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. 

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!