What can bears, wolves, cougars, and other wildlife teach us about the natural world around us? In this episode of Wealth Is A Choice, James Studinger sits down with wildlife biologist Cody Norton for a wide-ranging conversation about Michigan’s wildlife, animal behavior, conservation, and what researchers are learning by following these animals across the landscape. Cody brings years of hands-on experience studying and managing wildlife, including black bears, wolves, cougars, and other species throughout Michigan. The conversation begins with the fascinating life cycle of black bears, from denning and raising cubs to dispersal, home ranges, and how researchers safely conduct bear den checks. From there, James and Cody explore everything from how bears move across the Upper Peninsula to how wolves establish territories and how the DNR verifies cougar sightings in Michigan. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How black bears give birth, raise cubs, den, and eventually send their yearlings out on their own • What actually happens during a bear den check • Why black bears behave differently than true hibernators • How researchers use collars, cameras, and fieldwork to study wildlife movements • Why bears can travel extraordinary distances and still find their way back home • How wolves establish territories and how wolf packs move across the landscape • Why some wolves live outside established packs as transient animals • How wolves, coyotes, bears, and bobcats interact within Michigan’s ecosystem • How the Michigan DNR investigates and verifies cougar sightings • What recent evidence of cougar reproduction could mean for Michigan • Why trail cameras and other technology have transformed wildlife research • The importance of hunting, trapping, conservation, and using harvested animals responsibly • Why public land gives people extraordinary opportunities to experience Michigan’s outdoors Cody also shares stories from years of field research, including handling bears, following collared animals, investigating predator behavior, studying wolf packs, and seeing firsthand just how adaptable and unpredictable wild animals can be. The conversation ultimately comes back to the idea behind Wealth Is A Choice. For Cody, wealth is closely connected to pursuing work he cares deeply about. He explains that a career in wildlife biology was never primarily about money, it was a deliberate choice to spend his life studying wildlife, working outdoors, and helping ensure these populations remain healthy for future generations. Learn more about JPStudinger Wealth Advisors: https://www.jpstudinger.com/ #WealthIsAChoice #CodyNorton #MichiganWildlife #BlackBears #Wolves #Cougars #WildlifeBiology #Conservation #MichiganOutdoors #UpperPeninsula #Hunting #WildlifeResearch
