Sagebrush country covers loads of the Intermountain West. If you're passing through on the highway, it can look barren and brown -- but sagebrush is the backbone of a unique, American ecosystem. Anymore, sagebrush habitat (and the animals that depend on it) is threatened by change -- invasive weeds mean different fire regimes, and humans mean more weeds. Hunter and conservationist Hannah Nikonow joins Artemis to talk about the intricacies of this unique habitat, and why everyone should care about its survival.

3:00 Smoked grouse with a sweet brine (maple syrup, rose hips... oh yeah)

4:00 Intermountain West Joint Venture

6:30 A quick ode to sagebrush country

8:00 An Artemis flashback - Sagebrush in the Gros Ventre Wilderness video

10:30 Some species that depend on sage habitat: pygmy rabbits, sage grouse, sage thresher, sagebrush sparrow, antelope

13:00 The wicked weed trio: cheatgrass, ventenata, medusa head

18:00 Fire regimes before cheatgrass vs now

22:00 Juniper encroachment changes the functional properties of sage habitat

29:00 Lekking... and party-crashing eagles

35:00 Advocacy mantra: They stick out their breasts for us, so we should stick out our chest for them

36:00 Why should hunters care about sagebrush? And what that looks like in practice

38:00 Pick weed seeds of your shoes/dogs; watch your trailer chains; stay on designated trails

41:00 The war on cheatgrass

45:00 PartnersInTheSage.com for more on this miraculous habitat

52:00 It's hard out there for a chicken & trapping skunks (& removing skunk smells)

56:00 Changing the stock on your shotgun for a better fit