On Word for Wildlife

On Word for Wildlife

By Wildlife Media CollabNewsPolitics
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On Word for Wildlife episodes

  • What to Expect When You're Expecting to Go Extinct

    The Endangered Species Act: An Introduction and Explanation

    What is endangered? How do you get on the list? Have you watched Sex and the City?


    Endangered Species Act - House:  https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-bill/37 

    Endangered Species Act - Senate: https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/senate-bill/1983/all-actions?s=6&r=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22endangered+Species+Act%22%7D 

    Rep. John Dingell Retirement: https://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/nrdcs-president-dingell-giant-who-safeguarded-our-environment-and-health 

    Evolution to ESA: https://www.fws.gov/esa50/our-history/pre-1973 

    https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ESA-Section-4-Listing.pdf 

    ESA designation definitions: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-differences-between-endangered-threatened-imperiled-and-risk-species#:~:text=Under%20the%20Endangered%20Species%20Act,endangered%20within%20the%20foreseeable%20future. 

    Puetro RicanSharp Shinned Hawk: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sharp-shinned_Hawk/lifehistory

    5-year status review Puerto Rican Sharp Shinned Hawk: 

    https://ecosphere-documents-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com/sams/public_docs/species_nonpublish/5787.pdf 

    Rusty Patch Bumble Bee on Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/25/2024-01454/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-90-day-findings-for-10-species  

    Minnesota and the Rusty Patch Bumble Bee: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l 

    ESA Loophole: https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1320&context=jesl 

    Definition of Habitat: https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-06/rescind-regulatory-definition-habitat-under-endangered-species-act 

    Changes to Endangered Speices Act: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article305258441.html

    Federal Register: 

    https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06746/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act 

    Grizzly Bear: https://www.fws.gov/species/grizzly-bear-ursus-arctos-horribilis

    Grizzly Court Ruling: https://earthjustice.org/press/2009/protections-restored-for-yellowstone-grizzly-bears 

    Endangered Grizzly: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/grizzly_bear/# 

    Gray Wolf ESA Listing: https://wolf.org/wolf-info/51811-2/ 

    Gray Wolf: https://www.fws.gov/species/gray-wolf-canis-lupus 

    Bringing back the Wolly Mammouth: https://colossal.com/mammoth/ 

    Passenger Pigeon: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/passenger-pigeon 

    Black-browned babbler: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-browed_babbler 

    Not extinct stick insect: https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/lord-howe-island-stick-insect/

    https://earthjustice.org/article/how-trump-and-congress-are-trying-to-gut-the-endangered-species-act-and-what-you-can-do-about-it 


    24 min
  • New Year, Same Neonics

    Looking into Colorado's effort to limit the use of neonicotinoids (or neonics) on commodity cropland farms, where they happen to be very popular. Who will think of the bees!?

    Policy on the Prowl: SB26-065


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    References:

    https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-065 

    https://ag.colorado.gov/pesticide-safety 

    https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/r23-286_agricultural_economy_in_colorado_0.pdf 

    https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/benefits-neonicotinoid-seed-treatments-soybean-production 

    https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/pesticides-are-transported-throughout-environment 

    https://soybeans.ces.ncsu.edu/soybean-insect-pest-management/ 

    https://www.farmprogress.com/soybean/stinkbugs-top-nationwide-soybean-pest-damage-list-causing-estimated-126-million-bushel-loss-in-2024 

    https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2015/08/24/entomologists-sniff-out-new-stink-bug-to-help-soybean-farmers-control-damage/ 

    Neonicotinoid Pesticides in Colorado Water: Threats to the State’s Aquatic Ecosystems, Pierre Menau, Ph.D., July 2025

    Bigger than Bees: How Neonics Contaminate Water, Threaten Ecosystems, and Cause Human Health Concerns in New York 

    First national-scale reconnaissance of neonicotinoid insecticides in streams across the USA, Michelle Hladik, Dana W. Kolpin, 2015

    American Bird Conservancy, “Birds & Neonic-Coated Seeds”. 2022

    American Bird Conservancy, “Birds & Neonic-Coated Seeds: The Hidden Costs of High-Risk Pesticides, 2024

    https://wms.org/magazine/magazine/1614/Seeds-of-Destruction/default.aspx 

    https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2026-03-04/effort-to-restrict-colorado-farmers-use-of-seeds-coated-with-pesticides-rejected-in-committee 

    https://leg.colorado.gov/committee_meeting_hearing_items/29477/votes/42452 

    https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/state-legislation


    22 min
  • The Future of LWCF

    Part 3 in the 3 part series of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

    In this episode, I’ll provide a review of the programs listed under the Land and Water Conservation Fund and discuss some of the limitations before sharing some complicated predictions for the future.

    Spoiler: If the future seems bright, you're the deer in the headlights.

    Report: Tribal Access to the Land and Water Conservation Fund: https://www.wilderness.org/sites/default/files/media/file/Tribal%20Access%20to%20the%20LWCF.pdf 

    Outer Continental Shelf definition: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title43-section1331&num=0&edition=prelim 

    Biden banning offshore oil and gas: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/06/biden-offshore-drilling-ban-oil-gas/

    Mineral Leasing Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGUBxgz_6Ak 

    LWCF Manual: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/lwcf-manual.htm 

    Federal, State, Tribe Government Relations: https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/separation-of-powers-state-tribal-relations-and-interstate-compacts 

    LWCF recommendations from Tribes: https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/needed-federal-conservation-program-designed-tribes

    20 min
  • WC is for Wildlife Conservation: LWCF Part 2

    In this second installment of our three-part series on the Land and Water Conservation Fund, we're diving into the fun stuff - how LWCF actually helps wildlife! After breaking down the nuts and bolts of the law in Part 1, we're now exploring how this funding transforms into real conservation wins across America. From pocket mice to fairy shrimp, we'll discuss how LWCF supports wildlife conservation through land protection, habitat restoration, and more.
    Sources:

    • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): https://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/ 

    • USFWS: Recovery Land Acquisition Grants: https://www.fws.gov/service/recovery-land-acquisition-grants 

    • USFWS: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants: https://www.fws.gov/service/habitat-conservation-plan-land-acquisition-grants 

    • National Park Service (NPS): https://www.nps.gov/subjects/biodiversity/conservation.htm

    • Bureau of Land Management (BLM): https://www.blm.gov/about/our-mission

    • BLM’s Wildlife Program: https://www.blm.gov/programs/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife 

    • BLM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Conservation: https://www.fws.gov/initiative/hunting/wildlife-conservation 

    • U.S. Forest Service (USFS): https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/natural-resources

    • USFS - This is Who We Are: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/This-is-Who-We-Are.pdf 

    • Department of Interior - $80M announcement: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-nearly-80-million-states-collaborative-efforts-conserve 

      • 19 min
    • L is for Law: LWCF Part 1

      Drilling into the details to explain the framework of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.


      Sources:

      P.L. 116-152

      https://www.nrpa.org/our-work/advocacy/the-land-and-water-conservation-fund-lwcf/applying-for-lwcf-grants/ 

      https://bhamnow.com/2018/02/17/154570/  - Alabama project 

      https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/blag_ms_04_2019.htm - Mississippi project

      https://www.blm.gov/visit/california-national-historic-trail-nobles-emigrant-segment - California Project 

      https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/delivering-mission/sustain/forest-legacy-program-protects-western-maine-lands - Maine Project 

      https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/policy/files/ConservationEasementHandbook.pdf 

      https://www.neefusa.org/story/public-lands-engagement/key-roles-americas-federal-public-land-agencies 

      https://www.doi.gov/lwcf/lwcf-programs 

      https://www.fws.gov/refuge/john-heinz-tinicum/what-we-do 

      https://www.blm.gov/programs/land-and-water-conservation-fund 

      https://www.fs.usda.gov/land/staff/LWCF/about.shtml 

      https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/home/?cid=fseprd853127

      https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-and-agriculture-departments-invest-28-billion-protect-public-lands-support - Direct Tribal Access to LWCF

      25 min
    • Wild Thoughts on RAWA

      Happy World Environment Day!


      In this cross-pollinating episode featuring "Wild Thoughts" and returning co-host Julian Nesbitt, Tykee discusses the Recovering America's Wildlife Act with special guests from the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society. The episode features education coordinator Ashley Mueller and Executive Director Julie Thorstenson. Together, they explore their careers in conservation, human-wildlife conflict, and also engage in some creative thinking about animal trait-based resumes.


      https://nafws.org/initiatives/recovering-americas-wildlife-act/

      34 min
    • Space Race, On Earth {Reuploaded}

      (Originally published Sept 2021)

      Joined by NEW Co-Host Julian Nesbitt, the pair discuss curious mountain lions in California, hungry wolves in Yellowstone, and migrating elephants in Tanzania.

      Sources:
      ⁠https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/cms/lib/IN01001867/Centricity/Domain/237/scienceA.pdf⁠
      ⁠https://futurehuman.medium.com/russian-scientists-are-trying-to-revive-wooly-mammoths-to-halt-siberias-warming-crisis-e1bd4fd3f6bb

      46 min

    About On Word for Wildlife

    From the publisher's feed

    "On Word for Wildlife," a podcast hosted by Tykee James, explores the nexus between wildlife conservation and politics. He brings his professional insights spanning over a decade in environmental education, public policy, and storytelling. In each episode, Tykee elevates more perspectives on wildlife conservation, while bringing the topic to a broader audience in hopes of contributing meaningfully to the global discourse on conservation politics.