1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: From Mediators World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Cal's weekend review, presented by Steel Steel products are available 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: only at authorized dealers. For more, go to Steel Dealers 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal Callahan. 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 2: A man has been arrested in India for using bombs 6 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 2: to hunt pigs. The Times of India reported that officials 7 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 2: received a tip that a sixty year old man named 8 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 2: Balosami had been cooking wild boar meat at his home. 9 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 2: This is apparently illegal, based on the fact that it 10 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 2: was enough to warrant a search of the man's house. 11 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 2: Sure enough, they found two kilograms of wild boar meat 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: along with three bombs. These bombs are a specific kind 13 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 2: of explosive known as a abudhokai. This word, which I 14 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 2: won't attempt to pronounce again, is usually translated as country 15 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: made bombs, which I think is another way of saying 16 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 2: they're super sketchy. Not that you can find them at 17 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: one of those places with all the junk on the 18 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 2: walls that you buy and then there's gravy on everything 19 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: type of restaurant. It's done to your dinner plate. In 20 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 2: other Times of Indian article says these explosives are placed 21 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: within fruit and then detonated when an animal picks them 22 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 2: up in its mouth. They're often used by farmers trying 23 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 2: to protect their crops from raiding animals, but they're also 24 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 2: used for hunting along with wild boars. They've killed bears, elephants, 25 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 2: and cattle. Anyway. They tried to question Valusami, but he 26 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: was reportedly too intoxicated to answer questions. Clever way to 27 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 2: get out of a good deposition. Despite this minor roadblock, 28 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,919 Speaker 2: local police have launched an investigation. Before you, American hunters 29 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 2: get all high and mighty about our ethical means of take, 30 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: do a quick Google search for hunting hogs with tannerite. 31 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: Turns out we have our own version of country made 32 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 2: bombs in this hemisphere. This week, Washington State updates animal 33 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 2: rights and just how Rudolph guides that slay. But first 34 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: I'm going to tell you about in My week was 35 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: highlighted by the long, long, overdue morning of hunting with snort. 36 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 2: My little baby girl of a yellow lab and I 37 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: have been separated for over a month and we desperately 38 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 2: needed this. We headed out to a thoroughly pounded block 39 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 2: management area not too far from the Greater bos Angelis 40 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 2: Metropolitan Zone. This particular piece of private land public access 41 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: is dog hair thick and definitely home to pheasants. All 42 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 2: we were after was a good walk to re cement 43 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: our communication skills and hunting partnership after far too much 44 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 2: time apart. So the knowledge that we weren't going to 45 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 2: get anything didn't slow us down. We just needed bird 46 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: scent so Snort could feel like she's in the game. 47 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 2: As I've said before, it's very hard to get this 48 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 2: dog riled up. If she doesn't smell birds, she slacks off. 49 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: In other words, show me the way. Fortunately, we were 50 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: into the bird sign right away, and Snort was running 51 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 2: just to shade under two million miles an hour or so. 52 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 2: Well rested she was now this particular spot. Even if 53 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 2: it were opening week, it would be a tough patch 54 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: of ground for a single hunter to be really effective in. 55 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: I think you'd get a couple of birds out of it, 56 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: but it's one of those places where a bird can 57 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 2: just run all day. It's also surrounded by no hunting zones, 58 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: so at this point in the season, the well educated 59 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 2: ditch chickens just walk or fly across the barb wire 60 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: at a casual pace if you close your truck door 61 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: too loudly. We did see two roosters, one about a 62 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 2: half mile out executing this exact same plan, and another 63 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 2: after a serious sprint, about two hundred yards in front 64 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: of us. But that was all right. Snort was really 65 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 2: tearing it up. She was wonderful to watch. Watching these 66 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: dogs work sent and focus in on backtracking birds and 67 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: try to figure them out and divide fresh scent from 68 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 2: really fresh scent is just an absolute joy to watch. 69 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: Something I'll never get. S now. Here's a little strategy 70 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: for you. Sometimes, erratically covering a field zigzags back tracks 71 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 2: of your own will trip up a wise bird. The 72 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 2: common strategy for pheasant hunting is to cover a field 73 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: in a series of straight lines and right angles, always 74 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: doing your best to maneuver into the wind. But if 75 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 2: you break this habit and strike out in a chaos fashion, 76 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 2: you can sometimes make your own luck out of a 77 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,679 Speaker 2: pounded public spot, and we did just that. Our big 78 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: win of the morning was pinning down two hens which 79 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 2: erupted in a perfectly staggered fashion, one on the left side, 80 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 2: one on the right side, perfect for the double triggers 81 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 2: of the side by side. I track both birds as 82 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 2: they rose first in and then quickly well out of 83 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 2: shotgun range. I gave Snort a good scratch, which she 84 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 2: tried to avoid at all cost, plus a few good girls, 85 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: and we headed back to the truck. She's been hiking 86 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,239 Speaker 2: in my absence. But nothing prepares a dog for hunting 87 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: like hunting. That's quick Snort report for you. They're just 88 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: going to get better around the waterfowl season. Hope everyone 89 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 2: had a truly fantastic holiday, Christmas, or whatever your celebration 90 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: of choice is. We're moving on to the Washington desk. 91 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 2: The Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission is seeking public 92 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 2: comment on a controversial new conservation policy. The document is 93 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,239 Speaker 2: a high level description of how the Commission will approach 94 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: conservation in the years ahead. It defines words like conservation 95 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: and ecosystem and lays out seven guiding principles that will 96 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: dictate policy moving forward. The first version of the document 97 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: was released over a year ago, and it's gone through 98 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: several rounds of revisions. Now the Commission has released what 99 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 2: they hope will be the final version of the document, 100 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 2: and they're asking Washington State residents to weigh in if 101 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 2: you're familiar with the idea of a Warshack test, this 102 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: document is kind of like that. A Warshack test asks 103 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,119 Speaker 2: participants to look at random ink blots and find meaning 104 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: in them. If you're depressed, you'll see a dreary pawn, 105 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: and if you're happy, you might see a smiling son. 106 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 2: If you're a serial killer, you'll see a bowl of 107 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 2: Captain crutch. Roughly, you get the idea. Those who support 108 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 2: this new conservation policy see nothing nefarious at all, they say. 109 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 2: It just articulates the principles that have always guided the 110 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 2: Commission's decisions. It affirms their commitment to conserving the state's 111 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: vision wildlife and explains that these resources are in the 112 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 2: public trust. It dictates that decisions must be based on science, 113 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 2: calls for innovative solutions to challenging ecosystem issues, and reiterates 114 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 2: their desire to provide sustainable, recreational and commercial opportunities. Opponents 115 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 2: of this policy, on the other hand, wonder why some 116 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: of the commissioners are so keen on passing it if 117 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: it doesn't make any significant changes. The Department of Wildlife 118 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 2: already has a mission mandate, strategic Plan and an existing 119 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: conservation policy biologists already work to protect all species, not 120 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: just game species, so critics say this document just adds 121 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 2: fuzzy landeguage that can be used for nefarious purposes. The 122 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 2: commissioners who have voiced the strongest criticisms of hunters are 123 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 2: the same ones who developed in campaign for this new policy. 124 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 2: Hunters and trappers in Washington State are suspicious of the 125 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 2: policy for that reason alone. It also appears to move 126 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: the state closer towards the Wildlife for All position. Wildlife 127 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: for All is a group we've mentioned on the podcast before. 128 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: They're seeking to re engineer wildlife commissions to make them 129 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 2: less responsive to the needs and desires of hunters. The 130 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: first principle of this new policy, for example, reads, quote 131 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 2: the wdfw's top priority in the conservation of Washington fish, shellfish, 132 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 2: and wildlife for the benefit of all state residents, current 133 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: and future. This sounds reasonable, but it also presents the 134 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: Commission with a dilemma. There are those in Washington who 135 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: oppose all hunting. There are those who engage in wildlife 136 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: watching who oppose any animal being killed. How does the 137 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 2: commission conserve Washington's wildlife for those groups and for hunters? 138 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: Every state must balance it's different stakeholders, but it's easy 139 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: to see how this kind of language could be used 140 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: to tell hunters to take a hike without a gun 141 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: or a purpose. Another portion of the document defines conservation 142 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 2: as science informed actions to perpetuate the health, resilience, and 143 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: intrinsic value of native species and natural ecosystems. Most hunters 144 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 2: would agree that native species have intrinsic value, but this 145 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: kind of language mirrors anti hunting organizations, and it's used 146 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 2: to justify a call to end all hunting. If elk 147 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 2: like people have value based on their essential nature, which 148 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 2: is the definition of intrinsic, how can we ever justify 149 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,559 Speaker 2: killing them. I'm not saying that's a good argument, but again, 150 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 2: you can imagine anti hunters seizing on this language to 151 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 2: justify a gradual diminishment of hunting rights. Based on the 152 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 2: meetings I've watched, the commission is set on passing this 153 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 2: and they have the votes to do it, but there's 154 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,679 Speaker 2: still a chance they could agree to modify the language. 155 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 2: So if you live in Washington State and you're concerned 156 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 2: about anything in this new policy, see send them a message. 157 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 2: We'll post links at the meat Eater dot com forward 158 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 2: slash cap. Moving on to the duck desk, The US 159 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 2: Congress just made it easier for waterfowl hunters to get 160 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 2: out on the water without running a foul of the law. 161 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 2: The Duck Stamp Modernization Act gives hunters the option of 162 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 2: purchasing a duck stamp online and then using a digital 163 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 2: version of the stamp in the field. Historically, waterfowl hunters 164 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 2: were required to have a physical duck stamp on their 165 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 2: person at all times. This new bill, which passed overwhelmingly 166 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 2: in the House and Senate, will do away with that requirement. 167 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: As long as you remember to bring your phone from 168 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 2: your truck, you'll be good to go. I can hear 169 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 2: all the old timers screaming into their phones. Don't worry. 170 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 2: The duck stamp isn't going away. The duck stamp is 171 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 2: a beautiful tradition and one of the most successful conservation 172 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: programs of all time. This bill doesn't do away with 173 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 2: the physical duck stamp. You'll still be sent a stamp 174 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 2: in the mail. You just don't have to wait until 175 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 2: it arrives to go hunting or remember to bring it 176 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 2: in the field. If you're familiar with the duck stamp program. 177 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 2: Here's a little history lesson. The duck stamp was conceived 178 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: in nineteen thirty four, when Congress passed and President Franklin D. 179 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 2: Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. The first 180 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 2: stamp was designed by J. N. Ding Darlank, then director 181 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 2: of the Bureau of Biological Survey, which was the forerunner 182 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,199 Speaker 2: to today's Fish and Wildlife Service. Though the stamp started 183 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: out costing a buck, it's grown to twenty five dollars. 184 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 2: You know it's money well spent. Ninety eight percent of 185 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 2: the purchase price goes directly to help acquire and protect 186 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 2: wetland habitat and purchase conservation easements. Overall, one point one 187 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 2: billion dollars have been raised from sales of federal duck stamps, 188 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 2: conserving over six million acres of land within the National 189 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 2: Wildlife Refuge System. The Duck Stamp Modernization Act passed the 190 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 2: US House on a resounding four hundred and three to 191 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: twenty vote, and it passed the Senate by unanimous consent. 192 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: If you're wondering what kind of legislator voted against making 193 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 2: it easier to waterfowl hunt, the answer might surprise you. 194 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 2: It's not a list of anti Hunt at least as 195 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 2: far as I'm aware. It's actually a list of twenty 196 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 2: Republican representatives that included Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, Florida Rep. 197 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 2: Matt Gates, and Texas Rep. Chip Roy. None of these 198 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: reps have issued statements explaining their decision, but they are 199 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 2: all members of a group in the House called the 200 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 2: Freedom Caucus, which avowed to vote against anything sponsored by 201 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 2: another legislator who voted for last year's omnibus spending bill. 202 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 2: Several of the sponsors of this bill voted for that 203 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 2: spending package, so it looks like they're keeping their word. 204 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 2: If that's true. They voted against the Duck Stamp Modernization 205 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 2: Act not because it's a bad idea, but just to 206 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: get back at members of their own party that they 207 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 2: don't like very adult stuff. I'm reminded of the old 208 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 2: quote by President Harry Truman quote, you want a friend 209 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: in Washington, get a dog. Moving on to the reindeer desk. 210 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 2: If all went according to plan last week, Rudolph used 211 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 2: his fluorescent nose to help Santa find his way to 212 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 2: your house and deliver your presence. Rudolph's job is done. 213 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 2: For the year, but according to a new study, real 214 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 2: life reindeer out on the tundra right now using a 215 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 2: different kind of superpower. Researchers with the University of Saint 216 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,839 Speaker 2: Andrews and Dartmouth College found that reindeer use night vision 217 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 2: to detect food sources during the winter. The surface of 218 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 2: reindeer's eyes change color during the year, from a golden 219 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 2: orange in summer to a rich blue in the winter. 220 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 2: They are the only known animal to do this, and 221 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 2: it makes their eyes more sensitive to UV light. Biologists 222 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 2: have hypothesized that this color change helps them find food 223 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 2: during the winter. Reindeer feed primarily on what's known as 224 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 2: reindeer moss. Reindeer moss is an actually moss. It's a 225 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 2: type of lichen that grows in sponge like beds across 226 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 2: the northern latitudes where reindeer live. They rely heavily on 227 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 2: this lichen during the winter, so it makes sense to 228 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 2: assume that they would have adapted to find this likeen 229 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:53,199 Speaker 2: more easily. This new study has found exactly that, by 230 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 2: changing their eye color to take in more UV light, 231 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 2: they're able to see white reindeer moss even in thick 232 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 2: blankets of snow, which is amazing. Researchers shined UV light 233 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 2: on different kinds of lichen and found that reindeer moss 234 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,319 Speaker 2: absorbs a large amount of UV. This makes it stand 235 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 2: out in the snow, which reflects light rather than absorbs it. 236 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 2: At dusk and dawn, reindeer moss stands out black in 237 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 2: the snow and makes it much easier to find without 238 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 2: burning unnecessary calories. This isn't the perfect explanation, as anyone 239 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 2: who spent time in snowy mountains can tell you. Making 240 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: your eyes more sensitive with snow on the ground isn't 241 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: a great idea. When the sun is high in the sky, 242 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 2: a reindeer's highly sensitive eyes might be more of a 243 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:37,599 Speaker 2: liability than anything else. The researchers suggest that the antioxidants 244 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 2: and the lichen might help protect a reindeer's eyes from damage, 245 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 2: but that's as far as they go in explaining the 246 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 2: potential downside. Whatever the case may be, I'm seeing potential 247 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 2: for a Special Forces themed Rudolph spinoff movie. He's already 248 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 2: got the night vision, all he needs is a kevlar 249 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: vest and a rifle, starring Santa Claus as Detective crush More. 250 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: Are you dumb. 251 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:08,079 Speaker 2: Moving on to the animal rights desk. The group behind 252 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 2: an effort to ban mountain lion hunting in Colorado has 253 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 2: gone back to the drawing board after their first attempt 254 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,319 Speaker 2: to hit a legal roadblock. But the new ballot initiative 255 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 2: is almost as bad as the first. Initiative ninety one 256 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 2: was supposedly aimed at trophy hunting, but it would have 257 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 2: banned all hunting of mounta lions, bobcats, and links in 258 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 2: the state of Colorado. That's partly why the proposal received 259 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 2: an unfavorable ruling from the Colorado Title Board, which struck 260 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 2: the words trophy hunting from the title. The initiative was 261 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 2: also being contested in the Colorado Supreme Court, and it 262 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 2: was becoming clear that it wouldn't survive that legal challenge, 263 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: so the animal rights groups rewarded Initiative ninety one and 264 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 2: resubmitted it as Initiative one oh one. This initiative would 265 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 2: ban all mountain lion, bobcat, and links hunting between January 266 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: first and December seventeenth. During those few weeks when hunting 267 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 2: would be allowed, hunters would not be allowed to use traps, dogs, bait, 268 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 2: or electronic devices. If a hunter somehow succeeded in shooting 269 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 2: a mountain lion without any of those tools, He or 270 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 2: she would then be prohibited from removing the animal's head, hide, fur, claws, teeth, 271 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 2: or internal organs. All of those parts would qualify as 272 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 2: quote trophies and would have to be turned over to 273 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 2: Colorado Parks and Wildlife within thirty six hours of the kill. 274 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 2: Lion hunters are a tough bunch, and I'm sure some 275 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 2: of them would still head out into the woods between 276 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: December eighteen and December thirty first. Some of them may 277 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 2: even be successful, but Initiative one to one would decimate 278 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 2: decades of hunting tradition, put guides out of business, and 279 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 2: destroy a traditional means of take for future generations. If 280 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 2: Initiative one on one survives legal challenge, tell anyone you 281 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 2: know who lives in Colorado to vote it down. Furthermore, 282 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 2: it drives me just absolutely batty when people design laws 283 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 2: to waste parts of animals. These folks at home who 284 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 2: are drawn this stuff up, they better have a heck 285 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 2: of a tidy compost bin and be committing very little 286 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 2: their local landfill up being Idaho animal rights groups are 287 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 2: pushing the US Forest Service demand aerial wolf hunting over 288 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 2: national forest lands. The petition, filed by the Center for 289 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 2: Biological Diversity takes issue with a recent decision by the 290 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 2: Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board to reimburse ranchers for killing 291 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 2: wolves to protect livestock. The Control Board entered into five 292 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 2: predator control agreements, three of which mention aerial control work. 293 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 2: The predator control efforts will take place in game management 294 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: units that overlap with several national forests, including the Boise 295 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 2: National Forest and the Sawtooth National Forest. A spokesperson for 296 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 2: the Center for Biological Diversity says national forests should be 297 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 2: quote a refuge for wildlife, not a slaughter zone. The 298 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 2: Control Board says the agreements only cover areas with chronic 299 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 2: livestock depredations, but the petition argues that this isn't the case. 300 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 2: They claim these areas haven't seen much wolf depredation in 301 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 2: recent years, which makes the aerial shooting of wolves recreational 302 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 2: hunting rather than a dation control measure. If that's the case, 303 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 2: it would be prohibited under the Federal Airborne Hunting Act. 304 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 2: Here in Montana, two different animal rights groups have filed 305 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 2: a lawsuit against a railroad company for failing to do 306 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: enough to protect grizzly bears. Whild Earth Guardians in the 307 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 2: Western Environmental Law Center filed the lawsuit in federal court. 308 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 2: They claim the BNSF Railway has been killing grizzly bears 309 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 2: without an incidental take permit for decades. The incidental take 310 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 2: permits are required under the Endangered Species Act and allow 311 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 2: the companies to unintentionally kill a certain number of animals 312 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,959 Speaker 2: in exchange for policies that are aimed at reducing deaths. 313 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 2: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railways admits that they don't have 314 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 2: a permit, but they say they've been trying to obtain 315 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 2: one since two thousand and four. They also say they've 316 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:50,120 Speaker 2: been instituting policies designed to minimize grizzly deaths as much 317 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,199 Speaker 2: as possible. They've done things like removing spilled grain and 318 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 2: dead livestock and wildlife from the tracks, reducing vegetation that 319 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 2: might attract grizzly bears, buying radio callers, bear proof garbage 320 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 2: bends and electric fencing, and providing educational programs. But activist 321 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 2: groups say this isn't enough. In their lawsuit, they say 322 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 2: the railroad should require trains to slow down on curves 323 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 2: and in narrow areas where grizzly bears may not be 324 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 2: able to get away, and reduce train traffic at dawn 325 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 2: and dusk. The railway counters that slowing down isn't practical 326 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 2: because it would create choke points that would slow down 327 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 2: the transportation of goods for thousands of miles. They also 328 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 2: point out that grizzly bears are hit by trains at 329 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 2: all times of the day and night, so reducing traffic 330 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 2: at dawn and dusk wouldn't be much help. The railway 331 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 2: submitted a plan in June twenty twenty for reducing the 332 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 2: number of grizzly bears killed. It was put out for 333 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 2: public comment in January twenty one, but it still hasn't 334 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 2: been approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The 335 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 2: railroad seeks a seven year permit allowing it to kill 336 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 2: an average of two and a half grizzly bears per 337 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 2: year in exchange for efforts to reduce train strikes. Three 338 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 2: bears were killed on railroad tracks in Montana this year. Ironically, 339 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 2: the fact that bears are being killed on train tracks 340 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 2: indicate that the species is doing well. High densities of 341 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 2: animals always result in some of them being killed on 342 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 2: roads and train tracks. Conservation efforts are clearly working if 343 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 2: we're filing lawsuits based on the number of grizzly bears 344 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 2: killed by trains each year. That being said, wildlife overpasses 345 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:21,119 Speaker 2: and underpasses are good things. Building more of them I 346 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 2: would be a huge fan of I've told this story 347 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 2: on the Week and Review a bunch, but you know, 348 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 2: due to my upbringing, I've rubbed shoulders with a bunch 349 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 2: of railroaders over the years, quite a few engineers, and 350 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 2: these folks do not like hitting animals. It's like a 351 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 2: PTSD event running over large groups of elker, antelope, the 352 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 2: occasional bison, black bears, and grizzly bears. A buddy Mine's dad, 353 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 2: his first night on the job, whacked a grizzly bear 354 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 2: in a tunnel right outside of West Glacier, Montana. Said 355 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 2: it looked like an old man and an overcoat standing 356 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 2: up on the tracks. And still get shivers about it 357 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 2: talking about it. So protect your employees, BNSF. I think 358 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 2: you're doing a good job keeping the tracks clean, but 359 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 2: maybe there's a little more he can do. Moving on 360 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 2: to the wolf desk. It finally happened. Last week, Colorado 361 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 2: Parks and Wildlife released the first five wolves of the 362 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 2: state's voter mandated reintroduction effort. Colorado's approved a ballot initiative 363 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty that mandated wolves be shipped from other states, 364 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 2: and now the first shipment is running around on the landscape. 365 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,120 Speaker 2: The agency hopes to import ten more wolves by March 366 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 2: of this year, and another thirty to fifty over the 367 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 2: next three to five years. Governor Jared Poulos said that 368 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 2: history has been made. For the first time since the forties, 369 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 2: the howl of wolves will officially return to western Colorado. 370 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 2: He has to use the word officially because wolves are 371 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 2: already in Colorado. Either that or he's got his head 372 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,360 Speaker 2: up his rear end. The five wolves included a juvenile 373 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,360 Speaker 2: male and female from the Five Points pack, which also 374 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 2: happens to be the name of one of my all 375 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 2: time favorite dive bars in the seattle are another juvenile 376 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 2: male and female from the nor Guard pack, and an 377 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 2: adult male from the Wanaha pack. The wolves were released 378 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,360 Speaker 2: on public land and Grand County in the northwestern part 379 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:12,719 Speaker 2: of the state. As much as I've been skeptical of 380 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 2: Colorado's reintroduction effort. It is pretty cool to watch these 381 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 2: animals bolt from their crates and run off into the woods. 382 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 2: Colorado Parks and Wildlife published photos and video of the 383 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 2: entire event. I'd encourage you to watch it. They also 384 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 2: publish video of the capture work from Oregon, which is 385 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 2: also fascinating. But you know, I have some additional questions, 386 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 2: like where is Peta In all of this? Those wolves 387 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 2: were ripped from their only home they ever knew, shipped 388 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 2: across the country, and dumped in unfamiliar territory they don't 389 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 2: even know each other, all for the pleasure of humans, 390 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,880 Speaker 2: most of whom live in Denver and will never hear 391 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 2: the howl of a wolf. That seems like animal cruelty 392 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 2: to me. But you know, I'm just a hunter, so 393 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 2: what do I know. Another thing that I think about 394 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 2: here is the fact that in order to do this, 395 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 2: Colorado Parks and Wildlife had to agree to recapture these 396 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 2: wolves and move them back into the state of Colorado 397 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 2: should they cross the border with New Mexico, Arizona, or Utah. 398 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 2: At what point do you let wildlife be wildlife? As 399 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 2: we've covered on this show many, many times, wolves walked 400 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 2: in from Wyoming, started a pack in Colorado. They had 401 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 2: pups there. They're you know, being kind of jerks on 402 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 2: the local ranchers supplier out there, and you know a 403 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 2: lot of them did get shot in Wyoming. But I 404 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:36,479 Speaker 2: have to ask, are we pushing these wolves because of 405 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 2: our timeline or we pushing these wolves because it's what's 406 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 2: best for the wolves. It seems to me that if 407 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 2: you wanted to have a pack of wolves be successful, 408 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 2: you would want those wolves to be aware of hunters 409 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 2: on the landscape, not suck them out of Oregon and 410 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 2: spit them out in the middle of the state. My 411 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 2: money's on the Wyoming wolves, not the Oregonians, I guess, 412 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 2: is what I'm saying. That's all I've got for you 413 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 2: this week. Thank you so much for listening. Remember to 414 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 2: write in to a s K C. 415 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: A L. 416 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 2: That's Askcal at the Meat Eater dot com and let 417 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 2: me know what's going on in your neck of the woods. 418 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 2: You know we appreciate it. On top of that, go 419 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:16,199 Speaker 2: to www. Dot steel Dealers dot com to find a local, 420 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 2: knowledgeable steel dealer near you. They're great folks. They're gonna 421 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 2: get you set up with what you need, they won't 422 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 2: try to send you home with what you don't. Thanks again, 423 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 2: and I'll talk to you next week.