EP. 52 | District Of Conservation: An Update on Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Grizzlies with Joe Kondelis of Western Bear Foundation

Joe Kondelis of Western Bear Foundation is BACK on the podcast to talk about what’s happening with the grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE)—which comprises portions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. 

When we first spoke to Joe last year, Judge Christensen ruled that a tentative fall 2019 managed grizzly bear hunt  in the region couldn’t take place on the grounds that wildlife biologists allegedly “misled” the public on the recovery status of GYE grizzly bears, despite delisting even being endorsed by the Obama administration—a position that has continued in the Trump administration today. 

In Episode 52, Joe discusses: 

  • The implications of that Montana judge re-listing the fully recovered GYE grizzly bears
  • Why there are so many human-bear conflicts in the region lately
  • What could have been had the managed hunt gone through
  • Why legal hunters aren’t out to kill grizzlies or bears, in general
  • Lethal and non-lethal ways to mitigate human-bear conflicts
  • How hunters can reconcile their love of bears with management practices
  • How to achieve more harmony with bears without sacrificing livelihoods
  • And ways listeners can support and get involved with the Western Bear Foundation

Download the episode here:

Find District of Conservation at these major podcast portals: 

Apple: http://bit.ly/DistrictOfConservation

‎District of Conservation on Apple Podcasts

‎District of Conservation is a podcast highlighting the incredible conservationists who thrive and survive deep in or around “The Swamp.” These are the policymakers, storytellers, trailblazers, and hardworking folks who go unnoticed but shape this region-whether they live or work here. In addition to…

iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/2nblcsx

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/33aVUdq

Or find it here:

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SHOW NOTES: 

USFWS Had to Relist GYE Grizzlies: https://elknetwork.com/grizzly-bears-officially-relisted/

Western Bear Foundation Website: https://www.westernbearfoundation.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernbearfoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westernbearfoundation/?hl=en

Joe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joekondelis/?hl=en

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