Everybody's National Parks

Description:

Bryan talks with Jim Halfpenny about wolves and bears in Yellowstone. Jim is an author, scientist, educator, and tracker. Jim has written over 25 books and videos including, "Yellowstone Wolves in the Wild" and “Yellowstone Bears in the Wild.” Jim is co-owner of A Naturalist`s World, dedicated to providing educational programs and materials about natural history and ecology.

Discussion includes the following:

· Description of A Naturalist’s World. (1:21)

· How are the new wolf packs changing the ecosystem (2:07)

· When and why were wolves introduced? (4:34)

· Wolves' effects on economy, including elk hunting business. (6:16)

· Best places for visitors to see wolves. (8:17)

· Scientific discoveries about wolf behavior. (10:33)

· Interactions with other wildlife such as ravens. (15:22)

· Survival story of Wolf 253. (17:42)

· Types of bears in Yellowstone. (20:50)

· Where to see bears. (21:45)

· Bear diet. (23:02)

· Bear wolf relationship. (24:52)

· Bear reactions to ecological changes such as the precipitous decline of cutthroat trout and whitebark pine trees. (26:36)

· Hibernation and climate change. (27:45)

· World Famous Grizzly Bear 264. (30:47)

· Bear art. (32:48)

· Animal tracking. (34:25)

Resources:

Jim Halfpenny http://www.halfpenny.me

A Naturalist’s World http://www.tracknature.com/x/home.php

More $$$ to Economy: Yellowstone Wolf Watching or Elk Hunting?

https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/yellowstone-wolves-bring-estimated-7-10-million-in-annual-tourism-revenue

Gray Wolves Increase Tourism in Yellowstone National Park

https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/gray-wolves-increase-tourism-in-yellowstone-national-park

Changes Seen a Decade After Yellowstone's Wolf Reintroduction

https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/yellowstone-is-wolf-country-once-again

Scats and Tracks of North America http://falcon.com/book/9780762748426

Scats and tracks of the Rocky Mountains http://falcon.com/book/9781493022045

Description

Bryan talks with MacNeil Lyons about planning a trip to Yellowstone with kids. MacNeil is a published writer, photographer, naturalist and owner of tour company Yellowstone Insight. MacNeil previously worked for the National Park Service as an Interpretive Park Ranger beginning in 1996.

Discussion includes the following:

· Yellowstone for Families program (1:34)

· Yellowstone Insight tours for families (7:14)

· Tips for avoiding crowds (10:55)

· What kids like most on Yellowstone Insight tours – stories and digiscoping (16:05)

· Witness to a Wolf Hunt story (18:31)

· Where does MacNeil take his own child? (31:00)

· Recommendations for family itinerary (35:15)

· Backpacking recommendations (38:50)

· Favorite season to photograph Yellowstone (41:14)

· Favorite locations to photograph Yellowstone (43:40)

Resources:

Yellowstone Insight http://yellowstoneinsight.com

Yellowstone Forever Institute Lodging and Learning Tours (including Yellowstone for Families) https://shop.yellowstone.org/courses/lodging-learning?_ga=2.161339252.837182459.1511289324-1809398251.1488214462

Expedition Yellowstone Program https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/expeditionyell.htm

Witness to a Wolf Hunt (blog post) http://yellowstoneinsight.com/2016/01/31/witness-to-a-wolf-hunt/

A Guide to Birding and Digiscoping https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/guide-birding-and-digiscoping

Description

Bryan talks with Jess Haas from Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner with the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park. They help with educational programming, funding research, and bookstores in the park. Then Danielle talks with her friend, Alex about the tour she did with her family through the Yellowstone Forever Institute.

Discussion includes the following:

· What is Yellowstone Forever (0:25).

· How should family approach planning a trip to Yellowstone (8:12)

· Suggestions for itinerary (10:32)

· Descriptions and highlights of each section of the park (15:45)

· Different activities and unique experiences (27:48)

· Best practices to minimize frustration with crowds (33:18)

· Favorite Back country hike (38:25)

· Most underrated part of the park (39:09)

· Favorite front country campsite (39:48)

· Favorite Yellowstone story (41:26)

· Yellowstone Forever Institute, “Yellowstone For Families: Mammoth and Grant Village” (44:14)

Resources:

Yellowstone Forever https://shop.yellowstone.org

Grand prismatic overlook https://yellowstoneinsider.com/2017/07/26/grand-prismatic-spring-overlook-charms-visitors/

Roosevelt cookout https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/restaurants/roosevelt-old-west-dinner-cookout/

Firehole River, Boiling River and other area hot springs and pools https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/swim

Lamar buffalo Ranch https://www.yellowstone.org/experience/lodging/

Bliss pass https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7017500/bliss-pass

Black Canyon http://www.trailguidesyellowstone.com/yellowstone_hikes/black_canyon_yellowstone_trail.php

Madison Campground https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Madison+Campground&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Shoshone Lake https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7008942/shoshone-lake-trail

Yellowstone Forever Institute, “Yellowstone For Families: Mammoth and Grant Village” https://shop.yellowstone.org/courses/yellowstone-for-families-mammoth-and-grant-village-1

Description

Bryan talks with Matt Ohlen, Education Specialist in the Division of Resource Education and Youth Programs of the National Park Service at Yellowstone National Park. Bryan and Matt talk about school programs and tips and recommendations for families planning a trip to Yellowstone.

Discussion includes the following:

· Expedition Yellowstone - Curriculum based education programs for school groups (4:20)

· Expedition Yellowstone Sample itinerary (16:54)

· How should a family prepare, in terms of education, for a trip to Yellowstone (20:35)

· Pack your Patience: managing expectations and tips for visiting Yellowstone (23:30)

· Favorite places to hike (30:45)

· Distance learning program via Skype (37:02)

Resources:

Expedition Yellowstone https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/education/classrooms/expedition-yellowstone-field-school.htm

Yellowstone: Wilderness Classroom https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/education/index.htm

Yellowstone Junior Ranger Program https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/kidsyouth/beajuniorranger.htm

Yellowstone Day Hiking https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/dhsampler.htm

Trout Lake (Tower-Roosevelt area)

Bunsen Peak (near Mammoth Hot Springs area)

Mount Washburn (Canyon area)

Storm Point (Lake Yellowstone)

Elephant Back Mountain (Lake Yellowstone)

Lonestar Geyser (Old Faithful area)

Description

Bryan talks with David Quammen, author of both fiction and non-fiction, and the sole writer of National Geographic Magazine’s May 2016 issue on Yellowstone in honor of the centennial of the National Park Service. He also published Yellowstone: A Journey Through America’s Wild Heart” in August of 2016. They talk about a number of issues affecting the park.

Discussion includes the following:

· Is Yellowstone too small? Yellowstone National Park as a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and how animals move beyond the boundaries of the park (1:38).

· Is Yellowstone being loved to death? (5:55)

· Creeping Crisis (10:45)

· Impact of visitation (12:58)

· Lake trout and invasive species (20:20)

· Interconnectedness of ecology and policy: rescue of the American Bison (27:52)

· Wolf conservation (35:25)

· What gives us hope? Optimism, positive stories including grizzly bears (40:14)

· How to be a good visitor and friend to the park (42:12)

Resources:

David Quammen http://www.davidquammen.com

“YELLOWSTONE: A Journey Through America’s Wild Heart” https://shop.nationalgeographic.com/product/books/books/new-books/yellowstone

Part 1: Learning to Let the Wild Be Wild in Yellowstone by David Quammen http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/05/yellowstone-national-parks-part-1/

Part 2: The Yellowstone We Don't See: A Struggle of Life and Death by David Quammen

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/05/yellowstone-national-parks-part-2/

Part 3: Yellowstone's Future Hangs on a Question: Who Owns the West? by David Quammen http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/05/yellowstone-national-parks-part-3/

Map of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/greateryellowstonemap.htm

Greater Yellowstone Coalition http://greateryellowstone.org

Description:

This is the second episode in a series about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Bryan and Danielle talk about the second leg of their trip in Greater Yellowstone to Jackson, Wyoming and Grand Tetons National Park in the wintertime. They talk about snowshoeing (4:44), the National Elk Refuge (9:22), Dornan’s Restaurant and Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (12:15), wildlife viewing (14:50), and cross-country skiing at Teton Pines Nordic Center (22:10).

Resources:

Grand Tetons National Park https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm

Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce https://www.jacksonholechamber.com

Rusty Parrot http://www.rustyparrot.com

A Quick and Dirty Guide to Snowshoeing in Jackson Hole https://rootsrated.com/stories/a-quick-and-dirty-guide-to-snowshoeing-in-jackson-hole

National Elk Refuge https://www.fws.gov/refuge/national_elk_refuge/

Dornans https://dornans.com

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar http://www.milliondollarcowboybar.com

Silver Dollar Bar http://www.worthotel.com/silver-dollar-bar/bar-menu/

Teton Pines Nordic Center http://www.tetonpinesnordiccenter.com

Amangani Hotel for hot chocolate https://www.aman.com/resorts/amangani/dining-experience

Description:

This is the first episode in a series about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. First, Bryan talks about how listeners may help the victims of Hurricane Irma on St. John, home to Virgin Islands National Park (0:28). Next, Bryan and Danielle talk about their trip to Yellowstone National Park in the wintertime, including logistics of getting there (4:40); preparing for the cold temperatures (10:59); seeing wildlife from the snow coach (13:45); the Snow Lodge, food and amenities (15:45); activities and tours (24:20), tips on how to visit in winter on a budget (28:10); and winter in Yellowstone with kids (46:48).

Resources:

Yellowstone National Park https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Old Faithful Snow Lodge http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodgings/cabin/old-faithful-snow-lodge-cabins-winter/

Winter adventures http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/adventures/winter-adventures/

Snowcoach Transportation http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/adventures/winter-adventures/snowcoach-transportation/

Winter Dining http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/winter/winter-dining/

West Thumb Geyser Basin https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/west-thumb-geyser-basin.htm

Continental Divide https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/0018continentaldivide-iy.htm

Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail https://www.nps.gov/features/yell/tours/fountainpaint/