Have you ever watched a species — or a whole habitat — bounce back? In this hike-and-talk along Bass Creek, I revive the Mountain Misfits Podcast with a no-fluff breakdown of what’s happening to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) right now—and why these proposed shifts are a backslide for species, wild places, and recovery.

We get grounded and specific: what the ESA actually does, what “threatened” vs “endangered” really means, why critical habitat is the whole game, and how proposals like removing the “blanket rule” can create delays and gaps right when species need protection most. I also dig into why “rewriting” the ESA through technical rule changes can quietly reshape conservation outcomes.

If you’re pro-protection, pro-restoration, and tired of watching the natural world get negotiated into smaller and smaller corners—this one’s for you.

In this episode

• Why “policy” is field reality (and why this isn’t abstract)
• The ESA in plain English (the parts that actually matter)
• Critical habitat: what it is, how it’s used, and how it can be narrowed
• The threatened-species “blanket rule” and why removing it matters
• How to leave a strong public comment during the comment period

The public is encouraged to submit comments during the 30-day comment period beginning November 21 at https://www.regulations.gov by searching the following docket numbers:

FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0039 (Section 4)

FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0044 (Section 7)

FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0029 (Section 4(d))

FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0048 (Section 4(b)(2))

If you found this useful, subscribe for weekly podcast episodes, field clips, and science-in-the-wild storytelling—because we protect what we love, and we restore what we’ve damaged.

Welcome to another captivating episode of Mountain Misfits! In this edition, we sit down with the extraordinary Andy Laub, a dirtbag documentarian. Join us as we embark on a journey through more than 7,000 miles of thru-hiking on The Appalachian, Continental, Pacific Crest, and the new Pacific Northwest Trails, where Andy has tirelessly sought out and captured the most compelling stories from these most challenging of hikes.

Andy wears many hats in the world of filmmaking, having served as a writer, cinematographer, editor, visual effects artist, expedition coordinator, and soundtrack composer. His impressive portfolio includes collaborations with renowned networks such as the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, BBC World News, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.

One of Andy's standout creations, "As It Happens: Pacific Crest Trail," has left an indelible mark, captivating over half a million viewers globally. Learn about the challenges and triumphs behind the scenes as Andy dons the hats of producer, editor, soundscape designer, and soundtrack composer for this remarkable film as he and his partners trek the 1,200 miles of the Pacific Northwest Trail.

Join us for an insightful conversation with a true trailblazer in the world of filmmaking, as Andy Laub takes us behind the lens and shares the stories that have shaped his remarkable career. Tune in for a cinematic experience that transcends borders and leaves a lasting impact.

Sorry for the obscene delay...over one year, but I got caught up with...well everyone has things come up.

Anyhow...in this episode we chat with Radd's former geologist professor at the mighty University of Montana - Western. The conversation delves into the geologically unique landscapes of western Montana and the status of STEM education.

Today we are joined by Mat Seidensticker, former NCAA basketball player turner turned moth biologist. He is a founding member of the Northern Rockies Research & Educational Services, Inc., which is dedicated to advancing scientific research, education, and conservation of insects, birds, and other wildlife, and his area of focus is the Montana Moth Project (MMP).

With only two full-time staffers (who double as field techs), the MMP team clocked more than 8,000 road miles this summer, traveling the state sampling moths in a diversity of habitats. From tiny, delicately patterned micromoths (often no larger than a rice grain) to bird-sized behemoths like Hyalophora cecropia, the moths of Montana are as compelling as any of the macro mammals for which the state is famous.

Imagine waking one morning, putting your running shoes on, and going for a 100-mile run with over 33,000 vertical feet. That’s what ultramarathoner Heather Brooks does. We talk about why she chooses to run races like the Hard Rock 100 and more importantly how she balances life. Spend any time around Heather, and you will spontaneously be inspired to go for a good, long run in the hills.

One of the lesser-known gems in Glacier National Park, the hike to the Dragon’s Tail began from the Logan Pass parking lot (that’s right, the most crowded area in the park). We started out on Hidden Lake Nature Trail, which is initially paved, then a boardwalk, and, eventually, an actual trail.

A bit over a mile from the trailhead, we reached a small tarn, and an unmarked trail will branch off to the left. Someone had attempted to block the trail with old limbs as they mistakenly took this trail as a user trail. However, this side trail, called the Reynolds Route on some maps, was lined with rocks on both sides for the first little bit.

Welcome to the second MtnMisfits podcast…It’s February 1st and feeling like spring in Montana!

Hikers told to forgo entire Appalachian Trail due to virus

Hikers are being told by the agency that oversees the Appalachian Trail to postpone plans to cover the nearly 2,200-mile (3,540 kilometer) distance this year due to COVID-19.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy made the suggestion because it feels the pandemic makes long-distance hikes unsafe for the some 2,000 thru-hikers have already registered.

Those hikers come through the 71 miles of trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and reach western North Carolina trail towns like Franklin and Hot Springs, in March and April, when they gather in large numbers to rest, mend gear and resupply.

They also stay at shelters in close quarters along the trail. The shelters don't allow for the CDC's COVID-safety guidelines, which include maintaining social distance of at least 6 feet from those who don't live in the same household and washing hands often with soap and water.

‘Ugliest orchid in the world’ among 2020's new plant discoveries

The researchers said the 156 new plants and fungi highlighted the amazing diversity of species that remain to be found…third of the new species are orchids, but one confounded the family’s reputation for great beauty, with RGB Kew calling it the “ugliest in the world”.

The plant – Gastrodia agnicellus – was found in a national park in Madagascar and its 11mm flowers are brown, fleshy and grotesque, and are likely to be pollinated by flies.

The orchid remains underground in the deep shade of a humid forest most of the time, emerging only to flower, but it has “a noticeable musk rose-like scent”, the scientists said.

Biden wants to triple protected lands

Biden took the next leap in pursuing his climate agenda Wednesday, signing the latest in a spate of environment-focused executive orders. One of the most ambitious goals buried in the order he put forward is to conserve nearly a third of US land and ocean waters by 2030.

Currently, only 12 percent of the country’s land and 26 percent of its oceans are protected, according to a 2018 report by the Center for American Progress. This was achieved by slowly expanding protected areas over the past few decades — until former President Trump took office. In his first year, his administration dramatically shrank two Utah monuments, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante — the largest removal of federal land from protection in US history. Now the Biden administration will have to quickly reverse course to meet the new goal.

The “30 by 30” target is based on scientific recommendations for addressing the rapid loss of biodiversity and using natural ecosystems to fight climate change. The biodiversity crisis may still be invisible to many people, but it has had profound effects. One recent study found that North America has lost over a quarter of its bird population since 1970.

The Content

Feeling like spring…getting a little bucky…plans?

Slick spring trails - Sock Tip