Working Wild U

After a visit to an elementary school in Wyoming that practices "bear drills," we head to Gardiner, Montana, where living alongside grizzlies is part of daily life. There, Evan Stout with Bear Awareness Gardiner shows us what it takes for a community to become bear-aware—and find surprising parallels between living with grizzlies in town and on working lands. Show notes — Topics discussed: Bear Awareness Gardiner, Bear Smart Communities, community-led conflict reduction, bear-resistant trash and attractant management, electric fencing, fruit trees and gleaning, community education and buy-in, tourism and wildlife, funding for conflict reduction Featuring: Elise Cole (teacher at Wapiti Elementary, where bear drills are a daily routine , also a rancher), Evan Stout ( Bear Awareness Gardiner and owner of Yellowstone Wildlife Guide Company ) — Cover image: View of the Wapiti Elementary playground through a 6ft tall fence, where students regularly practice "bear drills" after a grizzly wandered by the school's front door in 2024. Credit: Zach Altman Working Wild University is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver of Montana State University Extension, and a proud part of Natural Resources University podcast network. Hosted by Hallie Mahowald and Jared Beaver; Produced by Matt Collins and Zach Altman ; Editing by Kathleen Shannon and Zach Altman; Executive producers: Louis Wertz , Jared Beaver, Hallie Mahowald and Erik Kalsta.

Grizzly management update: What's really going on with the USFWS new proposed grizzly rule As grizzlies expand across the Northern Rockies, we're revisiting a story from last season that helps connect the dots. We head to southwest Montana, where ranchers Jami Murdoch and Erik Kalsta are monitoring grizzlies and other wildlife moving through their working lands. Along with Blackfeet rancher Kristen Kipp and federal and state wildlife experts, we explore what grizzly recovery really entails - and what it takes for bears and people to share the landscape. Note: This episode was first released in January 2024 as part of our second season about community and landowner-led endangered species recovery. Show Notes __ Working Wild University is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver of Montana State University Extension, and a proud part of Natural Resources University podcast network. Hosted by Hallie Mahowald and Jared Beaver; Produced and edited by Zach Altman ; Executive producers: Louis Wertz , Jared Beaver, Hallie Mahowald and Erik Kalsta.

Working lands help give expanding grizzly populations room to roam - but highways can turn those connected landscapes into isolated islands. In this episode, we follow the movement of grizzlies across the Northern Rockies and explore how roads can become barriers to bears and other wildlife. From a bear that approached I-90 47 times before finally crossing, to a stretch of Highway 93 in Montana where vehicle collisions are a major source of grizzly mortality, we dig into the science of what grizzlies need to cross a road. Environmental journalist and author Ben Goldfarb takes us into the emerging field of road ecology, while wildlife managers with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the US Fish & Wildlife Service show us how wildlife crossings can reconnect habitat and make highways safer for people and animals. But a crossing is only as useful as the land it connects. What will it take to keep those landscapes intact, too? Show notes — Topics discussed: grizzly bear habitat connectivity, wildlife-vehicle collisions, road ecology, wildlife crossings and overpasses, Banff National Park wildlife crossings, private working lands and habitat connectivity, conservation easements and land stewardship, the economics of wildlife crossings, funding for wildlife crossing infrastructure Featuring: Hilary Cooley (Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator, USFWS), Ben Goldfarb (author of Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet ), Payton Adams (Wildlife Biologist, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes ), Kari Kingery (Wildlife Program Manager, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes ). — Cover image: The Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass in Alberta has led to an 80% reduction in animal-vehicle collisions. Courtesy DIALOG. Working Wild University is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver of Montana State University Extension, and a proud part of Natural Resources University podcast network. Hosted by Hallie Mahowald and Jared Beaver; Produced by Zach Altman ; Editing by Kathleen Shannon and Zach Altman; Executive producers: Louis Wertz , Jared Beaver, Hallie Mahowald and Erik Kalsta.

What if keeping cattle on public lands is also helping keep critical wildlife habitat intact? In Wyoming's Upper Green, ranchers move cattle along the historic Green River Drift through one of the epicenters of livestock-grizzly conflict in the Northern Rockies. Public grazing helps sustain private ranchlands—including critical river bottoms and winter range that keep this landscape connected for wildlife. As grizzlies recover, the challenge of keeping ranches viable while maintaining habitat for wildlife is growing. We ride with a range rider and hear from ranchers and wildlife managers about what it takes to keep working lands, rural livelihoods, and grizzlies on the same landscape. Show notes — Topics discussed: Green River Drift , Upper Green River Cattle Association, public lands grazing , private ranchlands and wildlife habitat , Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, grizzly bear recovery and livestock conflict, calf depredation and livestock losses, range riding, wildlife migration corridors , ranch economics and land development, compensation for livestock losses, conflict reduction tools, grizzly bear management, the Four Cs of conflict reduction Featuring: Brittany Hesseltine (foreman and range rider for the Upper Green River Cattle Association), Albert Sommers (fourth-generation Upper Green rancher, former president of the Upper Green River Cattle Association, Wyoming legislator and former Speaker of the Wyoming House), Coke Landers (president of the Upper Green River Cattle Association and rancher), Dan Thompson (large carnivore supervisor with Wyoming Game and Fish), Matt Collins ( Working Wild Challenge Manager, Western Landowners Alliance) — Cover image by Matt Collins Working Wild University is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver of Montana State University Extension, and a proud part of Natural Resources University podcast network. Hosted by Hallie Mahowald and Jared Beaver; Produced by Matt Collins and Zach Altman ; Editing by Kathleen Shannon and Zach Altman; Executive producers: Louis Wertz , Jared Beaver, Hallie Mahowald and Erik Kalsta.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the defining concepts in wildlife conservation. But where did it come from? In the 1950s, Frank and John Craighead pioneered modern grizzly bear research, using radio telemetry to follow bears far beyond the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park. Their work revealed that grizzlies depended on a much larger, connected landscape (including working lands) and helped introduce the concept of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem - an idea that continues to guide wildlife conservation and grizzly bear management today. Show notes — Topics discussed: Frank and John Craighead, Aldo Leopold's 'Sand County Almanac', the birth of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem as a concept, pioneering grizzly bear research and "cowboy biology," Yellowstone's garbage dumps, the rise of ecosystem-based conservation, radio telemetry and grizzly bear research, Craighead Institute , the conflict between the Craigheads and the National Park Service, the legacy of the Craigheads' work, Endangered Species Act, Yellowstone's role in wildlife conservation Featuring: Dan Flores (Western historian, author of Wild New World , host of Meateater's The American West , Dan Tyres ( Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear habitat coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service, adjunct professor at Montana State University), Kerry Gunther (Bear Management Biologist for Yellowstone National Park). — Cover art: courtesy of the Craighead Institute Working Wild University is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver of Montana State University Extension, and a proud part of Natural Resources University podcast network. Hosted by Hallie Mahowald and Jared Beaver; Produced by Zach Altman ; Editing by Kathleen Shannon and Zach Altman; Executive producers: Louis Wertz , Jared Beaver, Hallie Mahowald and Erik Kalsta. Special thanks to the Archives and Special Collections at Montana State University Library for granting access to the Frank Craighead Collection .

Grizzly bears are making a remarkable comeback across the American West. After decades of recovery, they're expanding into places they haven't occupied for generations - working ranches, rural communities, and the landscapes where people make their living. So what happens when one of North America's most iconic predators returns? In the third season premiere of Working Wild University , we trace the story of the grizzly bear - from its deep history on the continent, through near-extirpation, to one of the greatest wildlife recoveries in U.S. history. Along the way, we explore a question that will shape the entire season: Where do grizzly bears belong, and who gets to decide? Through conversations with historians, ranchers, wildlife experts, and community leaders, we examine how conservation success has created a new set of challenges - and why the next chapter of grizzlies is as much about people as it is about bears. Show notes — Topics discussed: The Blackfoot Challenge , short faced bears of the ice age, Lewis and Clark's encounters with grizzly bears, grizzly bear decline and recovery, Endangered Species Act, tribal perspective (Blackfeet Nation), Richard Nixon's landmark environmental legislation, Jim Stone's ranch in the Blackfoot Valley in western Montana, how collaborative conservation works, the next chapter of grizzly bear conservation Featuring: Jim Stone (rancher, board chair of the Blackfoot Challenge, Dan Flores (Western historian, author of Wild New World , host of Meateater's The American West , Joe Kipp (tribal leader and rancher on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana), David Diamond (leads the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee ) — Cover art: "Hunting of the Grizzly Bear," Karl Bodmer (1809–1893) Working Wild University is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver of Montana State University Extension, and a proud part of Natural Resources University podcast network. Hosted by Hallie Mahowald and Jared Beaver; Produced by Zach Altman ; Editing by Kathleen Shannon and Zach Altman; Executive producers: Louis Wertz , Jared Beaver, Hallie Mahowald and Erik Kalsta

Grizzly bears are making a comeback - and their return is one of North America's greatest conservation success stories. But as bears expand into places they haven't occupied in generations, new questions emerge. Where do bears belong in the modern West? What does it actually take to share a landscape with a large carnivore? And who bears the costs and responsibilities of recovery? This season on Working Wild University, we're traveling from Wyoming ranches to Montana communities, talking with ranchers, wildlife managers, scientists, tribal leaders, conservationists, and the people living and working in bear country every day. The future of grizzly bears isn't just about bears. It's also about us. -- First episode launches Tuesday, July 28th 2026. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Working Wild University is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver of Montana State University Extension, and a proud part of Natural Resources University podcast network.

California's recent decision to remove four members of a wolf pack near Lake Tahoe sparked national attention - but the story behind it is much bigger. In this episode, Wildlife Management professor at UC Berkeley, Dr. Arthur Middleton, joins us to dig into his recent New York Times op-ed and explore why America's predator recovery has outpaced our ability to support the people living in these landscape – and what we can do about it. Find the show notes here: https://workingwild.us/season-2/california-wolves-87-dead-cattle-and-the-nyt-op-ed-everyones-sharing/

UPDATE: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has extended the public comment period on proposed changes to the grizzly bear's Endangered Species Act listing. The new deadline is May 16. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to the grizzly bear's listing under the Endangered Species Act, and a public comment period is open until March 17th. But what exactly would this new rule mean for grizzly bear management, landowners, and the future of the species? In this episode, Jared and Zach sit down with Shaleas Harrison, Wyoming Resources Coordinator with Western Landowners Alliance, to break down the proposed rule, the long history of grizzly bear listing and delisting efforts, and what the proposed changes could mean for people living and working in grizzly country. Learn more about the proposed rule and submit a public comment. Full show notes here.

96% of wolves in the Northern Rockies live in the working wild: public and private lands where people and wildlife share the landscape. But who pays the cost of supporting biodiversity? In this episode from our first season on wolves in the West, we explore the economics of our food system and take a look at how one ranch family is getting creative in order to share the landscape with wolves and maintain open space. Show notes New York Times The Daily podcast episode on prices in the beef market: "Who do you want controlling your food?" John and Weston Helle's wool apparel company, Duckworth The Ruby Valley Strategic Alliance Cole Mannix's enterprise: Old Salt Co-op The Blackfoot Challenge Lesli Allison's Director's Letter in On Land : "Working lands are the future of conservation" Find more info here

Wild pigs. Feral swine. Wild hogs. Whatever you call them, invasive wild pigs are rapidly spreading across the US and Canada - destroying crops and spreading disease along the way. Experts are calling them one of the greatest threats to biodiversity in the country. What can we do about it? To find out, we're talking with the show's own Dr. Jared Beaver to find out the dirty details (and solutions!) regarding wild pigs. Find the show notes here.

Throughout this season, we've explored landowner- and community-led efforts to support imperiled species, from bears and birds to ferrets and fish. In the final episode of this season, we're looking ahead to the future of imperiled pollinators on working lands. Across the country, there is a growing crisis when it comes to pollinators. What happens when wide-ranging species that reside across vast expanses of public, private and Tribal lands, like the western bumblebee and monarch butterfly, are listed under the Endangered Species Act, as appears likely in the coming years? And what role will land stewards and working lands play in this next chapter of conservation? Complete show notes are available at workingwild.us

How do we restore salmon spawning habitat in the Upper Salmon watershed without harming the ranching communities that rely on the river? The answer lies in locally-driven collaboration. In this episode, we explore the decades-long community effort to restore spawning grounds for Columbia Basin salmon by letting landowners take the lead. Back in the 1990s the hurdles seemed so insurmountable, rancher Merrill Beyeler likened the task to making pigs fly. Hundreds of miles upstream of where the Columbia pours into the Pacific Ocean, along the Lemhi River in Idaho, Beyeler and a huge group of partners have figured out how. Complete show notes, as always, can be found at workingwild.us .

In the heart of America's grasslands, a battle for survival is unfolding. The lesser prairie-chicken, an iconic species of the Great Plains, is on the brink of extinction. But there's a growing network of producers and partners across the plains looking to change that. Today on the show, can ranchers and partners work together to save the lesser prairie-chicken while supporting their livelihoods and communities? We're headed to eastern New Mexico to find out. Complete show notes can be found at workingwild.us .

When it comes to conservation, can a group of high school students really make a difference? Join Jared and Hallie as they dive into a story involving the Colorado River, an ancient endangered fish, and a group of high school students who are becoming the next generation of stewards. Complete show notes are available on our website .

Finding an imperiled species on his ranch scared the daylights out of Russell Davis. What he and his neighbors did next may have saved their town. Today on Working Wild U, join us as we return to the high plains of eastern Colorado to learn how a small ranching community transformed a migratory bird's imperiled status from threat to opportunity. Complete show notes are at workingwild.us

Today on Working Wild U, we're spotlighting, quite literally, one special species that calls the Great Plains home. A small predator that was thought to be extinct.... twice! Meet the black-footed ferret, the most endangered mammal in North America. Thanks to community-driven efforts spanning the Great Plains, from dedicated ranchers in eastern Colorado to the Fort Belknap Indian Community in northern Montana, this elusive predator is staging a remarkable comeback. As always, find our complete show notes, including links, videos and other references from the episode at workingwild.us .

Grizzly bears are expanding their range. But where are they headed? To find out, we get out on the land with ranchers Erik Kalsta and Jami Murdoch, who are working with partners to monitor wildlife – including grizzlies – on their operation in southwest Montana. Together with Erik, Jami and Blackfeet rancher Kristen Kipp, plus a band of other experts, we explore what it really means for grizzly bears to recover under the protection of the Endangered Species Act, and the real challenges bears, and people, face as they do. Read the complete show notes, as always, at workingwild.us .

When a section of the Big Hole River in southwest Montana ran dry in 1988, all eyes were on the future of one of the last remaining populations of arctic grayling in the lower 48. Out of the struggle, a collaboration emerged that change the future of the Big Hole - a future where human communities, wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on can thrive. And it might even serve as a model for how we can conserve species that are headed for the brink. Complete show notes are available at workingwild.us .

We're excited to announce the second season of Working Wild U: Imperiled. This season we're exploring community and landowner-led wildlife conservation on working and tribal lands across the West. From grizzly bears to lesser-known species, join us as we discover the challenges and successes of how communities are working together for common-ground solutions. We'll dive into the action, meeting individuals on the ground stewarding habitats and supporting thriving rural communities. As the Endangered Species Act turns 50, we reflect on the past and ponder the next 50 years of conservation in the US. Stay tuned for episodes dropping soon – it's a season of surprising stories and crucial questions about the future of working lands in the West. Stay tuned for episodes dropping soon! Working Wild University is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver at Montana State University Extension and a proud part of Natural Resources Univers