Ben Franklin's World is a production of the

Omaha Institute and this episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus.

Welcome to Ben Franklin's World.

Podcast about Early American History with Liz Covert.

The study of history is key to understanding who we are and how we can affect the better future.

Ben Franklin's world will introduce you to historical people and events that have impacted

and shaped our present day world. And now here's your host, Liz Kovard.

Hello and welcome to episode 168 of Ben Franklin's world.

The podcast dedicated to helping you,

learn more about how the people and events of our early American past

have shaped the present day world we live in.

When we study the history of colonial America,

we tend to focus on various European colonists

and the rivalries they had with each other

and the rivalries they had with Native Americans.

But humans weren't the only living being and the rivalries they had with Native Americans.

But humans weren't the only living beings living in North America.

Rivalries existed between humans and animals too,

and these human animal rivalries impacted and shaped how European colonists used

and settled North American lands. Andrea Smalley, an associate professor of history

at Northern Illinois University, and author of the book,

Wild by Nature, North American Animals Confront Colonization.

...