1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: From Mediators World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Cal's weekend review, presented by Steel. Steel products are available 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: only at authorized dealers. For more, go to Steel Dealers 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, ryankel Callahan. 5 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 2: Raccoons aren't known for having refined palettes, but in Germany 6 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 2: at least the masked bandits have developed a taste for 7 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: some of the world's best beer. Can't blame them for that. 8 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,279 Speaker 2: According to several German and British newspapers, raccoons have been 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 2: breaking into homes and cities throughout Deutschland, damaging property, eating 10 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: petfish and rabbits, and even drinking beer. Some homeowners have 11 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: reported over ten thousand dollars in damages, and one raccoon 12 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 2: was caught on video evading animal control outside the German 13 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 2: Parliament building. The German word for raccoon is vashbar, which 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 2: translates literally to the bear that walks and undoubtedly has 15 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 2: a slang meaning that we are not aware of. Be 16 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: careful when you google that one kids. Vashbar likely comes 17 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 2: from the common raccoon behavior of picking up food items 18 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 2: at the water's edge and washing them between their paws. 19 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 2: Raccoons are not native to Europe, but their populations have 20 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 2: been increasing in recent decades. One German newspaper described them 21 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: as a plague, and an estimated one thousand raccoons live 22 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 2: in Berlin alone. They've been spotted residing in boarding buses 23 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: and state high schools, as well as scavenging in the 24 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 2: city's allotment gardens. Germans should be forgiven for seeing something 25 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: sinister in these fuzzy invaders. According to urban legend, raccoons 26 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 2: were introduced to the country by none other than Hammond Goring, 27 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: who is you know, a horrid, horrid history figure. Anyway, 28 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: history buffs will recognize that name as belonging to the 29 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: founder of the Gestapo. His lesser known title was the 30 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: Master of the Hunt for the Third Reich, and he 31 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 2: led released the animals to hunt them for their fur. 32 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 2: Historians have disputed this account, but blaming nazis as totally 33 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 2: fine by me anyway. Speaking of hunting, the German National 34 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 2: Hunting Association says it's trying to control the surging population 35 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: and has killed a record two hundred thousand raccoons over 36 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 2: the course of the past year. Their efforts in Berlin 37 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 2: were stymied, however, when the city's Senate banned raccoon hunting 38 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 2: and instead encouraged residents to lock up their trash. As 39 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: with most controversies like this, I ask why not both? 40 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 2: This week We've got the Washington State Game Commission, public 41 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 2: lands and the ever popular Crime Desk. But first, I'm 42 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: going to tell you about my week, and my week 43 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 2: was super interesting. Flew out to Memphis in order to 44 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 2: join Ducks Unlimited for their annual live briefing around the 45 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 2: US Fishing Wildlife Breeding Survey. This particular survey has been 46 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: running since nineteen fifty five, and, to use the words 47 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the primary purpose 48 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, which of 49 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: course is an acronym WBPH, is to provide information on 50 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 2: spring population size and trends for most North American duck species, 51 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 2: several populations of Canada geese, tundraswans, and American coot and 52 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: to evaluate breeding habitat conditions. This survey helps to guide 53 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 2: waterfowl management ie are yearly waterfowl regulations and habitat management. 54 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 2: The survey is conducted by airplane, helicopter, and ground over 55 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: a two million square mile area that covers principal breeding areas. 56 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 2: A couple of really interesting takeaways, of course, and all 57 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 2: of this is on the Ducks Unlimited YouTube channel as 58 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 2: well as the Ducks Unlimited Canada YouTube channel, But all 59 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 2: of these takeaways just reinforce the value of habitat. One 60 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 2: of these takeaways, for instance, is that water is only 61 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: a component. If an intermitt wetland, which as we all know, 62 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 2: is only sometimes wet but vital to the survival of hatchlings, 63 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: is tilled in the course of farming practices and then 64 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: fills with water, it doesn't a produce the food or 65 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 2: be produce the cover for birds to survive, so they 66 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: won't use it. However, that water will activate the riparian 67 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: plant seeds that are found in the seed bank in 68 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 2: that soil. So given enough time and the proper conditions, 69 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: that wet area, which is just a mud puddle at 70 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: this point, will eventually return to productive waterfowl production. But boy, 71 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 2: would it be better if those areas were allowed to 72 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: do their thing. Lots of programs that can help restore 73 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 2: these areas on your farmer ranch through the NRCS, the 74 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: Farm Bill, and state level programs. So on top of 75 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: the monetary incentives, you get the mental incentives of managing 76 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: your property in a way that produces waterfowl, wildlife, pollinators, 77 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: and a big old smile on your face when you 78 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: get out there and fire up the combine. Numbers. Wise, 79 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: and this is speaking very generally, we are going to 80 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: see a fine waterfowl season. We have some marginal drops 81 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: and breeding populations of species, and marginal gains, including an 82 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: over twenty percent jump in surveyed pintail pairs. And what 83 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: is not counted is young of the year which hopefully 84 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 2: have survived fat enough to make the flight down to 85 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 2: see us from the northern tips of our flyways to 86 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 2: these southern tips at the bottom of the migration routes. 87 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 2: I'll tell you how this information impacts old Snorticus, and 88 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 2: I it won't. We are hunters. We will be out 89 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 2: as much as possible. If we see very few of 90 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: a particular species over the course of our season, we 91 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 2: won't try to pound on that species. We'll try to 92 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: take limits of other species that seem to be in abundance, 93 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 2: like gadwall, which is a darned tasty duck. As our 94 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 2: late season northern shovelers, both of whom or which are 95 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: reporting great numbers. You know what, I'm getting excited, so 96 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 2: excited by the way, I'm heading to our Low Gallaton 97 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 2: Valley Ducks Unlimited banquet this evening. Probably gonna spend money 98 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: I don't have on raffles, just like everybody else anyway, Last, 99 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 2: but not least, thank you so much for sharing our 100 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 2: auction house of oodities for the Wildcat Bend Public Access 101 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 2: project we chose for this year's land Access Initiative. Final 102 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,679 Speaker 2: numbers are not quite in, but even if you could 103 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: not contribute a dollar to the LAI project this year, 104 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: I'm sure you spread the word on social media and 105 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: that helps a ton two. I cannot thank you enough 106 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 2: Access Man more Land gotta have it for the future. 107 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: Another great example of our community raising each other up. 108 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: Gives me warm and fuzzies inside. Thank you so much 109 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 2: more to come on this, but we better get on 110 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 2: with the news. Washington State hunters were understandably up in 111 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 2: arms last week when one of the members of the 112 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 2: state's Fish and Game Commission said that hunter's quote should 113 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 2: be nervous. You may have already heard that clip, but 114 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 2: I want to play Commissioner Melanie Rowland's comment in context. 115 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 2: While she pays lip service to serving the needs of hunters, 116 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: she also exemplifies the nationwide movement to marginalize hunters and 117 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 2: anglers in the crafting of wildlife policy. 118 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 3: Take a listen at this point. We have a very 119 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 3: significant portion of the public who want the Department of 120 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 3: Fish and Wildlife to be conserving, protecting, perpetuating, and yes, preserving, 121 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 3: because that's in our statue. We're following the law and 122 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: the law requires us to do that. And yes, you 123 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 3: can interpret those words. They don't all have exactly the 124 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 3: same meaning, but they are our statutory responsibilities, and there 125 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 3: are many of us who believe that the Commission and 126 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 3: the Department have not been fulfilling those statutory responsibilities when 127 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 3: the basic focus and the basic constituency is hunters and fishers. 128 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 3: That is not to say there is no room for 129 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 3: hunting and fishing. Clearly, hunting and fishing is part of 130 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 3: our statute too. That is legal, and we are to 131 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 3: manage it, and we are directed to manage it that way. 132 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 3: So I understand that the hunters of fishers could be 133 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 3: getting nervous, and I think they should be getting nervous 134 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 3: because they have been pretty much in complete control for 135 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 3: a very long time. 136 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 2: This has been a debate in wildlife policy circles for 137 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: many years, but it's coming to a head. In Washington State, 138 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 2: the Commission will be voting later this year on charges 139 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 2: to its conservation policy that many believe will open the 140 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 2: door to further restrictions on hunting and angling in the state. 141 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: The Commission has repeatedly canceled the state's spring black bear hunt, 142 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 2: despite a total lack of evidence that the spring hunt 143 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 2: present any threat to the population. They made this decision 144 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: based largely on the mindset Rowland articulates, rather than maximizing 145 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 2: hunting opportunities, the Commission should consider the thoughts and feelings 146 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 2: of the non hunting public when making its decisions. Because 147 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 2: anti hunting activists are often the loudest voices among that 148 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 2: non hunting public, Some commissioners believe they had a responsibility 149 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 2: to cancel the spring hunt even though the science didn't 150 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 2: demand it. At least that's how I read this situation, 151 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 2: and I'm not alone. Justin's rule volunteers with the Backcountry 152 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 2: Hunters and Anglers Armed Forces Initiative or AFI, and he 153 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 2: urged the Commission to reject rolland stance and maximize hunting opportunities, 154 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: especially for veterans. 155 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 4: Some of our veterans are fighting a game of inches, 156 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 4: and I, for one want to give them every advantage 157 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 4: that I can. When you reduce or close seasons for 158 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 4: reasons that are knocked back by science, you take away 159 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 4: one more tool that my team or a veteran has 160 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 4: when using out doors for adjunct therapy. A government agency 161 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 4: telling my members that they should be nervous when they're 162 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 4: now back home and trying to readjust and finding a 163 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,839 Speaker 4: healthy activity to enjoy and a new mission and conservation, 164 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:14,599 Speaker 4: in my mind, is unacceptable. 165 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 2: Great quote. I would love to have Commissioner Rowland on 166 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 2: the podcast to give her the opportunity to clarify her comments. 167 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 2: Would she consider herself anti hunting? Does she plan to 168 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: limit hunting opportunities even though our wildlife populations can sustain them. 169 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 2: If she doesn't want to listen to hunters anymore, who 170 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 2: does she want to listen to instead. I've reached out 171 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 2: to the Commission but have yet to receive a response. 172 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 2: If anyone knows how I can get in touch with 173 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 2: one of the commissioners, send me a note at askcal 174 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 2: at the meaeater dot com. This is one of the 175 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: most serious threats we're facing as hunters and anglers, and 176 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 2: I guarantee this won't be the last time we touch 177 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 2: on this topic. If you live in Washington State, now 178 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 2: is the time to get involved. The Commission will be 179 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 2: voting later this year on the new conservation plan, and 180 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 2: it's crucial you speak up and let them know that 181 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 2: you don't want hunters and anglers marginalized. I'll keep you 182 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 2: posted on those meeting times and let you know about 183 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 2: ways to comment. Moving on to the crime desk, wildlife 184 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 2: criminals often escape jail time, but every once in a 185 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 2: while they get what they deserve. This week saw several 186 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 2: cases that landed poachers behind bars. In Wisconsin. For example, 187 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 2: a forty one year old man named Eric Fevel we'll 188 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 2: spend five years in the clink for what one prosecutor 189 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 2: called the biggest poaching case in the state of Wisconsin. 190 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 2: Fevil and his partner, a man named Travis vander Heyden, 191 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:45,199 Speaker 2: poached more than thirty deers since twenty nineteen. They spotlighted 192 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 2: the deer at night and usually shot them with a crossbow. 193 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: Game wardens first approached the pair after getting tipped off 194 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 2: about a decapitated buck that had been left in a field. 195 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 2: They pulled the men over after finding them driving around 196 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,319 Speaker 2: slowly at night, and the dynamic duo eventually admit to 197 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 2: their crimes. Fevil's lawyers said he first joined vander Heyden 198 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,079 Speaker 2: because he needed food, but he continued with his crimes 199 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: because he was quote fueled by greed. His plea deal 200 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 2: got forty five of his fifty one charges dismissed, but 201 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 2: he was still hit with nearly ten thousand dollars in 202 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,319 Speaker 2: fines and a lifetime revocation of his hunting license along 203 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 2: with prison time. His partner is another story. Vander Heyden 204 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: high tailed it to Texas as soon as he was charged, 205 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 2: and he hasn't returned to face the music. Wisconsin can't 206 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 2: extra didem because he isn't being charged with any felonies, 207 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 2: but it's safe to say won't be going to any 208 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 2: Packers games if he wants to remain a free man. 209 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 2: He's allegedly hiding out in the Texas Panhandle town of Pampa. 210 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:46,079 Speaker 2: Thanks to Andrew Whitman for sending us that story. Our 211 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 2: next jumpsuit wearing poacher is headed to jail for two 212 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 2: years for poaching abalony and possessing fentanyl. Fifty eight year 213 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 2: old Leroy Nichols Robles of Santa Barbara, California, admitted to 214 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 2: poaching abalony and selling them on the black market. He 215 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 2: says that's been his prime primary source of income since 216 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 2: twenty twenty, and he was caught on two separate occasions 217 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 2: with bags full of the valuable mollusc Leroy was first 218 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 2: arrested in March with thirty one abaloni and over fifteen 219 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 2: grams of fentanyl. He was released, but then arrested again 220 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 2: in April with fifteen more abaloni. He was convicted of 221 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 2: being involved in a criminal black market abaloni conspiracy, and 222 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 2: he'll be spending the next twenty four months in state prison. 223 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 2: His sentence was likely so harsh because he's a repeat offender. 224 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 2: In those Northern California folks don't mess around when it 225 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 2: comes to abalony. Big thanks to listener Alyssa Sarvinski for 226 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 2: sending us that story, and a big hello to her 227 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 2: fisheries and aquaculture class. A New Jersey man will be 228 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 2: spending thirty days in jail for repeatedly violating wildlife laws 229 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 2: and ignoring previous sentences. Laine. Angus had already had his 230 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 2: hunting license revoked in twenty twenty one, but decided it 231 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 2: would be a good idea to kill an eight point buck. 232 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 2: In October of twenty two, game warden seized Angus's deer 233 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,959 Speaker 2: and rifle and hit him with two mens demeanor charges. 234 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 2: Subsequent investigation revealed he had also spotlighted a deer and 235 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 2: shot it from a vehicle. He pled guilty to the charges, 236 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 2: but failed to pay the fines as required by his 237 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 2: plea agreement. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and 238 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 2: he found himself back in a squad car. In July 239 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 2: of this year, a judge ordered him to spend thirty 240 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 2: days in jail quote due to his continued disregard for 241 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: the court and state environmental conservation law. If I was 242 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 2: a betting man, I'd say there's a fair chance we'll 243 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 2: hear about old Angus again on the podcast. But you know, 244 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 2: prove me wrong. Angus, prove me wrong. Moving on to 245 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 2: the wolf desk, the US Fishing Wildlife Service announced last 246 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 2: week it would begin introducing red wolves to an area 247 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 2: along the North Catrolina coast. Again, I guess you might 248 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: call this a re reintroduction. The Fish and Wildlife Service 249 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 2: didn't make this decision on its own. The agency agreed 250 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 2: to publish and implement annual red wolf release plans for 251 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: the next eight years as part of a settlement with 252 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 2: wildlife advocacy groups. These settlement calls for more wolves on 253 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 2: the landscape, coyote mitigation efforts, and programs to reduce human 254 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: cause mortality. Red wolves were placed on the endangered species 255 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 2: list in nineteen seventy three and declared extinct in the 256 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: wild in nineteen eighty. In nineteen eighty six, the Fish 257 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 2: and Wildlife Service established a non essential experimental population in 258 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 2: North Carolina. They put wolves in the Albemarle Peninsula. Go 259 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 2: ahead and right into askcl that's Ascal at the medeater 260 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 2: dot com and tell me how to pronounce Albemarle. Anyway, 261 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 2: Intensive management was needed to make sure that that project 262 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 2: was a success. Believe it or not, Coyotes are one 263 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 2: of the biggest threats to red wolves, not because coyotes 264 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 2: kill wolves, but because coyotes breed with them and create 265 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 2: wolf coyote hybrids. And let's be honest, the coyotes are 266 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 2: getting a bad rap here because we all know it 267 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 2: takes two to tango. Okay, that's how it works. Ask 268 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 2: your mommies and daddies. This phenomenon, known as genetic swamping, 269 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 2: would replace wolves with hybrids and eliminate what you might 270 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 2: call a pure red wolf from the landscape. So biologists 271 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 2: sterilized coyotes in the area for over a decade in 272 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: the early two thousands, and the wolf population grew to 273 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 2: over one hundred animals. But then biologists noticed an uptick 274 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 2: in wolves being shot by people. You might assume this 275 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 2: trend was driven by local anti wolf sentiment, and I'm 276 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 2: sure there was some of that, but doctor Mike Chamberlain 277 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 2: told Meat Eater he believes the real explanation is less sinister. 278 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 2: He says it was around this time that coyote killing 279 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 2: became more trendy in white tail circles, and red wolves 280 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 2: were being accidentally gunned down by coyote hunters. The wolf 281 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: population wasn't very large to begin with, so it didn't 282 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 2: take much mortality to exceed natural reproduction. Biologists weren't able 283 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 2: to effectively combat this new threat, and the Fish and 284 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 2: Wildlife Service gave up reintroduction efforts entirely. In twenty fifteen, 285 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 2: doctor Chamberlain doesn't believe this new reintroduction program will be 286 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 2: successful unless gunshot mortalities can be reduced. If anything, coyote 287 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 2: hunting is more popular now than it was in the 288 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 2: early two thousands, The Fish and Wildlife Service will have 289 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 2: their work cut out for them. They're scheduled to release 290 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 2: details on this year's red wolf management plan on December first. 291 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 2: In other wolf related news, the Wisconsin Department of Natural 292 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 2: Resources recently released the revised draft of its twenty twenty 293 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 2: three wolf Management Plan. The agency says the plan represents 294 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,679 Speaker 2: a shift in the d n r's focus from wolf 295 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 2: recovery to the long term future of wolves in the state. 296 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 2: The plan does this by balancing two factors present in 297 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 2: the management of almost every species, the maintenance of a 298 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,640 Speaker 2: healthy wolf population with the concerns of the people who 299 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,119 Speaker 2: have to live alongside those animals. The new plan updates 300 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 2: the draft first proposed in twenty twenty one. Agency officials 301 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 2: took public input into account, and they say the new 302 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 2: plan adds clarity to several questions that were raised. For example, 303 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 2: it includes a simple chart showing that as long as 304 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 2: wolves are listed as endangered by the federal or state governments. 305 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 2: Only non lethal control methods are allowed, except in the 306 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 2: case of human health and safety conflicts. Once the species 307 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 2: is downgraded to threatened, lethal controls will be allowed. There 308 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 2: is currently no hunting season in Wisconsin, but once wolves 309 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 2: are listed as neither endangered nor threatened, a public hunting 310 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 2: and trapping season will be permitted. When that season is opened, 311 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 2: licenses will be issued on a zone specific basis rather 312 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 2: than for the entire state. While the plan advocates for 313 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 2: an adaptive management strategy rather than a numeric population goal, 314 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 2: it does put hard numbers on its aims. The updated 315 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 2: plan calls for a statewide population of between eight hundred 316 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 2: and twelve hundred wolves. Fewer than eight hundred wolves would 317 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 2: guide efforts to grow the population, while a statewide population 318 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 2: of more than twelve hundred wolves would lead to efforts 319 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 2: to reduce the population. A survey released in September estimated 320 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 2: that the state wide wolf population was at nine hundred 321 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 2: and seventy individuals. This final draft of the plan will 322 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 2: be voted on by the Natural Resources Board in October. 323 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 2: Our final wolf story comes from California, where biologists say 324 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 2: new gray wolf pack was just discovered a full two 325 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: hundred miles south of the nearest known pack. The wolves 326 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 2: were discovered in Tillai County in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, 327 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 2: and biologists say this is the farthest south wolves have 328 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 2: been in California in over a century. The California Department 329 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 2: of Fish and Wildlife first received reports of wolves in 330 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 2: the area in July of this year. DNA analysis of 331 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 2: hair and scat samples revealed the evidence of at least 332 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 2: five new female wolves in the area, which is why 333 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 2: biologists believe this is an entire pack rather than just 334 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 2: a few far ranging loners. If you're wondering how an 335 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 2: entire pack could form without anyone noticing, you should spend 336 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 2: some time in the Sierra Nevadas looking for an intelligent, shy, 337 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 2: mostly nocturnal animal that'll give you some idea. Moving on 338 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 2: to the public land desk. If a river floods someone's 339 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 2: private property, should the public be able to access that 340 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 2: flooded area by boat? That's the basic question the Wisconsin 341 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 2: courts will consider over the next few months as one 342 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 2: landowner's civil suit works its way through the system. A 343 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 2: landowner named Thomas Rice, issuing the Wisconsin Department of natural 344 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 2: resources for what he says is illegal and unconstitutional guidance 345 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 2: related to public access of navigable waterways. Rice owns a 346 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 2: parcel of land along the Rock River in southern Wisconsin. 347 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 2: When this river floods, which it's been doing regularly over 348 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 2: the past few years, some people drive airboats across his land. 349 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,199 Speaker 2: He doesn't claim that these folks are damaging property or 350 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 2: doing anything else illegal, only that their presence is keeping 351 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 2: him from enjoying his land. Wisconsin allows public access long 352 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 2: waterways even if those waterways go through private property, but 353 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 2: the DNR has issued guidance that also allows the public 354 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 2: access to flooded areas of private land. Rice argues that 355 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: this guidance contradicts the Wisconsin Constitution and established law. He 356 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 2: cites several court cases that permit the Wisconsin DNR to 357 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:06,400 Speaker 2: regulate only those waterways below the ordinary high water mark. 358 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 2: On any navigable waterway, Since his land is located above 359 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:13,640 Speaker 2: the ordinary high water mark, he claims the DNR has 360 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 2: no right to give the public access. The suit says 361 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 2: quote DNR's authority to implement and enforce the public trust 362 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 2: doctrine is limited to navigable lake extremes. Slews, buyous and 363 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 2: marsh outlets. Flooded yards do not fit into these categories 364 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 2: and are not subject to DNR's public trust jurisdiction. Nor 365 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 2: does the public trust doctrine authorize the DNR to regulate 366 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: private wetlands above the ordinary high water mark. The DNR 367 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 2: has declined to comment on this case specifically, but it 368 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:46,959 Speaker 2: has issued several documents that explains its stance on this issue. Basically, 369 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 2: the agency has advised public land users that as long 370 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 2: as they keep their feet wet, they're good to go. 371 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 2: When the water level on a river or wetland or 372 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 2: lake is low, the landowner has exclusive access to the 373 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 2: land below the high water water mark. However, when the 374 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 2: waterway floods private land, the public can use that water 375 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 2: as long as they keep their feet wet, either in 376 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 2: a boat or using waiters. DNR attorneys also allegedly told 377 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 2: Rice's lawyers that they do not believe the courts have 378 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 2: offered clear guidance on this issue. They say they do 379 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 2: not have a regulatory role and they have never advised 380 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 2: any member of the public to access Rice's land. This 381 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 2: is a sticky issue that may take a long time 382 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 2: to sort out. I can see both sides, but it's 383 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 2: worth pointing out a few things. First. If you look 384 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 2: at Rice's land on on X, you can see it's 385 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 2: covered in lakes, ponds, and wetland areas, some of which 386 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 2: connect directly to the Rock River. The fact that these 387 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 2: water bodies appear on satellite imagery suggests that this isn't 388 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 2: just an occasional flooding. I found an article from twenty 389 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 2: twenty one where residents complain that the Rock River is 390 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,719 Speaker 2: constantly flooded due to an increasing amount of rain. In 391 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 2: other words, we're not talking about a river that's usually 392 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 2: well defined and only floods occasionally. It's understandable why the 393 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:02,199 Speaker 2: public would assume it could travel across this area. In 394 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,400 Speaker 2: that same twenty twenty one article published by Fox six Milwaukee, 395 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:10,439 Speaker 2: Rice is interviewed because he operates two hydroelectric dams on 396 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 2: the Rock River in the town of Watertown. Rice says 397 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 2: that the dams don't have much impact on flooding do 398 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 2: the lands topography. But isn't it just a little strange 399 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 2: that the same guy who operates a dam in a 400 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 2: town called Watertown is suing to have exclusive use of 401 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 2: a wetland created by that flooded river. Maybe I don't know. 402 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 2: You tell me. Here's what I do know. Airboats are 403 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 2: incredibly obnoxious. They are so loud. They're an incredibly awesome tool. 404 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 2: At the same time, if you're a user, operate with 405 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 2: common sense. If you're going in there to let's say, 406 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 2: duck hunt, don't go ripping across this guy's flooded lawn 407 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:56,199 Speaker 2: at four am. All right, that's obnoxious and as you 408 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 2: can see with this lawsuit, your preferred means of access 409 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 2: could cause all of us to lose our access. From 410 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 2: what I'm seeing here, great example of something that never 411 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 2: should have gone to court. That's all I've got for 412 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 2: you this week. Thank you so much for listening, and 413 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 2: remember to write in to ask c al if that's 414 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 2: an asscal at the meateater dot com and let me 415 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 2: know what's going on in your neck of the woods. 416 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 2: You know I appreciate it. And as fall approaches, I 417 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 2: cannot tell you how much I depend on a clean, quiet, 418 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,400 Speaker 2: battery operated chainsaw underneath my truck seat. When you want 419 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 2: to get to your hunting spot and there's a tree 420 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 2: down across the road, don't you want to cut it 421 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 2: out instead of turning around? Going home. If so, track 422 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 2: down a knowledgeable steel dealer near you. Go to www 423 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,640 Speaker 2: dot steel dealers dot com. They're gonna get you set 424 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 2: up with what you need and they won't try to 425 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 2: send you home with what you don't. Thanks again, and 426 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 2: I'll talk to you next week. 427 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 4: When the room was ten, often behave his treasure