This month, Monty and Jess sit down with Ben Goldfarb, author of Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet and Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter. Hear Ben speak at our free live event (in person or online) October 10, 2024. Details and sign up information can be found at www.myowf.org/events.

This month, Monty discusses over 30 years of conservation in the Whychus and Metolius watersheds from the perspective of longtime District Fish Biologist, Mike Riehle.

Monty and Jess sit down with Ian Isaacson, Oregon Chapter President of Back Country Hunters & Anglers.

Starting off a new series, Monty and Jess speak with Conservation Director Mike Totey and Conservation Coordinator Tyler Dungannon of Oregon Hunter's Association.

Monty and Jess sit down with Austin Smith, Tribal Wildlife Biologist with the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs. 

Monty and Jess continue their conversation with Carmen Vanbianchi and Anna Machowicz, co-founders of Home Range Wildlife Research. As a nonprofit, Home Range conducts independent and collaborative wildlife research around the Methow Valley in Washington, offering learning opportunities for budding biologists to develop practical field skills that aren't taught in classrooms. 

This month, Monty and Jess sit down with Carmen Vanbianchi and Anna Machowicz, co-founders of Home Range Wildlife Research. As a nonprofit, Home Range conducts independent and collaborative wildlife research around the Methow Valley in Washington, offering learning opportunities for budding biologists to develop practical field skills that aren't taught in classrooms.

In the final installment of our three part series, Bill Richardson sits down with Monty and Jess to discuss the ways in which Blue Mountain Elk Initiative has adapted over time, and what examples BMEI can set for conservation partners in the Northwest and beyond.

In part 2 of our series exploring the Blue Mountain Elk Initiative, Jon Paustian joins Monty and Jess to talk about the importance of connecting summer and winter range habitats, and the various obstacles that come along with that.

Kicking off the first episode of a new three part series, Mark Henjum returns to the NWNM podcast to talk about the Blue Mountain Elk Initiative.

This month, Monty and Jess talk all things Canada lynx with Andrea Lyons, Wildlife Ecologist and Director of the Terrestrial Ecology Program for the Washington Conservation Science Institute.

Monty and Jess welcome Corey Heath back to the podcast, this time to talk about mule deer. Learn all about the iconic Oregon species, from their habitat and biology to environmental threats and future management.

Dan Somers, ODFW John Day Watershed Wildlife Habitat Program Manager, joins Monty and Jess to discuss wildlife managament areas.

Monty and Jess welcome John Rohrer back to the podcast, this time to speak on his experiences researching wolverines in the North Cascades of Washington.

Finishing up the two part series on Upland Game Birds, Monty and Jess speak with Sarah Garrison, the Small Game Program Manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In the first of a two part series, Monty and Jess speak with Mikal Cline, Upland Game Bird Program Manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This week, Monty and Jess speak with Jon Nelson, Wildlife Coordinator of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. Ran by a large group of dedicated staff and volunteers, visitors can learn about regional wildlife, history, art, natural resources, and cultural heritage of North America's high desert country. Listen as Jon discusses what makes the museum so special, as well as his personal experience caring for its resident animals, which can't be released into the wild.

Kicking off September, Monty and Jess speak with Natasha Bellis, Conservation Director of the Deschutes Land Trust. Natasha discusses the weight of responsibility that comes with stewarding land in perpetuity, and the importance of community engagement for long term conservation success.

This month, Monty and Jess learn all about bats! Bat Biologist Nadja Schmidt and Northwest Bat Hub Coordinator Beth Ward speak on the Hub's monitoring initiatives, priorities, and partnerships.

Monty is joined by Deschutes Watershed Manager and mountain goat expert, Corey Heath, who talks about the history of the species within the region.

On the third and final installment of the non-motorized trail series, Monty sits down with District Wildlife Biologist Brock McCormick to discuss the issue from a land management perspective. Learn how trails are planned, implemented, and managed in the Deschutes National Forest.

On this special episode of NWNM, Monty speaks with the podcast's editor, Kyle Miller, and his project partner, Kara Foran, about their upcoming documentary, Follow the Beaten Path. This is the second part of a three part series about non-motorized trails.

Finishing up the two part series The Way of the Beaver, Monty sits down with Jason Wilcox and Jason Gritzner to talk about the impact beavers have on watersheds and their long-term resiliency in the face of climate change. 

This week Monty and Jess speak with geologist, author, and environmental activist Ruby McConnell.

This week on the Northwest Nature Matters podcast, Monty sits down with Lori Hennings, a Senior Natural Resource Scientist  for Portland Metro. They discuss the complex nature of wildlife disturbance caused by non-motorized trail usage, and the ways professionals are working to minimize the impacts of outdoor recreation.

This week, Monty speaks with Vanessa Petro about her innovative methods surrounding beaver research.

On another installment of the Losing a Legacy series, Monty speaks with retired Forest Wildlife Biologist Mark Henjum as they reflect on his decades-long career and lasting impact on Oregon conservation.

ODFW Wildlife Habitat Biologist Jamie Bowles and Monty discuss the developing research on montane foxes throughout the west.

Finishing up a two part series on wildlife migration, Monty speaks with Tim Greseth, Executive Director at Oregon Wildlife Foundation, and Suzanne Linford, founder of Protect Animal Migration. Listen as the three discuss the value in building dynamic partnerships to make effective, long-lasting change.

In the first episode of a two-part series, Monty speaks with Sara Gregory, Lori Turner, and Cidney Bowman, experts working to improve habitat connectivity throughout Oregon and make the roads safer for wildlife and motorists alike.

Wrapping up the Losing A Legacy series, Monty speaks with Mary Rowland about her experience working on various projects throughout the west, and being an early pioneer as a woman in a field largely dominated by men. 

On this installment of NWNM's Losing a Legacy series, Monty speaks with Carl Scheeler, a Tribal Wildlife Biologist for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Carl shares his experience working with the tribes for over 33 years, how much there is to learn from Indigenous land management practices, and the joys of personally knowing the communities that his work will impact for generations to come. 

This week, we wrap up the conversation with Mark Penninger in the final installment of this special two part episode. Finishing up the recap of his impressive career, Mark speaks on the accomplishments he is most proud of, and the importance of mentorships for biologists of all skill levels.

This week, Monty speaks with Mark Penninger, a retired Wildlife Biologist from the US Fish and Wildlife Service out of La Grande, Oregon. In the first installment of this two part episode, Mark speaks on the origins of his interest in wildlife biology, his childhood spent outdoors in North Carolina, and some of the innovation he was part of during his years in the field. 

Monty and Jess speak with Steve Cherry, ODFW District Wildlife Biologist based out of Heppner Oregon, about bighorn sheep.

We're kicking off the first episode of our new Losing a Legacy series. Sit down with accomplished Wildlife Biologists at the end of their careers as they reflect on their time in the field.

Today, meet John Rohrer, a former District Biologist recently retired from the Methow Valley Ranger District.

Sit down with new hosts Monty Gregg and Sarah Armstrong, as well as previous host John Goodell, as they discuss the future of the podcast and wildlife conservation as a whole.

Northwest Nature Matters podcast is continuing production in 2022 with new topics, ideas, and hosts. Under the direction of Oregon Wildlife Foundation, this series will continue focusing on the individuals in the field, and how non-biologists can better understand the conservation work needed to sustain the natural world. In this episode, meet your new hosts Monty Gregg and Sarah Armstrong, and hear from Oregon Wildlife Foundation's Executive Director, Tim Greseth.

Dominique Kone joins us to discuss his M.S. research and recent publication last February informing a prospective sea otter reintroduction in Oregon. He addresses habitat suitability in Oregon, population growth scenarios, and more. His research is a key piece of information suggesting that a sea otter reintroduction is feasible in Oregon, but decision-makers needs to carefully evaluate various human interactions. 

Dominique Kone's recent paper: https://www.elakhaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Kone-et-al-2021.pdf

Professor and Curator Dr. Madonna Moss is an anthropological archaeologist who studies the long term history of Native Americans and First Nations of the Northwest Coast of North America, with a special focus on Tlingit and Haida and their ancestors. Join us for a fascinating discussion about how zooarcheology can help defend indigenous cultural practices in the modern world.

Dr. Moss's book Northwest Coast: Archaeology as Deep History

Dr. Moss's recent publication about sea otters:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.uoregon.edu/dist/e/397/files/2020/04/Moss-2020-sea-otters.pdf

In this episode three leaders from Oregon coast tribes provide heartfelt reflections, as they frame the loss of sea otters and the vision of its return with the history of their own people's struggles, and how sea otters represent their own interconnectedness to the natural world.

Don Ivy Chief of the Coquille Indian tribe; Robert Kentta the Siletz Tribal Cultural Resources Director; and Peter Hatch with the Siletz tribal Cultural Resources Program.

Dr. Roberta Hall is an anthropologist and Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University. Roberta conducted numerous excavations of shell midden sites on the Oregon coast where she document use of various wildlife including sea otters, and other marine resources by ancient First Peoples. Roberta holds expertise in zoo-archaeology, medical anthropology, skeletal biology and more! 

Marine Biologist and Researcher Dr. Shawn Larson from the Seattle Aquarium discusses sea otters up-close! Shawn explores sea otter diet, physiology, reproduction, and genetics - and how her research informs conservation. 

Video of Shawn presenting her genetics research at the 2018 Oregon Sea Otter Status of Knowledge Symposium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6vaSSrQNvU

photo courtesy Vancouver Aquarium 

A great conversation with leading sea otter researcher Dr. Tim Tinker. Tim discusses new science and reveals the varied issues effecting sea otter populations across their pacific range  - from Alaska to California - including his perspectives on a possible Oregon reintroduction. 

Produced in Partnership with the Elakha Alliance

Tom Calvanese is a rockfish scientist, the Station Manager of the Port Orford Field Station, and a catalyst behind developing action to address kelp declines along Oregon's south coast. Join us for a multi-dimensional conversation about kelp conservation. 

Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance

A great resource from the NOYO Center for Marine Science abut kelp conservation: https://noyocenter.org/help-the-kelp/

On our final episode of our Partners in Conservation series, Monty speaks with two guests from the National Wild Turkey Federation; Russ McDonald, Washington State Chapter President, and Chris Henry, Oregon State Chapter President.

Renowned ecologist Jim Estes shares his story of discovery - from a young graduate student on the Aleutian Islands to scientific breakthroughs revealing the profound ecological effects of a keystone predator

Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance

Jim's memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Serendipity-Ecologists-Understand-Organisms-Environments/dp/0520285034/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&qid=1586768471&refinements=p_27%3AJames+Estes&s=books&sr=1-11

Trophic Cascades book coauthored by Jim: https://www.amazon.com/Trophic-Cascades-Predators-Changing-Dynamics/dp/1597264873/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&qid=1586768471&refinements=p_27%3AJames+Estes&s=books&sr=1-3

Marine biologist Scott Groth is undertaking one of the longest monitoring projects on Oregon's nearshore. While red sea urchin numbers appear normal, purple sea urchin populations have exploded in recent years with alarming impacts to kelp forests. 

Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance

Articles about Scott's work:

https://newportnewstimes.com/article/sea-urchin-population-explodes

https://oregonmarinereserves.com/2019/10/24/urchins/

Join me for a great conversation with Michael Schroeder, a research scientist with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Michael is a leading expert on the ecology and conservation of native grouse species of North America. Beyond technical expertise, Mike has a contagious passion for wildlife and being a wildlife biologist!  

Mikes article "Grouse of the Lewis and Clark Expedition" in the Columbia Magazine:

http://www.washingtonhistory.org/files/library/winter-2003-04_003.pdf