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 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal Callahan. Today, 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: Congressman Andrew Clyde Georgia District nine and fifty three original 6 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: co sponsors introduced the Return which is an acronym, of course, 7 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: for repealing excise tax on unalienable rights. Now, this is 8 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: from Congressman Clyde's website. His press release in regards the 9 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: Return Act, our Constitutional Rights Act to eliminate the federal 10 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: excise tax on firearms and ammunition. In case my Democrat 11 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: colleagues forgot, the Bill of Rights enumerates rights to which 12 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: the government cannot infringe. Unquestionably, infringement exists when the government 13 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: taxes those rights to limit the people's ability to exercise them, 14 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 1: said Clyde. As assaults against Americans Second Amendment freedoms continue 15 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: to emerge, so do treacherous threats that seek to weaponize 16 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: taxation in order to price this constitutional right out of 17 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: the reach of average Americans. I firmly believe that no 18 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: American should be taxed on their enumerated rights, which is 19 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: why I intend to stop the left's tyranny in its 20 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: tracks by eliminating the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Okay, 21 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: we're gonna stop here for a minute. I know you're 22 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: probably confused. If you're in this conservation game, you probably 23 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 1: see the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition as 24 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: a good thing. But we have all sorts of strong 25 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: verbiage here, weaponized lefties, Democrats, tyranny. So it may help 26 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: if you listen to the rest of this in the 27 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: tone of boss Hog from Hazard County, Georgia. It's not 28 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: District nine, I'm sure, but it may help. I'm not 29 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: going to do the voice you need to do the voice. 30 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: I'm just giving a suggestion out there. Okay, I'm gonna 31 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: continue on now. From Congressman Clyde's press release here on 32 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 1: his web page, where he gives the background of the 33 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: excise tax, which of course is Pittman Robertson. I don't 34 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 1: know why they're not using that name. Currently, an excise 35 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: tax is applied at the manufacturer level for every firearm 36 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: and all ammunitions sold in the United States that has 37 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: purchased by anyone other than the Department of Defense and 38 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: state and local law enforcement. This tax infringes on Americans 39 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights and creates a 40 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: dangerous opportunity for the government to weaponize taxation to price 41 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: this unalienable right out of reach for most Americans, a 42 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: threat that is materializing by the day. Recently, Representative Don Buyer, 43 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: Democrat Virginia, introduced the Assault Weapons Excise Tax, which would 44 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: impose a one thousand percent tax on semi automatic weapons 45 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: to restore the American people's Second Amendment liberties. Congressman Clyde's return, 46 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: remember the acronym we started out with, will repeal excise 47 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: taxes on firearms and ammunition as well as bows and arrows, 48 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 1: since the current firearms tax revenue funds beneficial programs under 49 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: the Pittman Robertson Acts such as Hunter education and Environmental Care, which, 50 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: if you're asking, I've read every single thing there is 51 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: to read on Pittman Robertson, and never ever have I 52 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: seen it put that Pittman Robertson funds environmental care just 53 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: an odd thing that stuck out to me. This legislation 54 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: redirects unallocated lease revenue generated by onshore and offshore energy 55 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: development on federal lands, which currently flows into the General 56 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: Fund to continue funding those important programs. So, to sum 57 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: this up, Congressman Clyde and his fifty three co sponsors 58 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: want to do away with, as he says here, the 59 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows, because 60 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: lefty liberal democrat proposed tax on quote, assault weapons. This 61 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: is kind of interesting, right, someone proposes a tax and 62 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 1: the response is to do away with taxes. It's an 63 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: interesting playbook. First, big scary thing we'll look at is 64 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: the tax introduced by Virginia Democrat Don Buyer, which looks 65 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: to drastically raise the excise tax on any semi automatic 66 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: weapon that does not use rim fire ammunition and is 67 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: either capable of holding more than five rounds in a 68 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: tube fed magazine which is attached, or uses detachable magazines 69 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 1: that can hold more than ten rounds apiece. That's the 70 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: way I read the bill. Just so you're aware, Please 71 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: go read it for yourself. Just type in assault weapons, 72 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: excise tax, Representative Buyer in the search bar. It'll op 73 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: right up. Now back to Congressman Clyde's bill which I 74 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: also read in its entirety what Congressman Clyde does not 75 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: say in his press releases that Pittman Robertson exercise taxes 76 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: are not the only wildlife funding taxes being repealed in 77 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: his act. The Act also adjusts all angling tax dollars 78 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: those ones covered in Dingle Johnson. And when Congressman Clyde says, 79 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: don't worry, the wildlife funding will be taken care of 80 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: through offshore oil and gas revenues, suggesting it's like a 81 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: tip for tat trade, well what he actually says in 82 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: the Act is that no matter what revenues are generated 83 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: from offshore oil and gas or onshore oil and gas, 84 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: the fund will be capped at eight hundred million dollars, 85 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: which you know, that's a big chunk of change, nothing 86 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: to sneeze at. But for reference, Pittman Robertson generated over 87 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: one billion dollars in and it's not the first time 88 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: it's generated over a billion dollars in two thousand any 89 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: former Secretary Bernhardt had this to say, Our conservation model 90 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: is funded and supported by America's hunters, shooters, anglers, voters, 91 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: and other outdoor enthusiasts. These Stewards of Conservation generated nearly 92 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: a billion dollars last year. Loan and make our country's 93 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: conservation legacy the envy of the world was a Trump yere. 94 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: We historically sell more firearms and ammunition when Democrats are 95 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 1: in office, so it may be safe to assume that 96 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: the Pittman Robertson Federal Aid and Wildlife Restoration Act, as 97 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: well as the Dingle Johnson Wallet Brew Federal Aid in 98 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: Sport Fish Restoration Act funds will raise even more, meaning 99 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: that if we cap it at eight hundred million, we're 100 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: losing more and more during these Democrat years, and we're 101 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: gonna lose more during the Republican years to continue on. 102 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: Gun sales are at unprecedented levels, which would also suggest 103 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: that this federal excise tax is not in any way 104 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: hurting the gun industry. The National Shooting Sports Foundation or NSSF, 105 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: which represents gun manufacturers, has always been a proponent of 106 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: Pittman Robertson, and to get way back to the root 107 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: of the issue, Pittman Robertson was enacted in nineteen thirty 108 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: seven through bipartisan lines in both the House and Senate. 109 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: It was darn near unanimous. It was not to impose 110 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: taxes on firearms and firearm owners. It was to get 111 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: funding for wildlife through the purchase of firearms. Yeah, it's 112 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: a play on words, but there is a big difference. 113 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: Even back in seven, I just can't imagine a tax 114 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: just two tax firearm owners would have gone anywhere. So anyway, 115 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: if you hate this tax from representative buyer out of Virginia, 116 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: make sure your congressional representative knows about it. If you 117 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: just hate all taxes, call your representative and tell them 118 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: that you still love your hunting and fishing, and we 119 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: need to ensure the funding of habitat and wildlife some way, somehow. 120 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: So let's not throw the baby out with the bath water, 121 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: or cut her nose off to spider faces, or you know, 122 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: say whatever buzzwords we want because you think that people 123 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: want to hear them, and you're desperate to get reelected. 124 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:27,239 Speaker 1: The point is the return repealing excise tax on unalienable rights. 125 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: Now are Constitutional Rights Act to eliminate the Federal Excise 126 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 1: tax on Firearms and Ammunition Act? I don't believe is 127 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 1: about the Constitution. I honestly don't believe it's about firearms, 128 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: because what the hell do bobbers and tackle boxes have 129 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: to do with firearms anyway. Do whatever you want, but 130 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: I am going to call my representative right now, just 131 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 1: so you know how easy it is. HI Disaccomplishman Matt Rosendale, 132 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: thanks for calling my DC office. I'm sorry there was 133 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: no one here to take your call, but if you 134 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 1: leave your name, number and a message, my team will 135 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: return your course early. Thank you so much, and I 136 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: look forward to seeing you back in Montana. Congressman Rosendale, 137 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: my name is Ryan Callahan. I live in Gallatin County. 138 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: I'm calling in regards to the Return Act of which 139 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: you're co sponsor as my representative. I'd really like you 140 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: to withdraw as a co sponsor. This bill is not 141 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: or act rather is not representative of my interests. We 142 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: need to find a better way to fund wildlife, not 143 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: remove and restrict funding for wildlife. If you don't like 144 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: excise taxes being quote weaponized, why don't we find ways 145 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: to restrict that taxation, not eliminate funding that's been established 146 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: since nineteen thirty seven on behalf of wildlife and habitat. 147 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: Thank you very much, anyway, it's that easy. This week, 148 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: we've got happy updates and trash. But first I'm gonna 149 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: tell you about my week. And my week, as you know, 150 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: is sponsored by Steel Power Equipment, makers of the world's 151 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: finest chainsaws. Doesn't matter if they consume gas and oil 152 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: or runoff clean, quiet battery power. They'll get the job 153 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: done and have you looking like a pro. Visit an 154 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,839 Speaker 1: official Steel dealer near you, or check them out on 155 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: all their social media sites for more info. Next thing 156 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: I got to tell you about is the Meat Eater 157 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: Land Access Initiative. We are still looking to find that 158 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: perfect access project. We're raising funds. We have all sorts 159 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: of cool stuff in the lineup. We just need to 160 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: find that perfect spot. So be on the lookout for 161 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: landlocked pieces of public ground, places dying for an easeman 162 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: willing landowners. Anything counts as long as it provides more 163 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: access to hunting and fishing. Submit a property or a 164 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 1: spot at the meat eater dot com forward slash land Access. 165 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: Moving on, last week, I told you about a California 166 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: court that ruled that bumblebees are actually fish. This week, 167 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: a New York court re established some sanity when it 168 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: ruled that a famous Bronx zoo elephant is not in 169 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: fact a person. Animal rights groups have been fighting for 170 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 1: years to release Happy, a well known packetderm who is 171 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: currently incarcerated or you know, living in the Bronx Zoo. 172 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: They argue that because elephants are self aware and intelligent, 173 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: Happy is being denied her rights as a person by 174 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: being unlawfully detained. The New York State Court of Appeals 175 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: ruled five to two last week that Happy is not 176 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: a human and must remain locked up. This means I 177 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: would like to point out that there are at least 178 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:50,479 Speaker 1: two judges in New York who think elephants or people anyway. 179 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 1: The group that brought the lawsuit, the Non Human Rights Project, 180 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: called the ruling out of touch with the times. They 181 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 1: added that it was a loss for everyone who cares 182 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: about ensuring our legal system is free of arbitrary reasoning 183 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: and that no one has denied basic rights simply because 184 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: of who they are. I'm poking fun of this story because, 185 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: let's face it, I mean, it's funny, but I know 186 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: the question of what makes humans and animals different is 187 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: complex and super fascinating, and there are thoughtful, intelligent, well 188 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,680 Speaker 1: intentioned people on all sides of this debate. This story 189 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: shows that when that debate breaks out of the podcast 190 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: studio and into the real world, things start to get 191 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: a little harrier, gray, and wrinkly. In this case, if 192 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: you have thoughts on the differences between people and animals, 193 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: shoot me an email at a s k C A L. 194 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: That's asked Cal at the Meat eater dot com. You 195 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 1: know I love the feedback. Received a ton on the 196 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: backgrown meat segment, so let's keep it going. Next up 197 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: the avian bird flu Desk. I have some good news 198 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,679 Speaker 1: about the bird flu outbreak. I mentioned an episode one. 199 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: While the flu is still spreading and millions of birds 200 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: of die, it may not be as bad as we feared. 201 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: Up in Michigan, officials recently lifted a statewide ban on 202 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: poultry and waterfowl exhibitions that have been put in place 203 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: during the height of the outbreak. Thirty days have passed 204 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: with no new cases detected in domestic birds, so officials 205 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: believe it's once again safe to let hands and roosters 206 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 1: strut their stuff on the big stage. That's a good 207 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: sign for the Midwest, but we're not out of the 208 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: woods quite yet. Arizona officials recently reported their first cases 209 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: of the virus and Mallard ducklings were the first birds 210 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: to test positive in Washington, d C. Since the outbreak began. 211 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: Even some mammals are having a hard time In Utah, too, 212 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: dead foxes tested positive for the virus. The officials are 213 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: not saying whether the foxes died with bird flu or 214 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: from bird flu. The difference there is the flu killed them, 215 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: or they got killed or died while they have the flu. 216 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 1: In either case, they likely contracted the disease when they 217 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: rated hen houses in the area. That's karma I suppose. 218 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: So far, this latest out has killed nearly forty million 219 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: domestic birds and infected nearly fifteen thousand wild birds. The 220 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 1: real numbers are likely much higher, since those are only 221 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: the birds we know about. The last outbreak in two 222 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 1: thousand fourteen and two thousand fifteen killed about fifty million 223 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 1: domestic birds, so we're about ten million birds away from 224 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: that unfortunate milestone. Hopefully Michigan is a sign of better 225 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: days ahead. How we avoid the next outbreak has been 226 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: top of mind for scientists and wildlife biologists. The disease 227 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: is difficult to contain because while wild bird species diet 228 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: much lower rates than domestic birds, they can still spread 229 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: the disease across county and state lines. Containing wild birds 230 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: like ducks and turkeys is obviously more difficult than culling 231 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: the flock the local egg factory. One two thousand nineteen 232 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: studies sent to me by listener Isaiah Tolo might offer 233 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: a solution. The paper, published in a Journal of the 234 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, considered how protected wetland areas 235 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: have affected the spread of the bird flu in China. 236 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: It included that wetland protection could be a key component 237 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: in reducing the severity of bird flu outbreaks. According to 238 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: the paper, every ten mile unit increase in proximity to 239 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: a protected wetland corresponded to a four percent decrease in 240 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: the occurrence of an outbreak of bird flu in domestic birds. 241 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: On the other hand, every one mile unit increase in 242 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: proximity to an unprotected wetland, such as, let's say, like 243 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: a roadside runoff ditch, increases the chances of a bird 244 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: flu outbreak by eight percent. Protected wetlands give wild waterfowl 245 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: a place to live without coming into close contact with 246 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: either humans or domestic poultry. The papers authors believe this 247 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: separation is what drove the decreased rates of bird flu spread, 248 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: and they believe wetland protection could be quote and effective 249 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: means to control avian influenza while also contributing to avian conservation. 250 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: This makes a lot of sense, but it's always nice 251 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: when the data backs up what you think is probably true. 252 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: Giving wild birds the buffer of protected wetlands keeps them 253 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: from spreading bird flu to domestic flocks. This protects domestic poultry, 254 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: but it also helps wild birds. It gives them high 255 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: quality habitat and keeps them out of the crossairs of 256 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: the general public, who understandably don't appreciate ducks that spread 257 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: bird flu around the country. Hunters have plenty of experience 258 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: protecting wetlands, and I say we ramp up those efforts 259 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: before the next bird flu outbreak rolls around. Moving on 260 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: to the accountability desk, state legislators have a hard time 261 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: keeping their hands out of conservation and wildlife issues. The 262 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: latest example comes from Minnesota and a recent conservation bill, 263 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: elected officials inserted twelve projects that had not been vetted 264 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: by the state's Commission on Natural Resources. The state's governor, 265 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: Tim Waltz slammed those legislators for sneaking in their pet projects, 266 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: but then inexplicably signed the bill. Anyway, of profits netted 267 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: by the mint soda lottery are earmarked for the Environment 268 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: and Natural Resources Trust Fund or e n R t F. 269 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: The money from this fund helps pay for projects that 270 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: protect and enhance the state's air, water, wildlife, and other 271 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 1: natural resources. Since the fund has doled out about seven 272 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: hundred million to over seventeen hundred projects around the state. Normally, 273 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: these projects must be vetted by the Legislative Citizen Commission 274 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,640 Speaker 1: on Minnesota Resources. The Commission is a collection of state 275 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 1: legislators and private citizens who review project proposals and make 276 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: recommendations to the legislature. These recommendations take the form of 277 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: a bill, which the legislature either passes or rejects. That 278 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: all sounds well and good, but this year legislators just 279 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: couldn't keep their grubby little fingers out of the cookie jar. 280 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: Of the eighty total projects in the bill, twelve of them, 281 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: or about fift had not been vetted by the Legislative 282 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: Citizen Commission. Governor Waltz also pointed out that all but 283 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: one of the extra pro objects comes at the expense 284 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:05,199 Speaker 1: of projects that had gone through the usual process. I 285 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: don't know what the new projects were, and some on 286 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: the Commission believe the approval process needs to be revised. 287 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 1: The Commission failed to make recommendations for next year because 288 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: they weren't able to approve any proposals with the required supermajority. 289 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: But the twelve new projects had never been proposed to 290 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: the Commission, and it's a safe bet that they wouldn't 291 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 1: have survived the vetting process if they could. Why insert 292 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: them at the last minute, To answer my own rhetorical question, 293 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: because the legislators don't want to have to worry about 294 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: anyone holding them accountable. Speaking of accountability, well, there doesn't 295 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: appear to be any In Minnesota. Conservation groups asked Governor 296 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: Waltz to line Item veto the projects that had not 297 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: been vetted. Instead, he wrote a strongly worded letter to 298 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: legislative leaders and signed the bill. Anyway, this is sort 299 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: of like when your mom catches you smoking behind the shed, 300 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: and instead of grounding you, lectures you about responsibility and 301 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: lung cancer, and then leaves you the pack of cigarettes 302 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: when she takes off, which you know is pretty much 303 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:11,360 Speaker 1: exactly what Governor Waltz just told these legislators, conservation money 304 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: is up for grabs, Accountability be damned, and we're gonna 305 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:21,959 Speaker 1: stick on the dysfunctional politician beat. Recently introduced legislation in 306 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: New Jersey would require hunters to notify all neighboring landowners 307 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 1: at least twenty four hours before all hunting activity. The legislation, 308 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 1: dubbed the Restoring Safety Buffer Law, has been criticized as 309 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: both an attack on hunting rights and private property rights. 310 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: It would require all hunters, including those hunting on their 311 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: own property, to send written notification to all neighboring property 312 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 1: owners and occupants before each hunt. The letter has to 313 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: include the dates and times of the proposed hunt, and 314 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: hunters cannot set out until they receive written confirmation in 315 00:19:54,920 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: return from those neighboring landowners and occupants. You can see 316 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: how this could go horribly wrong. If you want to 317 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: hunt all six days of the general rifle white tail season, 318 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 1: you would have to send a letter twenty four hours 319 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: before each of those six days. That's at least twenty 320 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,719 Speaker 1: four letters to your neighbors on all four sides. Plus 321 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: if any of your neighbors rent their properties, both the 322 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: owner and the renter have to be notified. Then you 323 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: have to wait to receive a response. The bill doesn't 324 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: give hunters any recourse if they don't hear back. This 325 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 1: would be hard enough with good neighbors. If your neighbors 326 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: don't like you, this bill gives the power to prohibit 327 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: you from hunting on your own property. All they have 328 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: to do is not respond, sorry, you know, I don't 329 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: check the mail, and oops your seasons over. The legislation 330 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: was introduced by Assemblywoman Shama Hater. According to a statement 331 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 1: accompanying the bill, it was crafted in response to a 332 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: hunter who accidentally shot a pet dog with an arrow 333 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,919 Speaker 1: during white tail season. The dog's owners were unaware that 334 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: the neighbors property was being hunted, and they wanted to 335 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: have been notified so they could take quote extra precautions 336 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: to protect the dog, like don't let the dog on 337 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 1: the neighbor's property. It's your dog. I'm a loving, devoted, 338 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: gushy dog owner. That dogs my responsibility. I have to 339 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: keep her out of trouble. That's the way it works. 340 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: New Jersey residents should contact their legislators and voice their 341 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 1: opposition to Assembly Build number three seven three two. That's 342 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: Build number three seven three two. You can also sign 343 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 1: the petition over at the National Deer Association's website. And 344 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: as always, if you have a bad bill you want 345 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: to talk about, let folks know about, shoot me an email, 346 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: ask Cal at the meat eater dot com. Moving on 347 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: to the wildfire desk, New Mexicans have been battling the 348 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:47,360 Speaker 1: largest recorded wildfires in the state's history this month, as 349 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 1: firefighters work to contain places that have engulfed hundreds of 350 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: square miles. One of those fires, known as the Blackfire, 351 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 1: has reached havoc on the Healan National Forest in southwest 352 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: New Mexico. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, 353 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 1: though the New Mexico State Fire Information website indicates that 354 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 1: it was human caused. As of this recording, the Black 355 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:11,120 Speaker 1: Fire has engulfed over three hundred and twenty thousand acres 356 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: and destroyed five structures. Fortunately, since the HeLa is one 357 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: of the most remote national forests and the lower forty eight, 358 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: no human fatalities have been reported. I can't say the 359 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: same about wildlife. I've covered several times how wildfires don't 360 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: usually pose population level threats to animals, but threatened or 361 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 1: endangered species can be The exception to that rule. In 362 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 1: the HeLa biologists are taking proactive steps to protect the 363 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: threatened Heila trout. HeLa trout were listed as endangered nineteen seven, 364 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: but downgraded to threatened in two thousand six after restoration 365 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: efforts were successful. The fish aren't endangered from the fire itself, 366 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: but they are in danger of what happens after the 367 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: fire burns out. Rainwash is all that ash and dirt 368 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: into the rivers, where it can suffocate fish and diminish. 369 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 1: They're already to low numbers. To protect the species, US 370 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: Forest Service my bres fly into the burned out areas 371 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: and try to capture as many fish as they can. 372 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 1: Talk about a great job. Earlier this month, the Forest 373 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 1: Service recovered eight HeLa trout from the main stem of 374 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: Diamond Creek. According to a Forest Service crew member who 375 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,360 Speaker 1: was there, the team hiked in and shocked the river 376 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: to recover as many trout as quickly as possible. The 377 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: fish were placed in a specialized fish basket outfitted with 378 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: the oxygen tanks, and the basket was flown to the 379 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 1: Moura Fish Hatchery near Santa fe All. The fish survived 380 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: the trip, and now biologists can use those individuals or 381 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: their offspring to repopulate the river once it recovers. The U. 382 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: S Forest Service used the same strategy after the three 383 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 1: hundred thousand acre Whitewater Baldy fire in two thousand thirteen. 384 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 1: They were able to successfully repopulate the rivers and creeks 385 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:53,360 Speaker 1: in the Heila using those individuals. Moving on to talk trash. 386 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: Here's the thing about public land. It's public. That means 387 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: we all own it. It also means we all have 388 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: a responsibility to take care of it. Several stories have 389 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 1: crossed my desk recently that tell us why and what 390 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: can happen if we don't. Most recently, officials in Idaho 391 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 1: closed a forty acre state owned recreation area after visitors 392 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: left quote significant amounts of human waste and trash at 393 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 1: the site. Park authorities also report that UTV drivers are 394 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 1: going off trail and damaging the site, leaving it susceptible 395 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 1: to erosion. The area, known as the East Fork Rock Creek, 396 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: is located in southeast Idaho and is part of the 397 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: state's endowment land. This land was granted to Idaho at 398 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: statehood and is used to generate revenue for public schools. 399 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: In this case, the land is used for grazing and 400 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: other management activities. Rather than continuing allowing visitors to trash 401 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 1: the site, officials closed the area to camping and UTV 402 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:52,199 Speaker 1: s beginning Wednesday, June fifteen. Visitors can still walk in 403 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 1: and use the site during the day as long as 404 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: they stopped leaving trash. Camping and UTV use has been 405 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,679 Speaker 1: banned indefinitely. Based on the tone of the press release, 406 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: I don't expect that to change. Park officials have good 407 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: reason to be annoyed. They experienced similar problems last year, 408 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: but instead of shutting down the area, they posted signs 409 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: reminding visitors to respect the land and their neighbors and 410 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: refrain from leaving trash. Those folks apparently ignored the signs, 411 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: and now they're facing the consequences. I've seen similar stories 412 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 1: in Utah, New Jersey over the last few months. In Utah, 413 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 1: officials banned overnight use of a wildlife management area after 414 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,159 Speaker 1: employees found trash, human fee sas, and broken fences. The 415 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 1: East Fork Little Bear Wildlife Management Area is reportedly a 416 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: great place to fish with brown trout in the fall, 417 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 1: but overnight campers will no longer be allowed to enjoy it. 418 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 1: The Utah Divisional Wildlife Resources posted photos on Facebook, and 419 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 1: they're pretty gross. Campers left entire kitchen bags full of 420 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: trash and food, snapped fence posts in half, and scattered 421 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: plastic water bottles and styrophone boxes all over the site. 422 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: It sort of looks like a college frat house. After 423 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 1: the only guy who remembered take out the trash graduated, 424 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 1: as one commenter put at, a few pigs ruin it 425 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 1: for everyone. New Jersey officials also recently shut down portions 426 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: of five wildlife management areas after receiving too many reports 427 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: of people driving off road vehicles. It's illegal to driving 428 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: a TV or dirt bike on state owned land in 429 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: New Jersey, but people are apparently doing it anyway. Cody McLoughlin, 430 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,719 Speaker 1: a member of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, told New 431 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 1: Jersey dot Com that these joy riders are tearing up 432 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: habitat and ruining turkey hunts. Others have reported large late 433 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: night parties and illegal swimming. I don't know what illegal 434 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: swimming looks like, but I can't assume clothing is involved. 435 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,880 Speaker 1: The report doesn't say, but I imagine they didn't pick 436 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: up their trash either. This kind of behavior is part 437 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:48,640 Speaker 1: of the reason the Interior Department just announced it will 438 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: phase out sales of plastic water bottles and other single 439 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 1: use plastic products and national parks and on public lands 440 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: over the next ten years. Environmentalist groups claim the new 441 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: policy will remove millions of pounds of disposable plastic on 442 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: public land. I don't know about that. The order doesn't 443 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 1: ban the possession of single use plastics, just the sale 444 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: of them, but it's clearly aimed at folks who abused 445 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: the privilege of our public land and refused to take 446 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:17,360 Speaker 1: care of it. So here's my challenge to you. Pick 447 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 1: up trash whenever you see it, or volunteer for trash 448 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 1: pickup days with your local chapter of Backcountry Hunters and 449 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: Anglers or a rod and gun club near you. I 450 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: know i'm speaking to the choir here, but it's never 451 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 1: a bad time to recommit to do in your part 452 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 1: to keep our public lands healthy and trash free. Thank 453 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: you so much for listening. That's all I've got for 454 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 1: you this week. Remember to write in and let me 455 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: know what's going on in your neck of the woods 456 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:46,200 Speaker 1: at a s k c a L. That's asked cal 457 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 1: at the Meat Eater Dot com I'll talk to you 458 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 1: next week.