1 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: From Meat Eaters World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This 2 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: is Cow's Week in Review with Ryan cow Calahan. Here's 3 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: cal We may be getting closer to finding patient zero 4 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: of one of the most consequential outbreaks in human history. 5 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: In this case, I'm not talking about the bubonic plague. 6 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: I'm talking, of course, about cats. A recent study in 7 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: the journal American Antiquity has identified the remains of what 8 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: might be the earliest domestic cats in the Americas. They 9 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: were discovered in the wreck of the Immanuel point two, 10 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: a Spanish ship that was run aground by a storm 11 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:51,279 Speaker 1: in fifteen fifty nine near what's now Pensacola Bay. This 12 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: proves that cats were aboard the earliest ships to reach 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: our shores, and now we know a lot about how 14 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: they lived and what brought them here. Isotopic analysis of 15 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: the cats bones tell us that their diet was mostly fish, 16 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: either fed to them or scavenged from the sailors on board, 17 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: and not the rats and mice that were also found 18 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: in the shipwreck. This confirms something we know about contemporary 19 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: cats that they typically don't hunt out of desire for food, 20 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 1: but rather for the thrill of the hunt. The authors 21 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: of the study also suggest that the cats were maybe 22 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: so good at killing rats that there weren't enough of 23 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: them left on the ship to subsist on. Of course, 24 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: the cats weren't so good at killing rats that they 25 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: prevented rats from leaving European ships and spreading throughout the Americas. 26 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: One other interesting tidbit from this study, the authors conclude 27 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,559 Speaker 1: that these cats were not brought along as a food source, 28 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: despite the existence of a Spanish cookbook from the year 29 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: fifteen sixty that includes a recipe for roast cat. Now, listen, 30 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: I know the idea of establishing a regulated cat hunt 31 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: in the US is a real uphill battle, but all 32 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: the pieces are there. All of our songbirds and lizards 33 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: would get a break, and we could all have some 34 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: delicious cat paiea. You don't have to say yes right now, 35 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: just think about it. Okay, that's a joke. We don't 36 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: want regulated cat hunting in America because they are, although 37 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 1: you know, entertaining, devastating to native wildlife wherever they roam. 38 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 1: This week, we've got wolves, bears, wildlife crime, and so 39 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: much more. But first I'm going to tell you about 40 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: my week. In my week, man lots catch up on. 41 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: So I am five days in to my official gig 42 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: as CEO and President of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Oh 43 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: so much to learn and tell you about. Fantastic people. 44 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: The crew at BHA, at the staff across all levels 45 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: is just fantastic. And I gotta say, it's just like 46 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: lots going on, but so pleasant and dare I say 47 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: easier than I expected because everybody's such an ass kicker, 48 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: which is such a fun and environment to be around. 49 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: Heading to d C next week, unexpected trip, but I'll 50 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: be testifying in the House Natural Resources Subcommittee and Fish 51 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: and Wildlife. I believe that we're going to be talking 52 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: about refuges, but I'm geared up to let folks on Capitol. 53 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: He'll know how important public lands, public wildlife, and public 54 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: waters are to the American people. And it's it's just 55 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: important that all of you understand that it's still waterfoul 56 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: season and I would rather not be there. So once 57 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: everybody listening tells everybody they know to stick up for 58 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: this stuff all the time, I won't have to go 59 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: to DC. And that's my goal. Let's see what else 60 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: snort and I had a phenomenal, phenomenal couple of duck hunts, 61 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: one of which was just very fun. We didn't quite 62 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: shoot great and we didn't bring home you know, the 63 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: limits of birds, but it was a great day with 64 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: doctor Randall Williams. He got to have some furs, which 65 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: you know, his history of duck hunting has been past 66 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: shooting or jump shooting, so decoying in some ducks was 67 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: a first for him and super super fun. Snort had 68 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: a couple of great retrieves. And then I noticed on 69 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: that outing that a bunch of ducks were dumping into 70 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: this private ground spot and got a hold of the landowner, 71 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: made it out there again, got out super early. It 72 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: was real quiet, but in the moonlight I saw some 73 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: ducks kind of pick up and then shuffle around and 74 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: reset back in, and I knew where to set up, 75 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: so we slogged on over there, almost went over the 76 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: top of my waiters twice and kicked probably fifty green 77 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: heads off of this beaver pond. Then pitched some decoys out, 78 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: found that where the ducks wanted to be there was 79 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 1: absolutely no cover, so we ended up laying on the 80 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: downs stream side of the beaver dam. So the duck 81 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: decoys were at a little above head level if you 82 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: sat straight up, like if you sat up in a 83 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: shooting position from laying down, and just had my you know, 84 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: my first light waiters and jacket on in that Taypha pattern, 85 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: the grassy pattern, and laid down in the little bit 86 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: of grass that was there but underneath, you know, the 87 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 1: level of the beaver pond, and oh my gosh, that 88 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 1: was a fun experience because the ducks were like literally 89 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:33,119 Speaker 1: landing at face level, and I just don't recall having 90 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: that experience before. It was great. I didn't shoot super awesome, 91 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: but I was still limited. Out By five o'clock, Snort 92 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: was just running her own program, Bad Dog Ownership. But man, 93 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: so fun to watch that girl work. She just rips around, 94 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: marks those birds perfectly and is real efficient. She's way 95 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: more interested in getting set up again and watching for 96 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: the next bird to drop than any sort of messing 97 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: around out there. So that was a wonderful experience. Then 98 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: I was out there on this fella's private ground, all 99 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 1: wrapped up with my duck hunt at nine am, so 100 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: I gave him a shout, and I had noticed all 101 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: this woven wire, old cheap fence intermingled in the meandering 102 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: stream there in the series of beaver dams, and you know, said, hey, 103 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: thank you very much for saying yes to a stranger 104 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 1: getting on your property. Is it okay if I roll 105 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: up this fence? It definitely seems like a hazard. And 106 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: there's a little bit of back and forth, which I 107 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: totally get, and eventually he's like, I guess if you want. So. 108 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: I spent about the next five hours three times as 109 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 1: long as the duck hunt took to pull and roll 110 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: up a bunch of old barb wire and woven wire, 111 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: and everything was super cool in the gang. And then 112 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: I got home and my neck was like so sprained, 113 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: and I've had three and a half days of almost 114 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: near immobility. And that's why I get an old stinks 115 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: manual good deed, which I would do again, but kind 116 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: of reinforces those folks who do the New Year's knew 117 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: me going to get in the weight room and work 118 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: on that core type of mentality. But moral of the 119 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: story is nothing's free. I could have picked up and 120 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: went home and everything would have been just fine. But 121 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: I like to believe that this particular fella will be 122 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: more inclined to say yes to the next person who's 123 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: got the cohones to call a random stranger and say, hey, 124 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: what about those ducks? So you're welcome anyway, You know 125 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: how I've been harping on you about the nomination of 126 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: Steve Pierce for the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. 127 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: The fella who and it doesn't have to be a fella. 128 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: There's lots and lots and lots of options out there, 129 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: but we the American people, have not been given anything 130 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: but a singular option, this guy, Steve Pierce, out of 131 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: New Mechs. And Steve has this track record that is 132 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: a real black guy, in my opinion, for this position 133 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: of being a proponent as opposed to an opponent of 134 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: selling off our public lands. So this guy has a 135 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: record of promoting the selloff of public lands all across 136 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: the federal portfolio as it were. And now he's in 137 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: line and likely will be the new director of the 138 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: Bureau of Land Management. He has what is essentially like 139 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: a public job interview in a confirmation hearing that will 140 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: be coming up shortly. And like I've been telling you 141 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: to think, like what would you ask a potential employee, 142 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: which is what he will be to all of us 143 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: for that job. If you go outside and you love 144 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 1: public lands and clean air and water and wildlife, you're 145 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: qualified to ask. So don't think that you are right 146 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: in to ask c Al. That's Askcal at the meteater 147 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: dot com and let me know what you would want 148 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: to ask Steve Pierce to gain the confidence to say, Okay, 149 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: we're going to give you a shot at this incredibly 150 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: important job. Over at Backcountry Hunters dot org you will 151 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: find a form where you can sign up and fill 152 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: out a survey, and we will make sure that your 153 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: senator gets the top questions to be asked that they 154 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 1: can then ask, oh, Steve Pierce during the confirmation hearing. 155 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: So get on it. Be engaged. Let's start right now. 156 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: We're only by the time you hear this, we're twelve 157 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: days into the new year. This is just a good, 158 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: good process to be involved in. You can skip what 159 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: I just said and call your senator's office directly, particularly 160 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 1: the those senators that are on the Senate Energy and 161 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: Natural Resources Committee. Make her happen. It's up to all 162 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: of us. Let's hold them accountable. Let's move on over 163 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: to the wolf desk. Things keep going from bad to 164 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 1: worse with Colorado's wolf reintroduction effort, and the Feds have 165 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: opened another front in their war on the program. Back 166 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: in October, US Fish and Wildlife block Colorado from taking 167 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 1: any wolves from Canada. Then all of the so called 168 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: Northern Rocky Mountain states refused to provide wolves. Washington State 169 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: also said no, and the Confederated Tribes of the Calville 170 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: Reservation dropped out as well. Now, as reported in the 171 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: Fort Collins, Colorado and US Fish and Wildlife Director Brian 172 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 1: Neswick has sent a letter to Colorado Parks and Wildlife 173 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: threatening to quote terminate the memorandum of agreement and take 174 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: over management of the program, including relocation and lethal removal. 175 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: The letters ordered CPW to submit a report of all 176 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: of their wolf conservation and management activities since December twenty 177 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: twenty three. If that isn't submitted within sixty days, or 178 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: if Nesvik doesn't like the results of the report, then 179 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: presumably the federal takeover would go through. The letter points 180 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: to two apparent violations. First, Colorado's release of fifteen Canadian 181 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: wolves in January twenty twenty five with quote no notice 182 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: or warning to its own citizens. This objection seems a 183 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: bit suspect to me, Colorado's ballot initiative Prop one fourteen 184 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: requires the state to release ten to fifteen wolves a year, 185 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: and the fact that the wolves happen to be from 186 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,319 Speaker 1: Canada doesn't seem like a terrible shock to Coloradams. The 187 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: letter's second point asserts that in December twenty twenty five, 188 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: CPW introduced a wolf pack with a confirmed history of 189 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: livestock depredation. This objection does genuinely seem like a violation 190 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: of the state's recovery plan in the yearling wolf in question, 191 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: Wolf two four zero three also killed the cow that's 192 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: a beef cow in November of twenty twenty five, just 193 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: before it was re released. It's unclear what it would 194 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: look like for US Fish and Wildlife under the Trump 195 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: administration to take over Colorado's wolf program, but with quote 196 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 1: unquote lethal removal on the table, we know we'll see more, 197 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: if not many, more headlines on this issue from the 198 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: Centennial State. The date of the US Fish and Wildlife letter, 199 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: December eighteen, is also notable because on that same day, 200 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: US Congress passed a bill to delist the gray wolf 201 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: from the Federal and Dangered Species Act and shift management 202 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: of wolf populations over to states. That bill is co 203 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: sponsored by Colorado Rep. Lauren Bobert. Because the last effort 204 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: to delist wolves in twenty twenty one was stymied by 205 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 1: a federal judge, this new bill exempts the delisting from 206 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: judicial review. But if the Senate passes the bill and 207 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: Trump signs it, then a responsibility for managing Colorado's wolves 208 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: would pass to Colorado, which of course has its own 209 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: state in Endangered species protections as well as the Prop 210 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: one fourteen reintroduction ongoing. Would a federal ESA dlisting ironically 211 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: exempt Colorado from federal oversight of their wolf program? Is 212 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: that the reason why the federal government is threatening to 213 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: take over Colorado's wolf program now? Or are the two 214 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: efforts unconnected. Let's hear your point of view on this one. 215 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: Dial in four oh six two two zero six four 216 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: four one or ask cal tomeeteater dot com. Things are 217 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: moving fast at the federal level. My two cents is 218 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: there's probably no real conspiracy here. I think Colorado's laying 219 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: in a very messy bed that they made by bringing 220 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: out this Prop one fourteen nonsense in the first place, 221 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: which of course only exists because Mother Nature didn't move 222 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: at the pace that the pro wolf movement desired. They 223 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 1: love nature, just not when it moves slow. As a reminder, 224 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: wolves were walking in from Wyoming and California through Oregon 225 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: or Oregon, California there and entering the state of Colorado naturally. 226 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: But that was not good enough. So here we are patients, 227 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: tisk task kids. But uh, you can call me a 228 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: jackass if you want, just do it four oh six 229 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: two two zero six four four one or ask cal 230 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: at the meeater dot com. Moving over to one of 231 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: the crown jewels of wildlife conservation in North America, the 232 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: Wildlife Refuge Desk, and again involving Brian Nesvik, director of 233 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: the US Fish and Wildlife Service, posted in December sixteen 234 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: an order for a quote unquote comprehensive review of all 235 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries to identify quote refuges 236 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: or hatcheres established for a purpose that no longer aligns 237 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: with the mission. The review also requests quote opportunities to 238 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: achieve efficiencies in the areas of governance, oversight, and span 239 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: of control. The initial results of the review were due 240 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: last Monday, January five. The timing and rollout of this 241 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: directive speaksvolumes about its intentions, issued the week before employees 242 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: Christmas vacation, and giving a deadline of the Monday after 243 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: that vacation. The order gives essentially no time to do 244 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: the review that suggests that the administration already has refuges 245 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: picked out for closure or overhaul. There was also no 246 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: public announcement of the move. The directive was simply posted 247 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: to an internal message board that seems calculated to push 248 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: this through without anyone noticing. So what is the administration's 249 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: agenda here? Well? According to reporting by The New York Times, 250 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: officials that Fish and Wildlife might be planning to transfer 251 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: seven hundred and seventy five acres of the Rio Grand 252 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has 253 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: a rocket launch pad close by, in exchange for six 254 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety two acres somewhere else. You know what, 255 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: I don't want six hundred and ninety two random akers, 256 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: who knows where I want that land to stay where 257 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: it is in the Rio Grand Valley Refuge. Some other 258 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: ideas that may resurface are a row through Isembek National 259 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and oil drilling in the Arctic 260 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: National Wildlife Refuge. Other new potential selloffs of refuge lands 261 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: might still be to come. We'll keep your eyes glued 262 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: to this one. Let's make sure they understand that they 263 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: can't get away with this stuff in secret again. Time 264 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: to plug in. This is likely the topic that we're 265 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: going to be covering in DC next week on Tuesday 266 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: two o'clock Eastern time, So one day after this podcast 267 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: drops should be live on c SPAN. You'll see me 268 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: wearing a terrible suit and a tie I learned to 269 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: retie that morning on YouTube. Florida's first black bear hunt 270 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: since twenty fifteen wrapped up on January fourth, with a 271 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: grand total of fifty two bears killed. First off, congrats 272 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: to all the Sunshine Staters who got your bear. Enjoy 273 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: the meat and do yourself a favor and render that fat. 274 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: You'll never think about a pie crest again after making 275 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: one with bear fat. Of course, fifty two bears is 276 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: about thirty of the quota of one seventy two that 277 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: the state set for managing the population, so at least 278 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: in the short term, the anti hunting groups who bought 279 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: up hunt lottery entries achieved their aims of reducing harvest numbers, 280 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 1: but as we've mentioned before, the state can now simply 281 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 1: adjust the number of tags upward to arrive at the 282 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: intended quota. Doing a bit of back of the envelope math. 283 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: Next year, Florida Fish and Wildlife could issue around five 284 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy tags to arrive at the harvest objective 285 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: of one hundred and seventy two bears. Digging deeper, that 286 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: quota is extremely conservative for the bear population in Florida, 287 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: which numbers around four thousand animals. Bears typically reproduce at 288 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: around ten percent a year, and so if we think 289 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: that four thousand is the sustainable carrying capacity of the habitat, 290 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: the bear hunt quota would be four hundred bears. There's 291 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: also good data to suggest that one hundred populations of 292 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 1: bears actually reproduce at a higher rate, so pushing that 293 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 1: harvest number to around twelve percent can often maintain a 294 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: healthy population, and that reproductive research suggests another reason why 295 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 1: hunting individual bears is good for the wider population of bears. 296 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: When bear numbers climb above about one bear per square mile, 297 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: all the bears in that habitat get stressed. They're competing 298 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 1: for food for mating territory. They're likely getting into trouble 299 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 1: with people while eating garbage for the calories they need. 300 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: This stress reduces their fecundity. Keeping bear numbers well managed 301 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,479 Speaker 1: through hunting improves the quality of life for bears. It 302 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: makes them healthier and happier. Obviously not for the ones 303 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:35,120 Speaker 1: in the crosshairs, but it's good data when you're thinking 304 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: about wildlife populations. If you live in Florida, New Jersey, 305 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 1: Connecticut and all the other places where black bears are 306 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 1: kicking butt, but the hunt is contentious with your neighbors, 307 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 1: that's something to bring up. Moving on to the attack desk, 308 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:53,880 Speaker 1: a Colorado woman was attacked and killed by at least 309 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 1: one mountain lion last month, and officials are still trying 310 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: to determine exactly what happened. The woman's age and name 311 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,199 Speaker 1: have not been released as of this recording, but testimony 312 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: from local residents suggests that multiple aggressive cougars might be 313 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: living in this area. The woman was attacked and killed 314 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: while hiking on a trail on Krozier Mountain, which is 315 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,639 Speaker 1: about five miles northeast of Estes Park, Colorado. Her body 316 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 1: was discovered on New Year's Day by two other hikers. 317 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: They noticed a mountain lion near a prone body, and 318 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: they threw rocks at it to scare it away. When 319 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: they reached the woman, they found she no longer had 320 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: a pulse. Officials have already killed two mountain lions in 321 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: the area with the help of houndsmen, and are working 322 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: to determine whether those two cats were responsible for the attack. 323 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: They say they are also tracking a third cat, which 324 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 1: might also be euthanized, depending on the results of the 325 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 1: tests on the first two. In the meantime, Colorado's have 326 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: come forward to tell the media their own stories about 327 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: being accosted by mountain lions on that same trail. One 328 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: couple told CBS Colorado that they believe they were hunted 329 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: by the same cougars that killed the woman. Andrew Diffenbach 330 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: said he was hiking with his girlfriend in November when 331 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: they noticed a cat behind them. It was crouching under 332 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: an aspen tree, but when they tried to scare it 333 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: away by yelling at it and throwing rocks, it started 334 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: coming closer. They tried retreating down the mountain, which is 335 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: when they saw a second lion. This one was also 336 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: acting aggressively, showing its teeth and slashing towards them. Then 337 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: yet another lion, this one a juvenile, came up behind them. 338 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: They managed to make it down the mountain and back 339 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: to their vehicle while holding the cats at bay. But 340 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: not everyone was so lucky. Another hiker, Gary Messina, told 341 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: local media that he was charged by one of the 342 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: big cats while running on the same trail. It got 343 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: so close to him that he had to hit it 344 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:37,959 Speaker 1: on the head with a bat sized stick before it 345 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: finally left him alone. Another woman said her dog was 346 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: attacked and killed by a lion in the same area. 347 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: The cat came within two feet of her ankle before 348 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: snatching her pet, and it wouldn't let it go even 349 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: though she yelled and hit it with rocks and sticks. 350 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: Each of these incidents was reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 351 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: The agency put up signs saying that mountain lions were 352 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: active in the area and that pets maybe at risk, 353 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: but they never indicated that humans should be fearful. From 354 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: one perspective, this makes sense. The New Year's Day attack 355 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: was the first fatal mountain lion encounter. We should say 356 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: first recorded fatal mountain lion encounter in Colorado since nineteen 357 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: ninety nine, and such incidents are extremely rare nationwide, but 358 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: there was ample evidence that this area was home to 359 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,200 Speaker 1: at least one, possibly multiple big cats that had lost 360 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: their fear of humans. Not only that, but they were 361 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: acting aggressively towards people who were walking by themselves without 362 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: a dog. The Associated Press also reported that those signs 363 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: warning about mountain lions were later taken down, so the 364 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: woman who died may not have known to be cautious 365 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: at all, staying at the attack desk, but moving all 366 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 1: the way up to Canada. A woman is recovering in 367 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: the hospital after being kicked in the head by a moose. 368 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: Courtney de Vaux was in her boyfriend's cars. The couple 369 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: were driving along a highway one night in Nova Scotia 370 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: in early December. A moose appeared on the road in 371 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: front of them, and Devo's boyfriend was un aa able 372 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,640 Speaker 1: to swerve out of the way. The collision peeled back 373 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: the roof of the Volkswagen Golf as the giant animal 374 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: tried desperately to extricate itself from the vehicle, but as 375 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: it did so it struck de Vaux at least twice 376 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 1: in the head with the hopes of its front legs. 377 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: Devau was knocked unconscious, and doctors later determined she suffered 378 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: a traumatic brain injury. Her jaw and several ribs were broken, 379 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 1: and she was placed under a medically induced coma. When 380 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 1: she finally made it to the ICU, her family told 381 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,959 Speaker 1: the CBC that she's been making a slow recovery. She's spoken, 382 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,880 Speaker 1: her eyes appeared to be functioning, and she's even managed 383 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,919 Speaker 1: to walk a bit with assistance, but she doesn't always 384 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: recognize her mother, and her recovery will likely take several 385 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: more months, if not years. Moving on to the crime desk, 386 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: listener Jim Lane sent me the story from Mississippi, where 387 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: a group of waterfowl hunters dumped over two hundred snow 388 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: geese in the trash. An off duty deputy with the 389 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 1: Yazoo County Sheriff's office noticed the birds being wasted, and 390 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 1: he recorded the incident while noifying his fellow law enforcement officers. 391 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: Yazoo County Sheriff Jeremy McCoy arrived about twenty minutes later, 392 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: and sure enough, he pulled two hundred and seven snow 393 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,679 Speaker 1: geese from the dumpster. All of them had been shot, 394 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: and some of them were still warm. The hunters have 395 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:17,199 Speaker 1: not been identified, but local media reports that they were 396 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 1: from Madison County and at least two of them were juveniles. 397 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 1: You might think this is an open and shut case 398 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: of wanton waste, but that's actually not true. Mississippi law 399 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 1: does not require hunters to harvest the meat from game birds. 400 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,719 Speaker 1: The only wanton waste requirement is that hunters have to 401 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: make reasonable effort to retrieve down birds and then keep 402 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: those birds in their possession. But once the hunt is over, 403 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: they can dispose of those animals however they want. This 404 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 1: incident was still submitted to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, 405 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: Fisheries and Parks, but a spokesperson for the agency told 406 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 1: ABC sixteen that the hunters didn't do anything wrong. At 407 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 1: the state level, they said the incident has been quote exaggerated, 408 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,880 Speaker 1: and that the hunters took the birds on private property 409 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,360 Speaker 1: with permission. The county sheriff may still pursue an illegal 410 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 1: dumping charge, and there's a slim chance the hunters may 411 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: have run a foul of federal regulations. If you're a 412 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 1: a US Fish and Wildlife Federal Warden. I'd love it 413 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: if you'd call her right in and give us two 414 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: year two cents on this. Even if you're state rigs 415 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: so you don't need to take the meat. Remember this, 416 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: just because it's legal doesn't make it right. Let's just 417 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: say there's two pounds of meat. That's four hundred pounds 418 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: of great protein that you could take to a local 419 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 1: food bank or barbecue. Some goose legs make apricot, goose sausage, gooseburger. 420 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: The list goes on and on. Buddy Mine, there's a 421 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,199 Speaker 1: guide over there in the Pacific Flyway. He swears up 422 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: and down that the number one breakfast meat in their 423 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: house is bacon cured snow goose. His daughter demands it 424 00:24:56,280 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: for breakfast every day. Idaho Fishing Same is asking the 425 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: public for help identifying the person responsible for shooting and 426 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: killing a big horn cheap in November near the town 427 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,400 Speaker 1: of Riggins. There is no season for big horn cheap 428 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,600 Speaker 1: in the area of Unit fourteen where the animal was shot. 429 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 1: Whoever did it shot the ram in the head and 430 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: left it to waste. As of this recording, the Idaho 431 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: Wild Chief Foundation has put up a forty thousand dollars 432 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of 433 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: the person responsible. That's a lot of cake. So if 434 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: you were in the area above Big Salmon Road near 435 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 1: Partridge Creek from November twentieth to twenty two, think about 436 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: whether you saw anything suspicious. You never know what little 437 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: bit of info might be at the last little bit 438 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: of the puzzle. So if you can't remember anything, called 439 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:46,640 Speaker 1: the Citizens Against Poaching Hotline eight hundred sixty three two 440 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: five nine nine nine. That's eight hundred sixty three two 441 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 1: five nine nine nine. A Chinese citizen living in the 442 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,919 Speaker 1: United States has been sentenced to two years in the 443 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 1: Federal Slammer for falsely lifeabling live turtles, snakes, and lizards 444 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: as toys prior to exporting them in delivery boxes destined 445 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 1: for Hong Kong y Shang. Linn lives in Brooklyn, and 446 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,640 Speaker 1: from twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four he tried 447 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 1: to send two hundred and twenty two boxes to China 448 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,400 Speaker 1: containing about eight hundred and fifty turtles. It's very illegal 449 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: to ship turtles internationally without the proper permits, so Linn 450 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 1: had a brilliant idea he bound and taped the turtles 451 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 1: inside knotted socks and placed them inside shipping boxes labeled 452 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: plastic animal toys. That way, when postal inspectors and wildlife 453 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: officials X rayed the boxes, they would just see the 454 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: outline of an immobile turtle and send it on through. Anyway, 455 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: it didn't work. The packages were intercepted, and officials estimate 456 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: that all those turtles were worth about one point four 457 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: million dollars on the open market. If my math is right, 458 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 1: that's almost seventeen hundred dollars per turtle. Fortunately, many of 459 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: those reptiles were still alive and sent to the Buffalo Zoo. 460 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: Their zookeepers set up the first ever assurance colony for 461 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: the Cora mud turtle. These turtles are from western Mexico 462 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: and the individual seized from Lyn's boxes will be used 463 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:10,399 Speaker 1: to repopulate the species if the wild populations ever become 464 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: too small. That's all I got for you this week. 465 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening, and remember to write 466 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: in that's as K C. A. L At the meat 467 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: eater dot com, ask how at the meeteater dot com, 468 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 1: or for you truly vocal citizens, please call four oh 469 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: six two two zero six four four one. That's four 470 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 1: oh six two two zero six four four one. I 471 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: hope everyone's have an amazing new year. Let's plug in 472 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: and make sure that calling and writing your elected officials 473 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 1: is just part of something that you do. It's not 474 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: a big deal. Appreciate and I'll talk to you next week.