Conservation and Science

Is TB in deer a growing concern for Irish hunters? What happens when you shoot a deer infected with TB, and what are the realities from a hunter's perspective? In this episode of the Conservation and Science podcast, we dive into the contentious topic of bovine tuberculosis in deer - an issue I've attempted to cover for over a year. While scientists seemed reluctant to discuss it publicly, this episode brings boots-on-the-ground truth from expert hunter Ashley Glover, who shares his firsthand experiences with TB-infected deer in Wicklow.

Ashley explains how hunters can identify signs of tuberculosis when field dressing deer, noting that whilst most hunters may never encounter an infected animal, he found four TB-positive deer among his first twelve harvests in North Wicklow this season. We discuss the practical challenges hunters face when discovering a TB-infected carcass - from the unclear notification protocols to the costly disposal options. Despite bovine TB being classified as a "notifiable disease" with supposedly free testing and licensed disposal, Ashley's experience reveals a different reality, including a €100 fee for fallen animal services to remove a single carcass.

The conversation tackles the disconnect between what hunters are taught during training versus the realities in the field, particularly when shooting deer late on a Friday with limited options for proper disposal. We explore the localised nature of TB in deer populations, which appears concentrated in certain areas of Wicklow rather than nationwide. This episode provides essential knowledge for hunters on identifying TB in deer and navigating the practical challenges of responsible carcass management, while highlighting the need for improved protocols within Ireland's wildlife and TB eradication programmes.

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Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organisation. The participants are expressing their personal opinions and perspectives.

Are we being locked out of the countryside, or is the narrative around land access more complex than it seems? How can we navigate the competing demands of farmers, conservationists, and recreational users? In Patrick's new book "Uncommon Ground: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Countryside", he tackles the contentious topic of land access in Britain - revealing perspectives that challenge both sides of the debate. From questioning the famous "8% access" statistic to exploring deeper issues of engagement with nature, this episode delves beyond the simplistic narratives that often dominate the conversation.

Throughout our discussion, Patrick shares his journey researching this divisive topic, which surprisingly led him to change his own views along the way. We explore the distinction between mere access and meaningful engagement with nature, hearing stories from Romany Gypsies, conservationists, farmers, and access campaigners. Patrick reflects on how many of those calling for unfettered access lack basic knowledge about wildlife, such as ground-nesting birds, whilst some landowners remain disconnected from the very land they own. The conversation reveals how political ideologies often overshadow the practical matters of land management and conservation.

Beyond the polarised debate, we consider what positive change might look like. Patrick suggests that rather than focusing solely on access rights, we should be examining how to create meaningful engagement opportunities - whether through educational initiatives with local schools, community involvement in conservation, or subsidies tied to public engagement. As our countryside faces increasing pressure from a growing population, finding common ground becomes essential. This episode challenges listeners to move past tribal positions and consider how we might better balance the needs of people, wildlife, and the land that sustains us all.

Buy Patrick's Book 📚 HERE

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What does it mean to 'rewild' a landscape in Ireland, one of Europe's most nature-poor countries? Can rewilding coexist with traditional farming practices, or must we choose between them? How do we balance the need for biodiversity recovery with the cultural and economic realities of rural communities? These questions are at the heart of this episode as we explore a movement gaining momentum despite misunderstandings about what rewilding actually entails and how it might transform our countryside.

Pádraic Fogarty returns to share his new initiative, "Rewild Your Land", a consultancy and growing network helping landowners transition their properties to more natural states. Unlike traditional conservation, which manages ecosystems for specific outcomes, rewilding focuses on kickstarting natural processes and letting nature determine the path forward. Pádraic explains how this approach fits within Ireland's specific context, where, despite our green image, we preserve just 1-2% of our native woodland compared to the 80% forest cover that once existed.

We discuss the tensions between farming and conservation, examining how rewilding isn't anti-rural but could diversify economic opportunities in rural areas. Pádraic emphasised the need for community buy-in, scientific backing, and government support to make meaningful environmental change. He outlines his vision for the future: landowners in every county embracing rewilding, NGOs and community groups participating and perhaps most ambitiously, a large-scale rewilding project that proudly declares its intentions rather than hiding behind different terminology.

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Is Ireland ready to tackle its growing deer management challenges? How will the new national deer management programme impact hunters, landowners, and conservation efforts? What role do thermal imaging technologies play in modern wildlife management? In this milestone 200th episode of Conservation and Science, we welcome back Ashley Glover, a conservationist, master huntsman, and long-time friend of the podcast. Recording from Wicklow Wolf Brewery, we celebrate this special occasion by diving into the significant changes coming to Irish deer management. From there, we discuss many more Irish conservation and nature restoration-related topics.

Ashley shares valuable insights on the recently introduced national deer management strategy, including the establishment of 15 deer management units across Ireland. We explore the complexities surrounding implementation, from landowner engagement to data collection methods and hunter integration. The conversation highlights ongoing policy conflicts, such as how to manage deer on state lands, and addresses critical issues like deer-vehicle collisions and the humane dispatch programme. Ashley explains how thermal imaging has revolutionised deer counting and tracking, making wildlife management more effective and evidence-based.

Beyond deer, we discuss other pressing conservation matters in Ireland, including invasive American mink control and the challenges of predator management for protecting ground-nesting birds. Ashley offers valuable perspectives on balancing conservation needs with hunting traditions and the importance of mentoring new hunters. In our conversation, we examine Ireland's conservation landscape, highlighting both the progress made and the significant work still needed to address policy conflicts in biodiversity management, peatland restoration, and sustainable land use.

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Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organisation. The participants are expressing their personal opinions and perspectives.

Can one person sailing solo around the world contribute to scientific knowledge? What happens when you encounter illegal fishing vessels in the middle of the ocean? How can we address the growing crisis of plastic pollution in our seas? In this episode, we dive into these questions with Bert Terhart, a scientist, explorer and entrepreneur who circumnavigated the globe alone on his sailing yacht, conducting citizen science along the way.

During our conversation, Bert shares his first-hand observations of environmental challenges facing our oceans, from illegal fishing fleets operating with impunity to the stark reality of plastic pollution. We discuss how he worked with researchers to track ocean currents, monitor microplastics and count endangered albatross populations during his journey. Bert offers a shocking statistic: for some commercially exploited species of fish, approximately 80% of the commercial catches are illegal or unregulated, highlighting how enforcement remains one of our biggest environmental challenges.

Beyond observations, we explore how individuals and businesses can engage positively with environmental issues. Bert emphasises the importance of persistence in creating meaningful change and discusses how new technologies, including AI, might help solve complex environmental problems. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about our future, believing that human ingenuity and our ability to adapt will ultimately outpace our capacity for environmental destruction – if we can combine good science with effective policy and consistent action.

Further reading:

• Bert's Personal Website (bertterhart.com)
• The 5 Great Capes | Around alone via the 5 Great Capes

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Bert terHart, self-described as 'soldier, sailor, scientist, adventurer, serial entrepreneur and author', just seems to have a knack for knocking off the impossible. A Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Explorer in Residence for the BC Historical Society, Founder of the Canadian Interactive Waterways Initiative, CEO of LeadBrain.ai, and author of, among others, the children's book 'Sir Salty Goes to Sea', Bert has sailed solo, non-stop around the world, into the Bering Sea, and out to the Aleutian Islands all in an effort to follow in the wake of some of the world's greatest explorers and cartographers. In the same vein, he paddled solo, across Canada from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans covering more than 7800kms by foot and canoe. What's coming next is even more extreme. Or crazy.

Bert terHart has had a life-long passion for the oceans and oceanography. With advanced degrees in math, physics and physical oceanography, he has studied the role the world's oceans and coastal seas play in moderating and regulating climate, nutrient productivity and pollution distributions, and salmon migration.

A career in academics, however, was not to be. Software engineering and business drew him away from the formal world of academia. Bert went on to create software and technical tools used by health care professionals in Canada, Great Britain, the United States, and Australia ultimately helping in the diagnosis and treatment of tens of thousands of patients.

His passion for the oceans has translated into more than 50,000 miles of blue-water sailing, almost all of it solo, and a keen advocacy for the citizen scientist in all of us. His programming and business skills have been sought out by the universities, professionals, and environmentally responsible businesses and corporations in Canada and the US.

His exploits have been featured both nationally and internationally on TV and in print. He's a frequent speaker to local business groups, libraries, museums, schools, and adventurers of every ilk.

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The guest featured in this episode paid a nominal guesting fee. This fee did not directly influence the content of the episode. The guest had no editorial control, did not review the episode before publication, and did not influence the questions asked during the interview.

I feel like this episode is the ultimate guide to understanding coexistence with wolves. Once again I talk with ecological anthropologist Thorsten Gieser, this time about his excellent book “Living with Wolves: Affects, Feelings and Sentiments in Human-Wolf Coexistence”. In the episode, Thorsten recounts a tense atmosphere during the visit to a wolf kill site. We also talk about understanding emotions that are sparked by wolves, and we discuss the recent decision to lower the protection status of wolves in the EU.

During our conversation, Thorsten draws from his extensive fieldwork across Germany where he witnessed firsthand the aftermath of wolf attacks on livestock. He explains the unique psychological impact wolves have on communities, stemming from both their distinctive hunting methods, which he describes in terms of "necroaesthetics", and centuries of cultural conditioning. We examine the political dimensions of wolf management across Europe and explore the often contradictory attitudes within hunting communities, who historically viewed wolves as competitors rather than fellow predators. Thorsten challenges common narratives, addressing how conspiracy theories about wolf reintroduction persist despite clear evidence of natural recolonisation.

Moving beyond practical considerations, we discuss Thorsten's concept of “affect-guided thinking” in wildlife management, an approach that acknowledges emotional responses without being driven solely by them. The discussion explores the “queasy feeling” many experience in wolf territories and the emotional resilience required for true coexistence. Rather than focusing exclusively on protection levels or culling quotas, Thorsten argues we must confront more fundamental questions: How do we distinguish between legitimate concerns and fear-mongering? What emotions should we cultivate to share landscapes with these controversial predators? And how might we develop the psychological capacity to live alongside animals that challenge our sense of control over nature?

Buy Thorsten's Book 📚 HERE

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Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and Irish Wildlife Trust.

This episode is part of the global Podcasthon initiative, in which podcasters worldwide dedicate one episode to their chosen charity. To maximise impact, all episodes are published in a single week. I’m showcasing two of the most influential Irish environmental charities: the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and the Irish Wildlife Trust.

The conversation with Pádraig Whooley from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group reveals the challenges facing marine life in Irish waters. Pádraig explains how they've expanded from focusing solely on sightings and strandings to include welfare issues for living stranded animals. He discusses alarming changes in whale behaviour, linking them to destructive fishing practices where large trawlers target vital forage fish that form the foundation of marine ecosystems. Pádraig emphasises that successful conservation would involve implementing bans on industrial-scale fishing in Irish coastal waters and establishing meaningful marine protected areas—not just 'paper parks' but properly managed conservation zones.

Kieran Flood from the Irish Wildlife Trust shares insights into one of Ireland's longest-established nature charities. Founded in 1979, the organisation focuses on protecting and restoring Ireland's natural heritage through education, advocacy, and developing nature reserves. Kieran explains that despite Ireland's green reputation, Irish biodiversity faces serious threats from intensive agriculture, forestry practices, and industrial fishing. The trust is currently focusing on supporting the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law, campaigning for effective marine protected areas through the Fair Seas coalition, and expanding their rewilding projects. He emphasises that perhaps the most important change needed is a fundamental shift in how people understand their connection to nature, recognising that humans are not separate from the natural world but an integral part of it.

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Is it possible for humans and large carnivores to share landscapes without conflict? What happens when predators like wolves, bears, and lynx return to areas where they've been absent for centuries? How do we balance the ecological benefits of apex predators with the real concerns of rural communities and farmers? We’re trying to answer these questions with our returning guest Dr Jonny Hanson, author of ‘Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves and Bears.’

Drawing on his unique background in both farming and conservation, Jonny brings a nuanced perspective to this often polarising topic. He recounts his experiences growing up in Malawi where wildlife existed alongside urban areas, and how this shaped his understanding of human-wildlife conflict. The conversation explores the urban-rural divide in attitudes towards large carnivores, with Jonny pointing out that 'everybody loves a large carnivore when it's somewhere else' – a phenomenon he calls 'biological NIMBYism.' We also examine how compensation schemes for livestock losses often fail to deliver the expected outcomes due to bureaucracy and delays, turning farmers with positive attitudes into fierce opponents of predator reintroduction.

In the episode, we also tackle difficult ethical questions about lethal control, the use of technology in managing human-wildlife conflict, and the philosophical meaning of "wildness" in our modern world. Jonny emphasises that while the ecological benefits of reintroducing large carnivores are important, we shouldn't overlook the emotional and philosophical dimensions – the sense of wonder that comes from knowing these animals exist in our landscapes, even if we never see them. We conclude the episode by attempting to predict if the reintroduction of predators to Britain and Ireland will happen in the coming decades.

Buy Jonny's Book 📚 HERE

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Are offshore wind farms detrimental to marine mammals? What happens when we industrialise our seas with massive turbines? Can we balance the urgent need for renewable energy with protecting marine life? These questions take centre stage in our conversation with marine ecologist Dr Stephen Comerford, who is the ORE Marine Biodiversity Officer at the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. Stephen has years of experience working with both the oil and gas industry and offshore renewables, which makes him the perfect guest to discuss this important topic.

In this episode, we discuss the critical issue of underwater noise during wind farm construction. Stephen explains how pile driving - the process of hammering massive steel tubes into the seabed - creates intense underwater noise that can harm marine mammals. However, there's hope in the form of various noise reduction technologies, from bubble curtains to innovative pile installation methods, though implementing these solutions comes with significant costs and technical challenges.

Looking to the future, Stephen shares his perspective on how offshore structures might create novel marine ecosystems and discusses the crucial role of citizen science in monitoring marine mammals. While acknowledging the environmental pressures our seas face, he highlights how Ireland's new focus on marine planning and management, driven by offshore wind development, could lead to better protection of our oceans. The episode offers a balanced view of how we can pursue essential renewable energy goals while safeguarding marine life.

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What makes someone kill an animal and still claim to care deeply about nature? Can the act of hunting foster environmental stewardship? These somewhat provocative questions lie at the heart of my conversation with Thorsten Gieser, an anthropologist studying hunting practices and their deeper meaning in modern society.

Our discussion explores the complex emotional landscape of hunting and challenges common misconceptions about hunters taking pleasure in killing. Through personal accounts and research findings, Thorsten explains how the difficult experience of taking an animal's life, when approached mindfully, can lead to deeper environmental awareness and connection with nature. We also discuss how various factors, from hunting traditions to modern technology, influence the relationship between hunters and the natural environment.

Our conversation takes a turn when we discuss hunting rituals and their role in modern society. Rather than dismissing them as outdated customs, Thorsten explains their crucial function in creating space for reflection and processing the weight of taking life. We end the episode with a discussion about how hunters can better engage in public debates about their practice, suggesting that acknowledging the moral complexity of killing might lead to a more productive dialogue about conservation and our relationship with nature.

Further reading:

• Thorsten Gieser | The BOAR Project
• Recreational killing of wild animals can foster environmental stewardship | Nature Sustainability

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Mentioned in this episode:

DOWNLOAD:

How to Get Started in Deer Hunting in Ireland