't think this one has good scientific justification. If 141 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: you think I'm wrong, let me know by writing in 142 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 1: to askcal that's Ascal at the meat eater dot com 143 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: staying in the Magnolia state. Another bill before the Mississippi 144 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: legislature would increase penalties for hunters who trespass on private property. 145 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: Under current law, violators can face a two hundred and 146 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: fifty dollars fine for a first offense and a five 147 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,719 Speaker 1: hundred dollars fine for a subsequent offense. Proponents of SB 148 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: two sixty five to one call that a slap on 149 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: the wrist. This new bill would increase that penalty to 150 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: up to one thousand dollars and possible jail time for 151 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 1: a first time offense. Repeat offenders would have their hunting 152 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: and fishing license revoked for one year, and they'd have 153 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: to pay five hundred dollars to get it back. In addition, 154 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: if the poacher successfully bags an animal while trespassing. They 155 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: will be charged a fee between one hundred and five 156 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: hundred dollars for each animal possessed. If you trespass onto 157 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: someone else's pond and catch yourself a mess of catfish, 158 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: those penalties can add up quick The idea to increase 159 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: penalties was first proposed to the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries 160 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: and Parks by former Lieutenant Governor Eddie Briggs. He says 161 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: that poaching and trespassing have become, or maybe just still 162 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: is a part of the culture in some areas of 163 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: the state, and he wants to put a stop to 164 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 1: that behavior over in the volunteer state. Tennessee Governor Bill 165 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 1: Lee just signed a bill that heads off some of 166 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: the anti hunting policies and appointments we've seen on other 167 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: wildlife commissions. Specifically, HB two two sixty three requires that 168 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: anyone appointed to the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission actively 169 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: participate in the activities regulated by the Commission. What a concept. 170 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: These activities include hunting, angling, trapping, and voting. The bill 171 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: also makes hunting, fishing, and trapping the preferred method of 172 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: wildlife management and says the Wildlife Agency shall promote and 173 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: support those activities. The bill was written and promoted by 174 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: the Tennessee Wildlife Federation in response to what's happened in 175 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: states like Washington and Colorado, and they hope other states 176 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: will consider similar bills. If you live in Tennessee, send 177 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: a note of thanks to your legislator if they voted 178 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: for the bill, and to Governor Lee for everyone else. 179 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: Get in touch with your state Conservation org to see 180 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: if similar bills are in the works. It would be 181 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: cool to see bills like this past in every state. 182 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: Jumping from the state to the national level. The US 183 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: House of Representatives just passed the Bipartisan Explore Act. The 184 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: acronym stands for expanding public lands outdoor recreation experiences, and 185 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: the text of the bill does exactly that. The bill 186 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: is long and wide ranging, but its overall goal is 187 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: to modernize outdoor recreation management and make public lands more accessible. 188 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: It would expedite and simplify the permitting process for accessing 189 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 1: public lands and waters, improve outdoor recreation data and infrastructure, 190 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,599 Speaker 1: create feeless public shooting ranges in each BLM District or 191 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: National Forest, and establish a grant program for the inspection 192 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: and decontamination watercraft to avoid the spread of aquatic invasive species, 193 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 1: among many other provisions. It was led by Democrat Representative 194 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: Raoul Grialva and Republican Representative Bruce Westerman, who we had 195 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: on the podcast in episode two fifty three. The bill 196 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: passed the House on a voice vote, meaning it was 197 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: overwhelmingly supported. A similar bill is working its way through 198 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: the Senate, where the Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed 199 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: it unanimously in two thousand twenty three. You know, I 200 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,319 Speaker 1: should say here before somebody calls me out on it. 201 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: And I'm pretty sure the Explore Act this also wrapped 202 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: up in here is film crewis can get permits on 203 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 1: public land easier and more expedited fashion, and that permitting 204 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: process would be revamped so it's less expensive for smaller 205 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: film cruise. So like the size of your footprint would 206 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 1: dictate the fee, which has kind of been like a 207 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: flat fee in a lot of a lot of these 208 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: areas up until now. I think that's in here right in. 209 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: Let me know if I'm messing that up. Moving on 210 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,719 Speaker 1: to the toxic waste desk. Last week we told you 211 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: about a nitrogen fertilizer spill in Illinois that killed a 212 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: bunch of fish and Rooks Creek. This week, I'm sorry 213 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: to say we have an even worse story from the 214 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: cornfields of Iowa. There another fertilizer spill killed nearly all 215 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: the fish in a sixty mile stretch of the Oh boy, 216 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna kill me for this Nishnabotna River. Yeah, Nishnabotna 217 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: And you think I can't speak Iowa anyway. The Iowa 218 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: Department of Natural Resources estimates at least seven hundred and 219 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: fifty thousand fish were killed in the accident, making this 220 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: the largest fish kill in the state in the last 221 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: decade and the fifth largest on record. Which is crazy 222 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 1: to think about three quarters of a million fish from 223 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: sixty miles of river, and this is only the fifth 224 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,839 Speaker 1: largest since we started tracking these things. Sixty miles a river, 225 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: seven hundred and fifty thousand dead fish anyway. Much like 226 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:34,719 Speaker 1: the spill in Illinois, this one was caused by a 227 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: leaking or malfunctioning valve that caused two hundred and sixty 228 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: five thousand gallons of liquid nitrogen to spill into the 229 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: East Nishnabotna River. The fertilizer company is called New Cooperative 230 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: and they'll be paying some kind of restitution for allowing 231 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: the spill. Officials told the Des Moines Register that a 232 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: restitution total has not yet been set, but the estimated 233 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: value of the fish will likely be greater than two 234 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: hundred thousand. If that number holds, this would be the 235 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: largest valuation for a documented Iowa fishkill, according to DNR data. 236 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: Another little like sub thing here, somebody wrote down that 237 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: liquid nitrogen would not in itself kill the fish, but 238 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: it could possibly like sap the oxygen in the river 239 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: and that's what killed the fish. But liquid nitrogen is 240 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: in fact your instigator. In these incidents. Small fish such 241 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: as minnows and chubs accounted for the vast majority of 242 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: the dead fish, but there were also an estimated seventy 243 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: seven hundred super delicious channel catfish that anglers will never 244 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: have the chance to put in a hot three hundred 245 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: and seventy five degree bath of liquid beef fat. If 246 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: you ask me, I think the value of those shared 247 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: dinners should be factored into the restitution cost. You might 248 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: be able to put up a number on a catfish 249 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: and a fish market, but the recreational value of those 250 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: fish is much much higher. Along with the fish. Numerous frogs, snakes, muscles, 251 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: and earthworms died in the spill. Big thanks to listener 252 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: Jake Burge for sending us that story. Moving on to 253 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: the moose desk, Nevada is planning the state's first moose hunt, 254 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: as the population of North America's largest servid has grown 255 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: to about one hundred in the northeast corner of the state. 256 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: The first moose was spotted in Nevada in the nineteen fifties, 257 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: and since then the population has grown slowly. However, recent 258 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: years have seen a much faster expansion. Since twenty eighteen, 259 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: the population has doubled from thirty to fifty individuals, and 260 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: state biologists say it's set to expand even more in 261 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: coming years. It's common for cows to give birth to twins, 262 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: and their relatively temperate climate means the CAF's survival rate 263 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: is high. Now, applicants are open for several bowl moose 264 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: tags for the twenty twenty four to twenty twenty five season. 265 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: Applications are open to residents only, but the tag allows 266 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: for any legal weapon to be used. Biologists haven't actually 267 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: confirmed the exact number of tags yet, but it sounds 268 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: like it will between one and three. Of course, no 269 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: hunt is without controversy. Anti hunting groups are opposed to 270 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: any hunt for whatever reason, but there is also some 271 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: question about whether moose will be in Nevada for much 272 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: longer if left alone. Historically, moose have tended to avoid 273 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: places where temperatures regularly exceed at sixty eight degrees fahrenheit. 274 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: One study of moose and Nevada found that the animals 275 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: spend nearly half of their time in areas where that 276 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: thermal threshold was exceeded, about one hundred and fifty days 277 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: a year. That's not ideal for what we think we 278 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: know about moose, but the Silver State is set to 279 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: get even hotter as climate change bumps up average temperatures. 280 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: Those opposed to the hunt argue that given this tenuous future, 281 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: we shouldn't kill any of the horse sized deer. We 282 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: should be enjoying the moose while they're here, instead of 283 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: hunting them as soon as we're able. What many of 284 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: these critics don't take into consideration is that the hunt 285 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: isn't being called because the population is too large. There 286 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: is a surprising amount of decent moose habitat in northeastern Nevada. 287 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: But right now some areas have too many bowls, which 288 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: can be unhealthy for cows and calves, especially during the rut. 289 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: The very small number of tags are meant to bring 290 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: that male female ratio into better balance in those few 291 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: areas is that need it. In other words, the hunt 292 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 1: is being called for the good of the species as 293 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: a whole. It'll help make sure that the moose population 294 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: thrives for as long as it can. And who knows, 295 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: maybe moose will be able to adapt to a warmer 296 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: climate better than we think they will. It wouldn't be 297 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 1: the first time nature has surprised us with her resiliency. 298 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: Maybe that cow's deer that we love chasing in northern 299 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: Mexico started out as a moose. Talked to old Heffelfinger 300 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: about that one. Moving on to the wolf desk, Colorado 301 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 1: Parks and Wildlife confirmed earlier this month that wolves have 302 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: killed at least two calves that's the beef cow calves 303 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: since the canines were released into the Centennial state. One 304 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: calf was killed in Grand County on April second, and 305 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: another was killed in Jackson County on April seventh. This 306 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: is the same part of the state where Colorado Parks 307 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: and Wildlife released ten wolves at the behest of Colorado voters. 308 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,119 Speaker 1: Agency officials say they are aware of four wolves in 309 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 1: the area where the most recent calf was killed. Some 310 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: of those wolves were released in December of last year, 311 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: while one or two others have naturally migrated down from Wyoming. However, 312 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 1: they have refused to release the specific location or the 313 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: specific wolves involved in the depredation. They say doing so 314 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: could allow someone to determine the location of the wolves, 315 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: though I'm sure the ranchers in the area aren't being 316 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: shy about letting folks know why their calves are coming 317 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: up dead. Those ranchers are entitled the fair market value 318 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: of the animals if claims are submitted. Parks and Wildlife 319 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: is also working with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to 320 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: bring in range riders to help guard livestock. Moving on 321 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: to chronic wasting disease. For the first time ever, chronic 322 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 1: wasting disease has been confirmed in a white tail deer 323 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources sent out 324 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: a press release on April five confirming that CWD was 325 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: detected in a buck harvested in Lagrange County. The sample 326 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: was collected by a licensed taxidermist through the DNR CWD 327 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 1: Taxidermist Incentive Program. Since Lagrange County borders Michigan, biologists have 328 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,959 Speaker 1: been watching that area closely. This wasn't unexpected, but I 329 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,160 Speaker 1: was honestly surprised that Indiana had never had a positive case. 330 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: This may be one of those things where yes they have, 331 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: but they just haven't been testing for it. CWD has 332 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: been detected in all four states bordering Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, 333 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: and Kentuck. There are no known cures or treatments for 334 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: the disease, so it was inevitable that CWD would one 335 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: day be detected in Indiana. Now it's there. It's up 336 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: to Indiana hunters and taxidermists to help the DNR monitor 337 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: its progress. The agency isn't taking a hard line on 338 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: this issue. There is no mandatory testing, though there are 339 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: sampling stations throughout the state where deer can be tested. 340 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: There is no fee for testing, and hunters can see 341 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: the results in an online portal. Taxidermists in some areas 342 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: of the state will also be asked to test their deer, 343 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 1: though this isn't mandatory either. Taxidermists who participate in the 344 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: incentive program will receive ten dollars for every sample they collect. 345 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 1: Here is what the Indiana DNR says about their CWD 346 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: management plan quote. Indiana DNR's response is based on the 347 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: latest scientific information about the effectiveness and costs of CWD 348 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: management options. Our plan focuses on monitoring the spread of 349 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: the disease to inform hunters and enable hoosiers to live 350 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: with the presence of this disease in deer. Living with 351 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: CWD as opposed to eradicating it is possible only because 352 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: the disease has never been shown to spread to humans. 353 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: Although there isn't a new case that I think there's 354 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: we got a lot of gray area that we got 355 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: to talk about. But if that were to change officially, 356 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: I have a feeling state agencies would be running around 357 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: like their heads around fire and their asses are catching. 358 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: As the old song says, Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that 359 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: the status quo will always be the status quo. A 360 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: short article published in the journal Neurology highlights the case 361 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 1: of two men who both died of Crutsfield Jacob disease 362 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: or CJD. Like CWD, CJD is a central nervous system 363 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: disordered caused by misfolded pre on proteins. Both of these 364 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 1: men lived in the same area, and one is confirmed 365 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,680 Speaker 1: to have eaten meat from CWD infected deer. The other 366 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: eight venison from the same deer population, though the authors 367 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: don't confirm whether he'd also eat in CWD positive venison. 368 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: The authors conclude quote the patient's history, including a similar 369 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:17,120 Speaker 1: case in his social group, suggest a possible novel, which 370 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: means new animal to human transmission of CWD. Based on 371 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: non human primate and mouse models, cross species transmission of 372 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 1: CJD is plausible. They stress that causation remains unproven. It 373 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: could just be a coincidence. However, because it's tough to 374 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 1: distinguish CJD from CWD, it's not possible to definitively rule 375 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 1: out chronic wasting disease in these cases. If CWD ever 376 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 1: spreads to humans, it would be the biggest thing to 377 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 1: hit North American hunting in a generation. Maybe Ever, if 378 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: there are any updates, you know where to find them. 379 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 1: That's all I got for you this week. Thank you 380 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: so much for listening, and remember to write in to 381 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 1: ask at the meeteater dot com. And let me know 382 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: what's going on in your neck of the woods. Thanks 383 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 1: again and we'll talk to you next week.