Dr. Christopher Servheen: Anti-Predator Polices Based on Bar Room Biology and Fear are Coming for the Grizzly Bears

Species Unite

elizabeth novogratz

Society & Culture, Philosophy

5 • 911 Ratings

🗓️ 13 September 2023

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“I think the thing revolves around the control of nature. You know, I mean, you get way back to that. Some people are really uncomfortable around nature existing as it should, and they feel that we need to fix things." - Dr. Chistopher Servheen

Grizzly bears are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. But Republican lawmakers in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming are trying to change that. They are pressing the Biden administration to turn management of grizzly bears back over to the states, which would mean there would be a hunting season for grizzly bears, which would probably look something like what we're doing to wolves in those same states, which is nothing short of a massacre.

Dr. Christoph Servheen spent 35 years, from 1981 until 2016, fighting to bring back grizzly bears. In 1981, they were on their way out. There were only 30 breeding females in the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Most people thought that there was no way to save them.

But, because of Chris and people like him and because of The Federal Endangered Species Act, a conservation miracle occurred. They brought the bears back, an act that many consider to be one of conservations biggest success stories.

But now, in 2023, because of politicians in the Northern Rockies, the future for grizzly bears could be very bleak.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Species,
0:07.0	Unite, Unite, tonight. I think the thing revolves around the control of nature you know I mean you get way
0:17.9	back to that some people are really uncomfortable around nature existing as it should.
0:24.5	And they feel that we need to fix things. Hi, I'm Elizabeth Novogratz.
0:37.0	This is Species Unite.
0:41.0	This episode is sponsored by the Summerly Foundation. They are a
0:45.3	mission-driven proactive organization dedicated to the support of animal
0:49.6	protection and the preservation of Texas history.
0:53.0	Grisly bears are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act, but Republican
1:06.8	lawmakers in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming are trying to change all that.
1:12.0	They're pressing the Biden administration to turn the management of
1:14.7	Grizzlies back over to the states, which would mean there'd be a hunting season for grizzly bears,
1:20.4	which would probably look something like what we're doing to wolves in those same
1:24.1	states which is nothing short of a massacre. This conversation is with Dr.
1:30.4	Christopher Seveen. He spent 35 years from 1981 until 2016 fighting to bring back
1:37.0	grizzly bears. In 1981 they were on their way out. There were only 30 breeding
1:41.8	females left in the Greater Yellowstone
1:43.7	ecosystem and most people thought there'd be no way to save them. But because of
1:48.1	Chris and other people like him and because of the Federal Endangered Species Act, a conservation miracle happened.
1:55.0	They brought back the grizzly bears to a thriving population.
1:59.0	But now, in 2023, because of politicians in the Northern Rockies.
2:05.6	The future for Gersley Bears could be very bleak. Nice to meet you. Are you in Missoula? I am. I went to school there. Oh you did. I loved it. I get back when I can because I love Montana. I loved going to school there and I was there when the wolves got you know returned so it's a good time to be there.
	...

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