Outside/In

Outside/In: Where curiosity and the natural world collide. Look around, and you’ll find everything is connected to the natural world. At Outside/In, we explore that idea with boundless curiosity. We report from disaster zones, pickleball courts, and dog sled kennels, and talk about policy, pop culture, science, and everything in between. From the backcountry to your backyard, we tell stories that expand the boundaries of environmental journalism. Outside/In is a production of NHPR. Learn more at outsideinradio.org

  1. 8 hr ago

    The secret origins of commercial coyote urine

    Last spring, a curious listener called with an unusual question about coyote urine. Is it – as advertised by companies who sell it – an effective, all natural pest deterrent? And more importantly: “Who are the coyotes that are providing this urine?” Since then, producer Taylor Quimby has been trying to find out… and with literal gallons of the stuff available online, he discovered the answers aren’t pretty.  Today on Outside/In, we peek inside the unregulated Pandora’s box of urine farming. Does it work? Is it ethical? And is anybody willing to actually talk about it?  Featuring Jeannie Bartlett, Caroline Long, Ed Brookmyer, Laura Koivula.  This episode was first published in August 2025. Produced by Taylor Quimby. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. CONNECT WITH US Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  To share your questions and feedback with Outside/In, leave a voicemail on our listener hotline, 1-844-GO-OTTER, or email outsidein@nhpr.org. We answer questions about nature, climate change, sustainability, humans and evolution, and more. No question is too serious or too silly.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram, TikTok, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS This 1998 study assessed coyote urine as a deterrent for deer, and found (with some caveats) a 15-24% reduction in deer browsing after exposure to the urine.  However, coyote urine had no measurable effect on the deer browsing of yew saplings in this more recent study.  Websites for some coyote urine brands, like PredatorPee.com and Shake-away animal repellents, claim that they source urine from regulated farms that treat animals humanely, but did not provide more information when asked.  This article from Cleveland.com details the conditions at The Grand River Fur Exchange, a fur and urine farm where hundreds of animals were found in poor condition after the owner’s death.  Since we reported this story, Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill in response to what was discovered at the Grand River Fur Exchange. If passed, the bill would require much stricter oversight for commercial breeding facilities in the state.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The secret origins of commercial coyote urine
  2. 7 Oct

    The deer sharpshooters of Maui

    Maui has a problem: too many deer, not enough hunters. So on a dark, humid night, Nate joined a group of elite hunters as they endeavor to turn an ecological nightmare into a source of profitable, high-protein venison.  Over the course of a few hours, he watches the employees of Maui Nui Venison methodically shoot dozens of deer, collect their carcasses, and speed them to a mobile slaughterhouse for processing – all under the watchful eyes of the USDA.  Can you bring the efficiency of the slaughterhouse to the natural world? And is commercial hunting a solution for America’s over-abundance of deer?  Featuring Keahi Camara, Erin Yamauchi, Jake Muise, Yasmin Tayag and Jay Marcoullier Produced by Nate Hegyi. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org   CONNECT WITH US  Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  To share your questions and feedback with Outside/In, leave a voicemail on our listener hotline, 1-844-GO-OTTER, or email outsidein@nhpr.org. We answer questions about nature, climate change, sustainability, humans and evolution, and more. No question is too serious or too silly.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram, TikTok, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Read Yasmin Tayag’s argument that Americans must start eating more deer. A University of Wisconsin professor outlined how commercial hunting would work in the U.S. in a 2011 paper.  Check out photos and videos of my trip with Maui Nui venison at our Patreon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The deer sharpshooters of Maui
  3. 24 Sept

    A dry river runs through it

    Albuquerque and the Rio Grande go hand in hand. The river cuts right through town, which means if you leave your office at closing time, you could have your feet in the water before 6.  But, not this past summer. This August, along the river’s middle section, more than a hundred miles ran dry. What scientists have warned about for decades – the gradual aridification of the desert Southwest – finally arrived in Albuquerque.  So, what was it like for the people who flocked to the river daily? Our producer Marina Henke went to Albuquerque to hear from them directly. Featuring Laura Paskus, David Gutzler, Matt Springer, Kim Eichorst and Alida Davila. Produced by Marina Henke. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org   CONNECT WITH US Outside/In is made possible with listener support. ⁠Click here⁠ to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  To share your questions and feedback with Outside/In, leave a voicemail on our listener hotline, 1-844-GO-OTTER, or email outsidein@nhpr.org. We answer questions about nature, climate change, sustainability, humans and evolution, and more. No question is too serious or too silly.  Follow Outside/In on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, or join our private ⁠discussion group on Facebook⁠. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Laura Paskus wrote a whole book about climate change in New Mexico. It’s called ⁠At the Precipice⁠. ⁠You can also find her work on Substack.  You can find out more about the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program (BEMP) ⁠here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    A dry river runs through it

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About

Outside/In: Where curiosity and the natural world collide. Look around, and you’ll find everything is connected to the natural world. At Outside/In, we explore that idea with boundless curiosity. We report from disaster zones, pickleball courts, and dog sled kennels, and talk about policy, pop culture, science, and everything in between. From the backcountry to your backyard, we tell stories that expand the boundaries of environmental journalism. Outside/In is a production of NHPR. Learn more at outsideinradio.org

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