
10 episodes

Working Wild U Alexandra Few, Jared Beaver
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- Science
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4.8 • 53 Ratings
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Working Wild U is a new podcast that takes you out into the field, forest and range with the people and wildlife of the American West to tell you the big stories at the heart of the struggle to sustain resilient and connected landscapes and communities.
We bring you immersive stories at the crossroads of culture and science focused on the challenges and successes of sharing and managing farms and ranches with wildlife.
If you are passionate about open spaces, wild places and healthy communities that sustain people and wildlife, listen in.
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Wolves in the West | 01 | Defining the Problem
In the western United States, wolves represent many things to many people. To some, wolves are a symbol of wildness. To others, wolves represent a very real threat to their livelihoods and well-being. Join us as we explore how people’s values impact how they think about wolves. When it comes to wolves, can we find a shared vision for the future?
Complete show notes: workingwild.us -
Wolves in the West | 02 | How did we get here?
To understand how we got to where we are today, hosts Alex and Jared go to Albert Sommers’ operation and the Green River Drift, a cattle migration in Wyoming that’s been taking place for generations. We’ll learn about the land management policies that shaped predator eradication, public lands, and the West we know today.
Complete show notes at workingwild.us -
Wolves in the West | 03 | Whose blood, sweat and tears are in your hamburger?
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 on the landscape? To find out, 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.
Complete show notes: workingwild.us -
Wolves in the West | 04 | Return of the wolf: A landscape of fear
In 1995, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after decades of absence. It didn't take long for them to make their way to Julia Childs' ranch, located just north of the park. When wolves were reintroduced in the Northern Rockies, they were entering a complex social and political landscape that continues today.
In this episode, Alex and Jared explore the nuances of the wolf reintroduction and recovery, made possible by the Endangered Species Act. This landmark environmental law passed with bipartisan support in 1973. Join us as we untangle how the ESA became just as controversial as the wolves it would seek to protect, and what that means for the future of species recovery on the eve of its 50th anniversary.
Complete show notes: workingwild.us -
Wolves in the West | 05 | Wolves in town
Do wolves pose a threat to people? What is “normal” wolf behavior? What happens when wolves set up shop in your neighborhood? Join hosts Alex and Jared as they explore a collection of stories about wolves getting a little too close for comfort, and the difficult choices wildlife managers face when wolves come to town.
Complete Show Notes at workingwild.us -
Wolves in the West | 06 | Hunting and the North American model of wildlife conservation
It’s easy to see wolf management in two buckets: full protection under the Endangered Species Act or unregulated wolf hunting. But successful management of established wildlife populations is most often somewhere in the middle, with hunting used both as a tool and a conservation funding mechanism.
Join Alex and Jared as they explore hunting as a management tool and take a look at how the North American model of wildlife conservation allows species to fund their own conservation and management. Plus, they’ll take a look at how Wyoming’s unique approach to managing wolves has helped increase acceptance and reduce conflicts.
Full show notes are available on our website.
Customer Reviews
Great podcast!
Very well done podcast that thoughtfully presents multiple viewpoints on an issue that people have very strong opinions on. If you tend to be very strongly on one side or the other, it’s a good opportunity to learn about the other side’s perspective. I discovered this podcast because of the wolf topic, but having listened to it I would definitely listen to other topics/seasons!
Needs balance
Please have some wolf advocates on the show for balance.
Very good but could be more balanced.
Cutting down the Also Leopoldo quote was a bit too convenient to the narrative, guys. Cmon. Great show that I’ve shared with many who oppose hunting of any sort as the information here is wonderful. Will be curious how the rest develops.