The Nevada Wild Podcast

In this week’s Nevada Wild, hosts Ashley Zeme (formerly Sanchez) and Aaron Keller sit down with Wildlife Diversity Division Administrator Jen Newmark and Wildlife Staff Specialist Jon Young to talk about the latest Nevada State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). The plan represents the most important wildlife and habitats we must protect over the next 10 years, to ensure those species and landscapes are here for future generations.

Our guests highlight the new, updated SWAP, the work that went into it, what’s new for this iteration, how it will engage partners and the public, its importance to funding, and more!

Learn more and view the SWAP here: https://www.ndow.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-SWAP-Full-Doc-FINAL-print.pdf

This week's Nevada Wild celebrates Bat Week, the annual, international celebration of the role of bats in nature!

Hosts Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller are joined by NDOW Wildlife Staff Specialist Jess Brooks, who tells us all about her new role at NDOW in the Wildlife Diversity Division, the division that manages bats! She explains all the projects NDOW Wildlife Diversity Biologists are working on to monitor Nevada’s bat populations, and also shares some interesting bat facts and the important role they play in our ecosystem!

In this week’s Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller are joined by NDOW Winnemucca Fisheries Biologist Colter Feuerstein. Colter takes a break from his busy field season to tell us about a recent project he worked on to build Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA’s), or artificial beave dams, in Crowley Creek northwest of Winnemucca. As Colter explains, the goal is to restore Lahontan Cutthroat (LCT) habitat to its original state, since the stream supports one of the last endemic LCT populations in the northwest. Colter explains the role of BDA’s in doing this, the collaboration of partners supporting this work, and how this project not only helps LCT but also other wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole!

Fall is a great time to enjoy the Nevada outdoors. Not only is it beautiful, but the season brings a chance for excellent fishing opportunities, whether you are new to fishing or a veteran.

In this week’s Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller are joined by NDOW Angler Educators Jan Nemec, Abbey Czarnecki, and Nicole Hamblin to talk about the fishing conditions across the state, the best waters to go, and the educational classes they offer for anyone interested in fishing and fly fishing.

Buy your fishing license at ndowlicensing.com and view fishing reports here: https://www.ndow.org/get-outside/fishing/fishing-stocking-reports/database/

In this week’s Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller introduce you to two new NDOW employees, Urban Wildlife Biologist Becca Carniello and her bear dog, Badger! Becca tells us about her background, how she ended up working at NDOW and adopting Badger to work on NDOW’s Karelian Bear Dog (KBD) team. She tells us a bit about the KBD program, and also what western Nevadans should be doing to secure their homes to keep Nevada’s bears wild as they build up calories before heading into their dens.

Learn more about living in bear country here: https://www.ndow.org/blog/living-with-bears/

This Saturday, September 30, is the youth waterfowl hunt for Nevada's Northwest Zone! Don't forget, the general waterfowl season opens for the Northwest Zone and South Zone (except for Moapa Valley) on October 14 and it's already underway in eastern Nevada!

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW's Waterfowl Staff Specialist Russell Woolstenhulme to talk about the great conditions waterfowl hunters can expect this year! Russell shares some important information hunters should be aware of before heading into the field. While our wildlife management areas are open in time for the youth season, some WMA's, like Carson Lake Wildlife Manage Area, have specific vehicle access points due to flooding over the spring and summer. Russell goes over everything you need to know to have a safe and successful season at these locations. See this map of Carson Lake WMA's access points to follow along as Russell explains: https://www.ndow.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-Carson-Lake-WMA-Access-Map.png

Find updates for other WMA's here: https://www.ndow.org/discover-your-public-land/

Upland game hunters have a lot to look forward to! Our annual Chukar Forecast is out, the statewide youth chukar hunt is next Saturday, September 30, and the statewide general chukar season opener is right around the corner on Saturday, October 14.

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW's new Upland Game Staff Specialist Justin Small to prepare upland game hunters for the approaching seasons. Small introduces himself and tells us about his background, breaks down the 2023 Chukar Forecast, and explains the best locations across the state for hopeful hunters.

Buy your license at ndowlicensing.com so you can join in on the fun. Make it a combination license so you can do some fall fishing while you're on your hunt!

View the 2023-24 Chukar Forecast here: https://www.ndow.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-24-Nevada-Chukar-Forecast.pdf

View our Small Game Hunting Regulations and Seasons Book here: https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/23NVSG.pdf

There are many unique adventures in Nevada that might require a special license, application or permit. Thankfully Biologist Nick Everett is here at NDOW to help customers through the process!

In this week’s Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Nick to learn more about his important role at NDOW. Nick explains the various special licenses, applications and permits you may not even realize you need, what you need to do to apply for one, and more!

Find NDOW’s Special Licenses, Applications and Permits here: https://www.ndow.org/apply-buy/apply-buy-slaps/

In this week’s Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez sit down with the 2022 Wayne E. Kirch Conservation Award recipient Elena Larsen. Larsen is the Vice President for Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation's (TMPF) Rosewood Nature Study Area and has made great strides in restoring the area to a functioning wetland. TMPF Executive Director Heidi Anderson also joins us to explain why she nominated Larsen for this prestigious award.

The two explain the importance and status of this project, how crucial Americorps were to the effort, how to get involved and more!

If you are interested in joining TMPF as an Americorps member, click here: https://www.tmparksfoundation.org/employment-opportunities?fbclid=IwAR0C0exSbWZEwiXpKAivpDbQj_0Kl9fvypQFhHWkvMOfJ8Y4OryDCEGCfF0

Know someone or an organization who has demonstrated significant results towards conservation, management, or enhancement of wildlife in 2023? Find out how to nominate them for the Kirch Award here: https://www.ndow.org/news/wayne-e-kirch-nevada-wildlife-conservation-award/

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Nevada Department of Wildlife Veterinarian Nate LaHue to talk about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a transmissible neurological disease that is always fatal to animals in the deer family. Currently, CWD is found in 34 states and provinces but not in Nevada. Nate explains the state's efforts to prevent the disease from entering Nevada and what it means for Nevada's deer, elk, and even moose, if the disease enters the state. He also explains the different ways hunters can help, including a new program that allows hunters to sample their own harvests.

Find more information about CWD and prevention efforts in Nevada here: www.ndow.org/blog/chronic-wasting-disease/