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In the first episode of a two-part series, Monty speaks with Sara Gregory, Lori Turner, and Cidney Bowman, experts working to improve habitat connectivity throughout Oregon and make the roads safer for wildlife and motorists alike.

Wrapping up the Losing A Legacy series, Monty speaks with Mary Rowland about her experience working on various projects throughout the west, and being an early pioneer as a woman in a field largely dominated by men. 

On this installment of NWNM’s Losing a Legacy series, Monty speaks with Carl Scheeler, a Tribal Wildlife Biologist for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Carl shares his experience working with the tribes for over 33 years, how much there is to learn from Indigenous land management practices, and the joys of personally knowing the communities that his work will impact for generations to come. 

This week, we wrap up the conversation with Mark Penninger in the final installment of this special two part episode. Finishing up the recap of his impressive career, Mark speaks on the accomplishments he is most proud of, and the importance of mentorships for biologists of all skill levels.

This week, Monty speaks with Mark Penninger, a retired Wildlife Biologist from the US Fish and Wildlife Service out of La Grande, Oregon. In the first installment of this two part episode, Mark speaks on the origins of his interest in wildlife biology, his childhood spent outdoors in North Carolina, and some of the innovation he was part of during his years in the field. 

We're kicking off the first episode of our new Losing a Legacy series. Sit down with accomplished Wildlife Biologists at the end of their careers as they reflect on their time in the field. Today, meet John Rohrer, a former District Biologist recently retired from the Methow Valley Ranger District.

Sit down with new hosts Monty Gregg and Sarah Armstrong, as well as previous host John Goodell, as they discuss the future of the podcast and wildlife conservation as a whole.

Northwest Nature Matters podcast is continuing production in 2022 with new topics, ideas, and hosts. Under the direction of Oregon Wildlife Foundation, this series will continue focusing on the individuals in the field, and how non-biologists can better understand the conservation work needed to sustain the natural world. In this episode, meet your new hosts Monty Gregg and Sarah Armstrong, and hear from Oregon Wildlife Foundation's Executive Director, Tim Greseth.

Dominique Kone joins us to discuss his M.S. research and recent publication last February informing a prospective sea otter reintroduction in Oregon. He addresses habitat suitability in Oregon, population growth scenarios, and more. His research is a key piece of information suggesting that a sea otter reintroduction is feasible in Oregon, but decision-makers needs to carefully evaluate various human interactions.  Dominique Kone's recent paper: https://www.elakhaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Kone-et-al-2021.pdf

Professor and Curator Dr. Madonna Moss is an anthropological archaeologist who studies the long term history of Native Americans and First Nations of the Northwest Coast of North America, with a special focus on Tlingit and Haida and their ancestors. Join us for a fascinating discussion about how zooarcheology can help defend indigenous cultural practices in the modern world. Dr. Moss's book Northwest Coast: Archaeology as Deep History Dr. Moss's recent publication about sea otters: https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.uoregon.edu/dist/e/397/files/2020/04/Moss-2020-sea-otters.pdf

In this episode three leaders from Oregon coast tribes provide heartfelt reflections, as they frame the loss of sea otters and the vision of its return with the history of their own people’s struggles, and how sea otters represent their own interconnectedness to the natural world. Don Ivy Chief of the Coquille Indian tribe; Robert Kentta the Siletz Tribal Cultural Resources Director; and Peter Hatch with the Siletz tribal Cultural Resources Program.  

Dr. Roberta Hall is an anthropologist and Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University. Roberta conducted numerous excavations of shell midden sites on the Oregon coast where she document use of various wildlife including sea otters, and other marine resources by ancient First Peoples. Roberta holds expertise in zoo-archaeology, medical anthropology, skeletal biology and more!   

Marine Biologist and Researcher Dr. Shawn Larson from the Seattle Aquarium discusses sea otters up-close! Shawn explores sea otter diet, physiology, reproduction, and genetics - and how her research informs conservation.  Video of Shawn presenting her genetics research at the 2018 Oregon Sea Otter Status of Knowledge Symposium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6vaSSrQNvU   photo courtesy Vancouver Aquarium 

A great conversation with leading sea otter researcher Dr. Tim Tinker. Tim discusses new science and reveals the varied issues effecting sea otter populations across their pacific range  - from Alaska to California - including his perspectives on a possible Oregon reintroduction.  Produced in Partnership with the Elakha Alliance

Tom Calvanese is a rockfish scientist, the Station Manager of the Port Orford Field Station, and a catalyst behind developing action to address kelp declines along Oregon's south coast. Join us for a multi-dimensional conversation about kelp conservation.  Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance A great resource from the NOYO Center for Marine Science abut kelp conservation: https://noyocenter.org/help-the-kelp/

Renowned ecologist Jim Estes shares his story of discovery - from a young graduate student on the Aleutian Islands to scientific breakthroughs revealing the profound ecological effects of a keystone predator Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance Jim's memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Serendipity-Ecologists-Understand-Organisms-Environments/dp/0520285034/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&qid=1586768471&refinements=p_27%3AJames+Estes&s=books&sr=1-11 Trophic Cascades book coauthored by Jim: https://www.amazon.com/Trophic-Cascades-Predators-Changing-Dynamics/dp/1597264873/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&qid=1586768471&refinements=p_27%3AJames+Estes&s=books&sr=1-3

Marine biologist Scott Groth is undertaking one of the longest monitoring projects on Oregon's nearshore. While red sea urchin numbers appear normal, purple sea urchin populations have exploded in recent years with alarming impacts to kelp forests.  Produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance   Articles about Scott's work: https://newportnewstimes.com/article/sea-urchin-population-explodes https://oregonmarinereserves.com/2019/10/24/urchins/    

A fascinating window into new discoveries in kelp ecology and conservation with Sara Hamilton - a leading researcher studying trends in kelp forests. Sara is a PhD student at Oregon State University. Part one of a series produced in partnership with the Elakha Alliance Links to learn more: A story map compiled by the Samish tribe and others about the importance of kelp and it's loss in that region:  

Join me for a great conversation with Michael Schroeder, a research scientist with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Michael is a leading expert on the ecology and conservation of native grouse species of North America. Beyond technical expertise, Mike has a contagious passion for wildlife and being a wildlife biologist!   Mikes article "Grouse of the Lewis and Clark Expedition" in the Columbia Magazine: http://www.washingtonhistory.org/files/library/winter-2003-04_003.pdf  

Wildlife connectivity is a hot topic - especially in the West. Join for a fascinating conversation with Leslie Bliss-Ketchum (Samara Group) and Rachel Wheat (ODFW). Leslie and Rachel are experts in wildlife connectivity, road ecology, and implementing new strategies to improve wildlife movement in a human altered landscape. Oregon Conservation Strategy Key Conservation Issue: Barriers to Animal Movement House Bill 2834 Secretarial Order 3362