1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: From Mediators World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Cal's weekend review, presented by Steel. Steel products are available 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: only at authorized dealers. For more, go to Steel Dealers 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, right, Cal Callahan. Dutch 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: officials are concerned that wolves in the Netherlands are becoming 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: too tame and may become a danger to humans. So 7 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: they've hit upon a solution endorsed by middle school boys 8 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: around the world, paintballs. Conservation officers in the province of 9 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 1: Gelderland will be using paintball guns to scare away wolves 10 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: and make them think twice before approaching people. The decision 11 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: comes in the wake of a video from a national 12 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: park whose name I will not attempt to pronounce, but 13 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: it's safe to assume that it's got something to do 14 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: with wooden shoes, windmills, woodworking and chocolate or you know, 15 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: dykes and levies and things like at anyway, that video 16 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: shows a wolf in broad daylight strolling past a family 17 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,759 Speaker 1: of children. I know what you're thinking. Only in Gelderland, 18 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: officials say they chose paintball guns so park rangers can 19 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: see which wolves have already been hit. They're hoping to 20 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: convince the canines to stay at least one feet away 21 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: from park visitors, and any wolf caught with paint on 22 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: its fur will have to leave the game until the 23 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: next round begins. The decision has sparked some controversy, but 24 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: not for the reasons you might expect. Animal rights groups 25 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 1: seem to be okay with wolves getting shot with paintballs, 26 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: but they've accused park officials of causing the original problem. 27 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: An environmentalist organization whose name I also won't try to pronounce, 28 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: has claimed that park employees, not visitors, have been feeding 29 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: the wolves to make them tame. They've been doing this, 30 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: according to the BBC, to create problem wolves that can 31 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: be legally culled, which seems like a totally unnecessary and 32 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: additional step if you want to chew the wolf. Park 33 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: officials have denied the accusations. This week wolves bears and mink. 34 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: But first, I'm gonna tell you about my week. And 35 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: my week was well. I was getting stuff done, still 36 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: have a couple of tags in the pocket. I'd like 37 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: to spend some time on, you know, birds too. Little 38 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: Snort is acting like an absolute maniac when I do 39 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: get her out, which reminds me the snort report. We 40 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: did sneak out one morning last week to get our 41 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: very own filled the engineer into the field for his 42 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: first pheasant hunt. Like many of you, Phil's first hunt 43 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: was a pen raised bird situation on a state wildlife 44 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: management area. If you've been paying attention to Montana's decision 45 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: to reinvigorate this pheasant release program, you know it has 46 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: been controversy. The birds are raised at the state prison 47 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: located in Deer Lodge, Montana go wardens. The budget is 48 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: a million bucks and it kind of brings up the 49 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: movie The shosh ankor Redemption, where the warden has taken 50 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: bribes to put his prisoners to work or the work 51 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:19,639 Speaker 1: won't hurt local contractors. Um, yeah, it does. Except the 52 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:24,399 Speaker 1: gripe over this inside out program is the prisoners are pheasants, 53 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: and when they're released, they just you know, they don't 54 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: last long, which is why folks such as myself would 55 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: rather see those dollars go to habitat which keeps birds 56 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: here long term. And you know what, if you know 57 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: the state prison wants to do habitat work, I'm all 58 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: for that anyway. Phil, please give me your impressions of 59 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: the program from the lips, the supple, soft lips of 60 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: a first time pheasant hunter as opposed to you know, 61 00:03:53,520 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: my calloused, old beat up lips. Go ahead, phil Thankee. Cal. 62 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: I don't really have anything profound to say about the 63 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: program or any other pheasant hunting experiences that I've had, 64 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: because I have not had any. But I can't tell 65 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: you that some of my expectations were going in. I 66 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: drive past a ton of pheasants every day, just on 67 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: my way to work. They're hanging out on hay bales, 68 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: running through ditches, seemingly trying to get hit by my car. 69 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: Not very afraid of people or cars. So when Cal 70 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: invited me along for this trip and told me about 71 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: the program and how a bunch of these peasants were 72 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: just released onto this land, I think I was expecting 73 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: to see pheasants just hanging out on the ground in trees, 74 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 1: walking around. It turns out not the case. Peasants don't 75 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: really want to be seen or caught. They want to 76 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: stay warm and not come face to face with a 77 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: snort dog. So when we pulled up, there were no 78 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: pheasants to be seen, and that was a little surprising 79 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: to me. And this is where the dogs come in. 80 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: I don't know why I thought this, because Cal is 81 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: talking about Snort every single week on this podcast, But 82 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: I didn't know how involved these dogs are. They're getting 83 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: in there. Snort is running back and forth and going crazy, 84 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 1: sniff and stiff and sniffing this way and that way, 85 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: tail pointing this way and that way, ears pointing this 86 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: way and that way, sniffing out these birds. And that's 87 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: the only way the birds are going to show themselves 88 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: because they are trying to hide in these thick, snow 89 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: covered bushes and trees. And when Snorts sniffs one out there, 90 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: it goes and you have a very small window of 91 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: opportunity to one identify the sex, to get the gun up, 92 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: and three make an accurate shot before it either flies 93 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: away or immediately finds new cover to hide in. But 94 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: even though the birds were not hanging on the tree 95 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: like Christmas ornaments, I still ended up coming home with 96 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: a limit of three. It was a great experience. It's 97 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: a kind of hunt you can walk and talk and 98 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: learn and not have to stay too quiet. And I 99 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: know that ended up being more of a brief hunting 100 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: recap than any sort of insightful look into this program. 101 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: But I guess my takeaway is that even with these 102 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: pen raised pheasants being released into the wild with no 103 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: experience living on their own like this, they still managed 104 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: to get away from us. We were walking around for 105 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: a couple of hours before we actually started getting into 106 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: the birds. It was a great learning experience. Thank you 107 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: again to Cal and his buddy Adam for taking me out, 108 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 1: and an extra big thank you to Snort. Keep up 109 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 1: the good work. The program is intended as a hunter 110 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: recruitment tool. We had some birds slip away from us. 111 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: We had some birds land and trees. We had a 112 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: bird that Snort kind of cut out the middleman on 113 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: and just retrieved herself with no shots fired. It was 114 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: good practice practice being safe with guns, practice communicating in 115 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: the field, practice being with new hunting partners and dogs, 116 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 1: practice identifying the sex of the bird as it flies, 117 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: practice cleaning, preparing, and eating birds, all of which is awesome, 118 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: and I want people to have those opportunities. But I 119 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 1: have seen some stuff. Okay, I've been around, you know, 120 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: and when I travel to far flung ex botic locales 121 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: such as North and South Dakota, Kansas, Georgia, and I 122 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: see what those states are doing in regards to habitat work, well, 123 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: that is still where I would like to see the 124 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: money spent here in Montana. Moving on to the elections desk, 125 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: mid term elections are finally over. Republicans are doing some 126 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: soul searching after their red wave turned into a red trickle, 127 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: and Democrats are holding the kind of nervous celebrations you 128 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: have after dodging a bullet or escaping a burning building. 129 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: I'll save the in depth political analysis for the talking 130 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: heads on CNN, but if you care about conservation, the 131 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: election actually went pretty well. That's because conservation is one 132 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: of the only issues that crosses party lines. While the 133 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: loudest opponents of public land tend to be Republican, they're 134 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: increasingly in the minority. Why because you speak up and 135 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: tell them that they're idiots. Over a hundred Republicans voted 136 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act in two 137 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: thousand twenty and were forty Republicans in the House voted 138 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: for the Recovering America's Wildlife Act in two thousand twenty one. 139 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: This means that if the U. S. Congress is looking 140 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: to get something done, they may turn to conservation legislation. 141 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: Party leaders hoping for a win won't get anywhere on 142 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: controversial topics like guns, abortion, or social security, but they 143 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: may be able to notch at least one win by 144 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: compromising on a conservation bill that can secure support from 145 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: both Republicans and Democrats. Compromise means that, you know, no 146 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 1: one gets everything they want, but hopefully we can push 147 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: the ball a little bit further in the you know, 148 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: habitat conservation, clean water, clean airspace. Charlie Bower also told 149 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,719 Speaker 1: me that the spring after mid term elections are historically 150 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: good times for this kind of legislation now. Charlie is 151 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: a consultant with Watershed Results, a lobbying firm that specializes 152 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: in conservation policy. He pointed out that the John D. 153 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 1: Dingle Conservation Management and Recreation Act passed in March of 154 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen, after the two thousand eighteen midterms. That 155 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: bill consisted of more than one hundred individual bills that 156 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: were introduced by fifty Senators and several House members. It 157 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,839 Speaker 1: included provisions like the permanent authorization of the Land and 158 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: Water Conservation Fund, the Every Kid Outdoors Program, and improvements 159 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 1: to public land access. It passed on an overwhelmingly bipartisan 160 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 1: basis in both chambers and was signed by President Trump. 161 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: If history holds in a divided Congress is looking to 162 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: bring back at least one win to their constituents, it 163 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: could be a great time to get some of these 164 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: big federal bills across the finish line. Now, you need 165 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: to keep listening here. Okay, I've said scary words like 166 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: Democrats and Republicans, but this is where you come in, 167 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: So pay attention. Now is the time to get in 168 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:00,199 Speaker 1: touch with your U S senators and representatives. Tell them 169 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: you want them to pass the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, 170 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: the c w D Research and Management Act, the North 171 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: American Grasslands Conservation Act, and the America's Outdoor Recreation Act. Also, 172 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: start paying attention to the Farm Bill. There's always a 173 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: bunch of stuff in there that truly matters to hunters 174 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: and anglers here in the United States. Most importantly, tell 175 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: them that they have constituents from both parties who spend 176 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: money all over the place that want to see habitat 177 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 1: and species permanently protected, and that you'll be watching how 178 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: they vote leading up to their next election. No, we 179 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: won't get all of what we want. But if you 180 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 1: take your off season as seriously as you do your 181 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 1: hunting season, we will make some gains. So limber up 182 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: those email fingers and memorize the number to the United 183 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: States Capital switchboard to oh two, three to four to 184 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: one to one. That's three to four to one to on. 185 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: On top of that, sign up for those conservation group newsletters. 186 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: They will help keep you informed and on time. And 187 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,599 Speaker 1: if you got time, dial two oh two three to 188 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: four to one to one and you just tell him 189 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: where you're from and you need to talk to your representative. 190 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: It's very simple, not scary. Do it. Moving on to 191 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 1: the hunter safety desk, a Colorado hunter had to be 192 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: airlifted out of a national forest last month after he 193 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:37,599 Speaker 1: impaled his leg on a broadhead tipped arrow. But contrary 194 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: to what you might be thinking, he didn't shoot himself 195 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: or drop an arrow on his foot. He was walking 196 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: through a patch of dense undergrowth when he ran into 197 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: an arrow that had been laying in the brush. Route 198 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: County Search and Rescue said this is the second time 199 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: in two years they've had to rescue a hunter who 200 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: had impaled himself on someone else's arrow. This time the 201 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: hunter was by himself and was only saved after waiting 202 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: hours in the back country. He sent an s OS 203 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: on his rescue beacon and stayed in place until the 204 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 1: crew made the four mile hike through dense timber and 205 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: knee deep swamp. They found that he'd impaled his leg 206 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: above the knee, and he'd already removed the arrow by 207 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:18,119 Speaker 1: the time they arrived. While he survived and is currently recovering, 208 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 1: medical experts say that it's best not to remove any 209 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: object that's punctured. You try to stabilize it. There's a 210 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: bunch of ways to do this. YouTube is a great resource. 211 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: You just don't know how deep that thing is inside 212 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: of you or what it may be rubbing against. Stabilize it, 213 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: leave it alone. If you can imagine. Surgeons are better 214 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: at doing this than you are. They can remove it 215 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:46,079 Speaker 1: while minimizing nerve and tissue damage. This story is also 216 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 1: a great reminder that your arrows don't just disappear after 217 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: you miss an animal. And I have certainly looked down 218 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: and been shocked to see my quiver that had arrows 219 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: just about ready to fall out. I haven't lost one yet, 220 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: but you gotta pay attention out there. Those razor sharp 221 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: broadheads remain on the landscape and they can injure anything 222 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: from animals to other hunters to unsuspecting hikers. I know 223 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: you don't want to hear this. It's like hunting is 224 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: serious responsibility. A twelve year old boy in Minnesota was 225 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: shot and killed last month while squirrel hunting with his uncle. 226 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: The investigation is still ongoing, but right now it appears 227 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: that Jeremy her of St. Paul, Minnesota, was standing near 228 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: a stump when his uncle fired a squirrel that was 229 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: on the stump. The uncle claims not to have seen Jeremy, 230 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: and the Sheriff's office has said the incident appears to 231 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: have been an accident and no charges are pending. I'll 232 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 1: keep you updated as this case progresses, but at the 233 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: very least, it's a tragic reminder that even a small 234 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:48,319 Speaker 1: caliber rifle such as a twenty two is very dangerous. 235 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 1: You're not gonna blow somebody's arm off, but it's more 236 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: than enough to kill somebody. Whenever you're squirrel hunting in 237 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: a group nowhere, every member of the party is at 238 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: all times communicate. If you're unsure, don't take the shot. 239 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: It's a squirrel for Christ's sakes, especially if that squirrels 240 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: on the ground. Now we know guns should be handled 241 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 1: with care even when you're not actively hunting. Another hunter 242 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: was shot and killed by his friend earlier this month 243 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: as the friend was trying to put his rifle in 244 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: a gun case. Now, how often have we heard that? 245 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: Sheriff's deputies in Elco County, Nevada told local media that 246 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: they were dispatched on November one for reports of a 247 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: hunter who had been shot in the chest in the 248 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: North pea Quap Mountains. The victim was pronounced dead at 249 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: the scene, and no charges have been announced as of 250 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: this recording. To avoid situations like this, follow the four 251 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: rules of gun safety. Treat every gun like it's loaded, 252 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: keep your finger off the trigger, don't point the gun 253 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: at anything you're not willing to destroy, and know your 254 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: target and what's beyond. As an added safety precaution, any 255 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: time you handle a weapon, I don't care who gives 256 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: it to you, it is more than appropriate to make 257 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: sure it's unloaded, even if you've been hold it's unloaded. 258 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: Nobody in your hunting circle or peer group, or whoever, 259 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: should ever give you crap for just checking one more time. 260 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: Throw a little pinky action in there too, you know, 261 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: make sure that chamber is empty. Moving on to the 262 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: least controversial desk, the wolf desk, A judge in Montana 263 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: issued a restraining order last week that temporarily restricted the 264 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: state's wolf hunting season. The order came at the request 265 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: of two animal rights groups that recently sued the state 266 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: for passing a series of bills last year that loosened 267 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 1: wolf hunting regulations. The two groups, wild Earth Guardians and 268 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: Project Coyote, argue that Montana's Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department 269 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: is using a faulty and illegal wolf management strategy. The 270 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: state legislature passed four widely criticized bills last year that 271 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: made it easier for hunters and trappers to target wolves. 272 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:00,040 Speaker 1: The legislation authorized hunting at night, extended hunting seasons, and 273 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: allowed an individual to kill up to twenty wolves. Wild 274 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: Earth Guardians and Project Coyote argued that the state's method 275 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: of estimating the wolf population aren't accurate and that there 276 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: are far fewer wolves in Montana than the state believes. 277 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: The lawsuit alleges that the state quote relies on an 278 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: outdated and scientifically deficient wolf Management Plan. The state has 279 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: authorized the taking of four hundred and fifty six wolves 280 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: this year, which these groups claim is well over of 281 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: the state's population. The suit claims that the state has 282 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: undercounted wolves because it has failed to update its wolf 283 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: management plan from two thousand and two. Due to these 284 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: and other deficiencies, they accused Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 285 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: of violating the Montana Constitution, the Montana Administrative Procedures Act, 286 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: and other state and federal laws meant to protect wildlife. 287 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: Two weeks after this lawsuit was filed, these groups filed 288 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: a follow up motion asking for the state's wolf hunting 289 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: season to be suspended. The season has already started, but 290 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 1: the group still asked the court to issue an injunction 291 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: on all recreational wolf harvest until their lawsuit is settled. 292 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,199 Speaker 1: The court didn't end the wolf hunt completely, but the 293 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: judge did force the state to adopt reduced quotas in 294 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: several management units, and he restricted total bag limits to 295 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: five wolves per person per season. Judge Christopher Abbott made 296 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 1: it clear that he was not ruling on the merits 297 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 1: of the lawsuit. Instead, he argued that a temporary and 298 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: partial injunction was warranted because irreparable harm could be done 299 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,479 Speaker 1: without it. He agreed, in other words, that these new 300 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 1: laws could accelerate the decline of the wolf population to 301 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: just an extent that the court wouldn't be able to 302 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: issue a ruling that set the matter right, which is 303 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: a really interesting and non scientific take from our judge. 304 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: To my knowledge, there has been only one peer reviewed 305 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: study on population level declines in wolf populations. In that study, 306 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: which was conducted in Alaska, a sixty harvest rate or 307 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: higher would need to be maintained for multiple contiguous seasons 308 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: to see population level decline. So if the maximum allowable 309 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: harvest were to be met here of over of the population, 310 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: we would still see consistent population, if not increasing wolf 311 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: population in the state of Montana. Now, what the judge 312 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: may be getting at is if we were to see 313 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,679 Speaker 1: a scary huge drop in the wolf population, then we 314 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: could be tied up to see the wolf relisted. But 315 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: I don't think that's going to happen, But I'll give 316 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: the judge the benefit of the doubt on that one. 317 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: The Montana Fish, Wildlife Parks Department has not responded to 318 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 1: request from the media, saying that it does not comment 319 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: on ongoing litigation. However, according to an August report from 320 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: the Department, the wolf population has remained stable over the 321 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: last decade or so. The population in two thousand twenty 322 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 1: one was one thousand, one forty one individuals, which is 323 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 1: just a little shy of its peak in two thousand eleven, 324 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: when there were about one thousand, two hundred and fifty 325 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: six wolves on the landscape. The population has remained resilient 326 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: even though wolf hunting has been steadily increasing in popularity 327 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: throughout that time period. Quick comment on wolf hunting popularity, 328 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 1: wolves are really hard to hunt. For instance, if you 329 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: recall the State of Idaho pass sweeping wolf hunting legislation 330 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 1: also providing for the use of night vision, well, there's 331 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: no magic tools in the toolbox. They got their night vision, 332 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: but according to the State of Idaho, zero wolves have 333 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 1: been killed using night vision. Wolf hunting popularity typically coincides 334 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: with abundant wolves, right, just like everything else, people want 335 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: stuff to be easy. If you're seeing wolves all the 336 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,199 Speaker 1: time and you have this idea that you could go 337 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: out and get one, then there's going to be more 338 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: people wolf hunting. Not many hunters have what it takes 339 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: to consistently hunt and fail enough times to actually kill wolves, 340 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: which is exactly why the personal take of wolves went 341 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 1: from five to twent. No one, not a single person, 342 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 1: would ever put so much as a dollar down on 343 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: the odds of multiple people in one state killing twenty 344 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: wolves per person through hunting, but a small percentage of 345 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 1: hunters did hit the five wolf maximum allowable take, so 346 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: that adjustment from five to twenty, even though it pertained everyone, 347 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 1: was really just providing for those very few successful wolf hunters, 348 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: the folks that really know what they're doing and probably 349 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 1: don't have actual jobs and just go out there and 350 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,199 Speaker 1: hunt all the time, that provided them the legal means 351 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 1: to take more, which is just like taking up the 352 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 1: slack for all the folks like me who buy a 353 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: wolf tag and never kill one. I don't know where 354 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: this lawsuit will end up, but you'll have to forgive 355 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: me for being a little skeptical of the suits brought 356 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: by these kind of animal rights groups. Sometimes it seems 357 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: like they're more interested in launching high profile lawsuits than 358 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: actually protecting animals. I'll you right now if they don't 359 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: think the state's method of counting wolves on the ground 360 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: is accurate, They're right. These are estimates. Lots of trees 361 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: and bushes for wolves to hide behind or under when 362 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: you fly a plane, and it's hard to have game 363 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: cameras on every mountain trail. So yes, absolutely that data 364 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: could be off, but it could be off in either direction. 365 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: These groups don't explain how they know the state is 366 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 1: over counting rather than under counting, the wolf population, but 367 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: I bet they're somewhat right, and of course somewhat wrong. Additionally, 368 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,360 Speaker 1: there is no evidence for their claim that these new 369 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: wolf hunting rags pose an existential risk to wolves in 370 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: the state. Wolves are resilient and smart, and again, the 371 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 1: hunting and trapping of wolves is very difficult. If they 372 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 1: can support any of these claims with evidence, I'm very 373 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 1: happy to report it right here on the Weekend Review. 374 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: But right now they're asking the state to pause all 375 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: hunting based on nothing more than conjecture. Moving on to 376 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: the bear desk, the wolf hunt Montana is coming under fire, 377 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: but the bear hunt in Missouri is picking up steam. 378 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: After being mostly extirpated from the state by one the 379 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: black bear population in Missouri has been making a comeback. 380 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 1: Reintroduction efforts in Arkansas have increased bear numbers in the 381 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: southern portions of Missouri, and state biologists determined that the 382 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: population could withstand a hunting season beginning in two thousand 383 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:31,479 Speaker 1: twenty one. Twelve bears were harvested last year, and the 384 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: Missouri Department of Conservation recently announced that hunters had taken 385 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: eight bears during this year's October seventeen to October six season. 386 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: Nearly six thousand hunters applied for four hundred permits this year, 387 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: with a maximum total harvest of forty bears, three hundred 388 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: and fifty hunters decided to purchase permits. All eight bears 389 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: were harvested in the state's Bear Management Zone number one, 390 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: which is the southwest portion of the state bordering Arkansas 391 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: and Oklahoma. Three bears were killed with bows and five 392 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: were killed with firearms. While biologists are confident that the 393 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: population can support a hunting season, hunting is still strictly regulated. 394 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: Hunters are required to call in every morning before their 395 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: hunt to ensure the harvest quota and their bear management 396 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: zone has been met. Hunters didn't get close to meeting 397 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 1: their quotas in any of the zones, and Missouri bear 398 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: biologists Nate Bowersock says that because the acorns were so plentiful, 399 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 1: bears were happy to stay in one spot and gorge 400 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:32,120 Speaker 1: themselves on acorns, so they weren't moving around as much. 401 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: Hunting is always better when animals are dispersing, so hunters 402 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: this year had a harder time finding their quarry. With 403 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:41,679 Speaker 1: the success of the last two seasons, I'm sure the 404 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: state will continue to allow bear hunting in the future. 405 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: All you show me state residents are in luck. Moving 406 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: on to the crime desk, a turkey poacher in Indiana 407 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: has become the first hunter in state history to receive 408 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: a lifetime hunting suspension. Twenty five year old hands In 409 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: Pucy was also sentenced last week by the Warren County 410 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: Court to home detention, probation and a slew of fees. 411 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: According to Fox fifty nine, I covered tons of poaching 412 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: stories every year, and I almost never hear about a 413 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: lifetime hunting suspension. Even for the worst of wildlife violations, 414 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: a poacher might get a ten or twenty years suspension 415 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: along with fines or even jail time. Pucy's license has 416 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: been previously suspended after being caught poaching turkeys in Indiana 417 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: as well. As North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. 418 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: He hunted on property without permission and stole trail camera cards. 419 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: I suppose in an attempt to hide his crimes. He 420 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: didn't hide them well enough, though. When officers searched his 421 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: home they found spent shotgun shells with places and dates 422 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: written on them. They soon realized this was how Pucy 423 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: was recording as turkey kills. They found eighty three spent shells, 424 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 1: including fourteen dated within three months of his license being 425 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: suspended in two thousand nineteen. As with most serial poachers, 426 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: wildlife viola sans weren't his only cup of tea. Court 427 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: records show he was charged with strangulation and battery resulting 428 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: in bodily injury. In two thousand fifteen, puc was fined 429 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: in all seven states for his wildlife crimes, including over 430 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 1: four thousand dollars in Pennsylvania and two thousand dollars in Georgia. Also, 431 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: thanks to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, he won't be 432 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: allowed to purchase a hunting license in any of the 433 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 1: fifty states, not just Indiana. Now you might be asking yourself, 434 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 1: this guy doesn't care about breaking the law, why would 435 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:31,719 Speaker 1: he care about a lifetime hunting band, which is a 436 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: very fair point. I'm sure he hasn't killed his last turkey, 437 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: but officials are clearly trying to make a statement with 438 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: his sentence. I'd be willing to bet that the next 439 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 1: time he gets caught with the turkey, he'll have more 440 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 1: than fines to worry about. And you know, probably the 441 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 1: next turkey is gonna be eaten, is gonna be covered 442 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 1: in prison gravy. Moving on to the jail break desk. 443 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: Over twenty five thousand mink aped from farm in Ohio 444 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: last week after someone broke into the facility and to 445 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 1: open their cages. Van Work County Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach announced 446 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: on Facebook that his office was looking for the corporate 447 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: responsible for breaking into the Lion Farms us A mink 448 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: farm and releasing these small carnivorous mammals. Between twenty five 449 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,719 Speaker 1: thousand and forty thousand mink made a break for it, 450 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: but many remained on the property and we're able to 451 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: be crawled by farm employees. However, about ten thousand are 452 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: still unaccounted for. No suspects have been apprehended as of 453 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: this recording, but someone spray painted the letters a l 454 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 1: F on one of the farm buildings, along with the 455 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: words will be back. A l F, which stands for 456 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: Animal Liberation Front, is a loosely organized animal rights group 457 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: that has engaged in these kinds of shenanigans before. They 458 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 1: often target farms or facilities where animals are raised for 459 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 1: harvest or used for research. Ironically, most of the mink 460 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,159 Speaker 1: that escape will end up dead within a few days, 461 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 1: and not just at the hands of chicken armors looking 462 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: to protect their flocks. Eddie Meyer, the manager of the 463 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: mink farm, told local media that these animals have never 464 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 1: learned to hunt or survive in the wild. They're domesticated, 465 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: and he doesn't believe they have the tools they need 466 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: to survive. If you've been listening and wondering what exactly 467 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: is a mink, I'm here to help. There are two 468 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 1: species of mink, both of which are in the Mustella 469 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: day family, more commonly known as the weasel family. Both 470 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: the European and American mink measure twelve in length in 471 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: way about four and a half pounds, but these farm 472 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: raised mank were likely much larger, maker carnivorous, and in 473 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 1: the wild, they feed on small birds, fish, frogs, and mice. 474 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: The sheriff who announced the jail break advised residents to 475 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: guard their chickens and koi ponds closely, as the recently 476 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: released animals would be looking for an easy snack. Minker 477 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 1: prized for their fur. They've been a pillar of the 478 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: fur industry, and today they're raised on farms. Also ironically 479 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,880 Speaker 1: for the alf folks, these farms have expanded the American 480 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:01,919 Speaker 1: mink population far outside their ative northern hemisphere. Thanks to 481 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: voluntary and as in this case, involuntary releases, American mank 482 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: have established populations in Europe and South America, where they 483 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:14,920 Speaker 1: wreak havoc on native species. So what's the Animal Liberation 484 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: Front's position on liberated animals that destroy already liberated animals 485 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 1: upon their liberation? Just a question I have. While American 486 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 1: mank are listed as a species of least concern, European 487 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: mink are listed as critically endangered. Much like the more 488 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 1: aggressive and adaptable gray squirrel has displaced the native red 489 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 1: squirrel in Europe, American mink have displaced their European cousins 490 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: wherever they live in close proximity. I guess it's true 491 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 1: what they say Americans are tougher than Europeans. Um must 492 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 1: be a misquote. I guess it's true what they say 493 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 1: as species is only as strong as its weakest mink. 494 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: That's all I've got for you this week. Thank you 495 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,480 Speaker 1: so much for listening. Remember to write in to A 496 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: S K C. A L. That's as cal at the 497 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: meat Eater dot com. And you know it's all this 498 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 1: Black Friday stuff on the gift giving and finding. Go 499 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 1: to www dot steel Dealers dot com and find a 500 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 1: local knowledgeable steel dealer near you. Go down there, talk 501 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: to them. They're gonna get you set up with what 502 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: you need and they won't send you home with what 503 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: you don't. Thanks again, I'll talk to you next week.