Have you ever heard what sounds like a prehistoric call on the air? It’s one of my favorite sounds that signals spring’s arrival in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

One of my favorite questions to ask friends, or just people I meet in general, is "What’s your favorite bird?" I’m usually met with a long groan at the impossible nature of the question. Many times, the answer I receive is a Sandhill crane. 

Sandhill cranes are seasonal visitors to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. So, what is it about these lanky birds that draws us in? Is it their strange call that can be heard up to 2 ½ miles away? Is it their graceful nature as they wander wetlands and marshes? Maybe it's their fancy dance moves when they hope someone is watching.

Famed writer and father of wildlife ecology and modern conservation Aldo Leopold once said, “When we hear his call, we hear no mere bird. We hear the trumpet in the orchestra of evolution.”

Joining us on the episode today are Courtney Rudd and Rene Schell from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. 

Courtney is the Migratory Game Bird and Wetland Biologist, where her position affords abundant opportunities to collaborate with a diverse set of partners to conserve migratory game birds and their habitats, domestically and internationally. While based out of the Lander Regional Office, her responsibilities take her to all reaches of Wyoming for data collection, monitoring, project reconnaissance and implementation, and engaging with the public. 

Rene is the Information and Education Supervisor, where she has been a dedicated voice for conservation since 2005. Rene leads a statewide team of specialists committed to the Department’s mission of "Conserving Wildlife, Serving People." As a specialist in wildlife education and public participation, Rene is passionate about creating "gateway moments" for the public—using ambassadors like the Great Horned Owl to foster a lifelong appreciation for Wyoming’s wildlife. 

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

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Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

Banner Photo > Tom Koerner/USFWS

Sandhill Crane Call Audio > NPS

Photo Tom Koerner/USFWS

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The vast public and private lands that make up Greater Yellowstone are crisscrossed with miles upon miles of fences. While fences aren’t inherently bad—and are often necessary in certain areas to keep wildlife off roads, livestock contained, and property boundaries visible—they create barriers that fragment wildlife habitat.

What happens when wildlife can’t reach seasonal habitats—and how can we make wildlife migration and movement easier for these iconic Greater Yellowstone species?

Virtual fencing is an exciting new technology that’s making waves across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond. It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like—a nonphysical barrier that utilizes GPS and other wireless signals to keep collared livestock contained. 

We’ll learn much more about the details of virtual fencing during the conversation, but what’s really cool about virtual fencing is that it’s an absolute win-win solution for both wildlife and ranchers. 

Joining us on the podcast is Erin Welty, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s senior Wyoming conservation associate. Based in Cody, Wyoming, Erin focuses on connecting wildlife habitat and ensuring wildlife are able to migrate and move more easily across the ecosystem. She’s leading our virtual fence work and helping ranchers learn more about how they can utilize this program on their land. 

Alright, let’s start conversation—no jumping fences required!

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

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Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

Photo > GYC/Erin Welty

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I want you to think of your very favorite spot on public lands. 

Is it a local backcountry camping site? A trail you love to hike with your friends and family? A secret location in Yellowstone National Park where you find solitude? Now, could you imagine that special spot sold off to the highest bidder and no longer accessible? 

Today, this is a very real threat. Our public lands are under attack. 

2025 was full of assaults on our public lands. From proposed selloffs and protection rollbacks to the nomination of anti-conservation people to lead public land agencies, we’re seeing constant threats on public lands the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades. 

Still, it most certainly isn’t hopeless. Joining us on the podcast today are the Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s Executive Director Scott Christensen and Director of Conservation Kathy Rinaldi, who have been leading the charge on defending these beloved public lands. Also, we have a guest host today with GYC’s Director of Communications and Marketing Emilie Ritter.

The team covers what exactly public lands are and why they’re so special, what issues we’re seeing when it comes to protecting public lands, and what the Greater Yellowstone Coalition is doing to ensure public lands remain in public hands. 

New threats emerge often, and current ones are always evolving. So while this episode was recorded in late January 2026, please check out our show notes or just head over to our website at greateryellowstone.org to learn about the most recent public lands defense news.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

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Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

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If you live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, or have visited during the winter months, you know just how absolutely magical this place is with a thick blanket of snow. Whether you’re out skiing, snowshoeing or admiring it from your cozy fireplace window, a snowy winter in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the best.

Snow plays a more crucial role in this ecosystem than you could imagine. Between 70-80 percent of our water comes from snowpack in the West. When the snowpack in the mountains of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and across the West melts in the spring, it feeds the rivers that provide drinking water for millions of people across the country, and irrigation water for the agricultural industry. Snow is big business – the ski industry alone is a $5 billion industry.  Many iconic, cold-loving wildlife species also rely on consistent snowpack to form their winter habitats. 

The worrisome thing is we’re losing our snow. The amount of snow falling each year is on the decline, and scientists agree that a changing climate plays a lead role. When you hear about drought across the West, it’s often from lack of snowpack in the mountains or too much snow melting too early, leaving little runoff left for the hot late summer months. A drier future seems inevitable, so what can we do about it?

Luckily, many smart and determined people are working toward building a resilient Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond. Today, we’re chatting with Dr. Scott Hotaling out of Utah State University’s Department of Watershed Sciences. A leading expert in mountain ecology and hydrology, Scott and his team focus on how the cryosphere—Earth’s collection of frozen water—is changing and how these changes are impacting downstream environments. He’s been working in the Teton Mountains for over a decade studying rock glaciers, which are an exciting ray of hope.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers

> Mountain Futures YouTube Channel

> Mountain Futures Instagram

> GYC's Climate and Water Work

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

Thumbnail Photo > NPS

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Wildlife crossings are amazing. 

They’re one of the greatest tools in the toolbox when it comes to preserving migration and movement corridors in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem while keeping drivers safe on the road. They’ve been proven to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions by up to 90 percent, sometimes even more. It seems like a no-brainer, win-win solution. 

Well, what may appear to be a simple answer to keeping people and wildlife safe while traveling is much more nuanced than you may think. There are countless people, agencies, and processes involved in taking a wildlife crossing from an idea to reality. We wish we could wave a magic wand and see numerous wildlife crossings pop up across the landscape. By the way, if anyone has a magic wand that they’d let us borrow for a while, please let us know. 

Instead of sorcery, we have advocacy and collaboration. There are big moves in the Montana wildlife crossing space that we’re so excited to share with you. Joining us on the podcast is the Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s Wildlife Conservation Associate Nick Clarke. Based in Helena, Montana, Nick’s work focuses on making roads safer for people while ensuring Montana’s wildlife can move more easily across the region to reach seasonal habitats. 

We’ll talk about how a wildlife crossing comes to fruition, what’s in store for Montana when it comes to future wildlife crossings efforts, what the Greater Yellowstone Coalition is currently working on the wildlife crossing world, and, of course, his favorite wildlife crossing structure.

Alright, let’s keep this traffic moving and jump into the conversation.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

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Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

Thumbnail Photo > Library of Congress

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Just northwest of Yellowstone National Park rise two remarkable mountain ranges home to a host of iconic wildlife, the headwaters of significant river systems, and world-class recreation opportunities. Encompassed in the 3.1-million-acre Custer Gallatin National Forest, these are the Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges. 

The Madison and Gallatin ranges are some of the wildest places left in the continental United States. As more and more people move to the communities surrounding the Madison and Gallatin ranges – often drawn by unmatched access to public lands – this wild landscape is experiencing unprecedented use.  

Montana is changing fast, and these ranges are under threat. While the Madison and Gallatin ranges have some protections under the current Custer Gallatin National Forest management plan, these protections are not permanent. We need a solution to forever protect these lands for all of us. 

That’s why the Greater Yellowstone Coalition partnered with a group of local businesses, recreationists, outdoorsmen, and conservationists to develop a durable solution – the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act. The Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act is proposed legislation that will permanently protect 250,000 acres of public land in the Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges and the clean drinking water, incredible access to outdoor recreation, and critical wildlife habitat they provide. 

 We’re mixing up our usual podcast format today! To start off, we’ll hear four stories from people who love this landscape and work to protect it. Then, we’ll chat more in depth with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s Montana Conservation Associate Erin Steva, who you may remember from our episode on backcountry trail work.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

> MONTANANS: ENDORSE THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ACT

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> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers: https://greateryellowstone.org/podcast-sign-up-stickers

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition: https://lovegyc.org/podcastgiving

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

Thumbnail Photo > Louise Johns Photography

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Welcome back to part 2 of our thermophiles in Yellowstone conversation! If you haven’t tuned in to part 1 first, I recommend pausing this episode and hopping into the previous one to learn the basics about the terrific thermophiles. 

I’m excited to continue our conversation with Dr. Eric Boyd and dive deeper into the world of thermophiles. Did you know that a thermophile species discovered in Yellowstone has been used in important scientific discoveries related to crime scene investigation? If you’re an avid true crime podcast listener, you’ll definitely want to stick around to learn about that discovery and application. We’ll also cover how thermophiles played a role during the Covid-19 pandemic, what could still be waiting to be discovered in Yellowstone’s thermal features, and get into some great listener questions submitted by our podcast insiders. 

Alright, let’s continue this burning conversation about thermophiles.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Become a Podcast Insider and Receive Two FREE Stickers

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> Dr. Eric Boyd's Lab

> Yellowstone Summit Presentation: Life in Geysers

> Dr. Boyd on PBS Nature

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

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The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is known for a lot of big things. Charismatic megafauna like bears and bison, expansive forests as far as the eye can see, and mountain ranges that seem to touch the sky are all found in this unique region. However, did you know that the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is also home to some of the most fascinating microbes found on the planet?

Enter thermophiles: microscopic creatures found in Yellowstone’s geothermal regions that thrive in scalding hot temperatures. The name thermophile comes from the Greek word thermē meaning heat and the Greek word philos meaning love or an affinity for something. They’re not often the stars of the show when it comes to visiting the park, but these thermophiles are at the center of some of the most interesting stories and scientific discoveries in a national park. After listening to this conversation, we hope that even the greatest Yellowstone experts can head into the park armed with a new subject to explore.  

Joining us on the podcast is Dr. Eric Boyd, a professor of environmental microbiology at Montana State University. For the past 20 years, Dr. Boyd has studied the microbiology and geochemistry of the thermal features in Yellowstone National Park to better understand the processes that support diverse microbial ecosystems in high temperature environments. He’s also authored over 190 scientific articles on extremophilic microorganisms, which live in environments with conditions approaching or stretching the limits of what known life can adapt to such as temperature, pressure, salinity, and pH level. If you want to learn about the incredible thermophiles found in Yellowstone, Dr. Boyd is your guy.

We chatted for quite a while so we’ve split this episode into two parts. In this episode, part 1, we’ll take a deep dive into what exactly a thermophile is, how thermophiles are able to thrive in these crazy hot conditions, how Dr. Boyd collects thermophiles in the park—including some interesting methods for Old Faithful—and much more.

I can’t wait for you to learn more about this “hot” topic!

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

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Is there any fish species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem more iconic than the Yellowstone cutthroat trout? While the name conjures imagery of a ruthless nature, these fish are called cutthroats due to the distinct red markings found along their jawline and gills. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are a keystone species in the region, providing food to numerous species including bears, otters, ospreys, and others.

Yellowstone cutthroat trout are also at the epicenter of one of the most interesting species recovery stories from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Decades ago, when an unexpected threat appeared in Yellowstone Lake, the population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the park was decimated. This important link in the Greater Yellowstone food web was in big trouble and something needed to be done.

We’re pleased to welcome Andi Puchany, a fisheries biologist at Yellowstone National Park, to the podcast. She joined the park’s Native Fish Conservation Program in 2014 and her work focuses on native fish conservation, population recovery assessments, and lake trout reproductive ecology. Andi received her Bachelor’s in Zoology at North Dakota State University and her Master’s in Fish and Wildlife Management at Montana State University.

Join us on the episode to learn how to identify a Yellowstone cutthroat trout, what happened all those years ago to cause a decline in Lake Yellowstone, how these remarkable fish rebounded, and what makes her hopeful about her work today.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers: https://greateryellowstone.org/podcast-sign-up-stickers

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition: https://lovegyc.org/podcastgiving

> YNP Native Fish Conservation Program: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/fish.htm

> Andi's Trout Photos: http://greateryellowstone.org/podcast/35/trout-tales-the-comeback-of-the-yellowstone-cutthroat

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

 

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Before public lands were even a concept, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem was, and continues to be, stewarded by Indigenous Peoples. In short, public lands are Native Lands. In today’s world, many current public land management policies exclude or marginalize Indigenous roles and input.

In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond, a growing movement is pushing to restore Indigenous connection, stewardship, sovereignty, and sustainable practices rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge. 

Joining us on the podcast today is an Apsáalooke Tribal member and educational and cultural consultant, Dr. Shane Doyle. Shane is a Montana historian and educator who hails from Crow Agency, Montana.  He holds a Master’s in Native American Studies, a Doctorate in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and completed a post-doctoral appointment in Genetics from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Shane has published over a dozen articles about the ancient history, culture, and contemporary experience of the Indigenous people of Montana and continues to work as a researcher and public lands advocate in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  He is the Executive Director of the Native American non-profit group Yellowstone Peoples, whose mission is to hold an annual InterTribal Tipi Village in Yellowstone National Park.

We’ll chat with Shane about how he likes to enjoy Montana’s public lands, how he’d like to see public land co-management done in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and how we can be better advocates for re-Indigenizing public lands.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers: https://greateryellowstone.org/podcast-sign-up-stickers

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition: https://lovegyc.org/podcastgiving

> Yellowstone Peoples: https://www.yellowstonepeoples.org/

> Yellowstone Revealed 2022: https://greateryellowstone.org/blog/2022/yellowstone-revealed

> Public Lands are Native Lands: Yellowstone and Our Shared Future by Dr. Shane Doyle: https://bettertrail.com/public-lands/public-lands-are-native-lands

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (

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