Wildlife Wire

Tune in each week as wildlife advocates Samantha Miller and Mark Surls deliver the top 4 wildlife stories making waves across the U.S. and chat with humans making a difference for wild animals. From Florida panthers to Washington orcas and Colorado wolves to Montana grizzlies, Wildlife Wire is your go-to podcast for wildlife news and the humans who care about animals.

Wildlife Wire is a science podcast hosted by The Wildlife Wire, with 60 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

The Wildlife Wire hosts Wildlife Wire, a science show with 60 episodes published.

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  Episode #61

  Beyond the Silos: Zoe Weil on Becoming a Solutionary

  Oct 2, 202655 min

  What happens when we stop treating wildlife, environmental sustainability, human well-being, and animal protection as separate issues? In this episode of Wildlife Wire, Mark Surls talks with educator, author, and Institute for Humane Education co-founder and president Zoe Weil about the interconnected systems that shape our lives—and how learning to see those connections can help us become better problem-solvers. Zoe shares the story of how a class she taught in 1987 launched her career in humane education and explains what it means to be a solutionary: someone who identifies unjust, unsustainable, and inhumane systems and works to transform them in ways that do the most good and least harm for people, animals, and ecosystems. The conversation explores systems thinking, religion and our relationship with the natural world, the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence, polarization and binary thinking, and why lasting solutions require understanding the perspectives and needs of everyone affected by a problem. Mark and Zoe also discuss how the Solutionary Framework is being used in education, where students move beyond simply learning about problems to investigating their root causes, developing solutions, putting those solutions into practice, and learning from the results. Ultimately, the conversation asks a larger question: How can we train ourselves to look beyond the immediate consequences of our choices and better understand the ripple effects they create throughout interconnected human and natural systems? Learn More Zoe Weil Meet Zoe Weil Institute for Humane Education humaneeducation.org The Solutionary Way: Transform Your Life, Your Community, and the World for the Better Learn about The Solutionary Way What Is a Solutionary? Explore the Solutionary approach Solutionary Framework and Humane Education Resources Explore humane education resources Solutionary Micro-credential Course Learn about the course Humane Education Graduate Programs Explore the graduate programs Solutionary Voices with Zoe Weil Listen to Solutionary Voices

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  Episode #60

  When Words Become Law: Amendment 83 with Jess Beaulieu

  Sep 25, 202649 min

  When Words Become Law: Amendment 83 with Jess Beaulieu What happens when wildlife policy is written into a state constitution—and key terms are left undefined? In this episode of Wildlife Wire, Mark Surls and Samantha Miller are joined by attorney and educator Jess Beaulieu for a legal deep dive into Colorado’s Amendment 83, the proposed constitutional amendment addressing hunting, fishing, and wildlife management. Jess is the manager of the University of Denver’s Animal Law Program and faculty co-director of its Animals Forward program. With a background spanning wildlife ecology, conservation, law, and public policy, she helps unpack what constitutionalizing wildlife policy could mean in practice. The conversation begins with a Civics 101 look at the difference between statutes and constitutional amendments before examining some of the specific language contained in Amendment 83. What does it mean to call hunting and fishing the “preferred means” of managing wildlife? What qualifies as a “traditional method”? How would courts interpret requirements involving what is “necessary” or based on “sound scientific wildlife conservation and management”? Jess explains why undefined constitutional language can shift important questions from wildlife professionals, agencies, and legislators into the courts, where litigation and judicial interpretation may ultimately determine what those words mean. The conversation also explores the potential financial consequences for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, including how increased litigation could redirect money that might otherwise support wildlife management, conservation, agency operations, and recreation. Mark and Jess also examine how Amendment 83 could interact with Colorado’s existing constitutional prohibition on certain body-gripping traps, poisons, and snares, and discuss the broader question of what types of principles belong in a constitution versus statutes or administrative regulations. In this episode The difference between a statute and a constitutional amendment Why constitutional language carries greater legal weight How courts interpret ambiguous or undefined constitutional terms What “traditional methods” could mean—and why the phrase matters The legal significance of words such as “necessary” and “preferred” Whether Amendment 83 could affect the use of nonlethal wildlife-management tools What “sound scientific wildlife conservation and management” might require The role of biological science, social science, and public values in wildlife policy How litigation could shape the practical meaning of Amendment 83 Who pays CPW’s legal expenses when the agency is sued Potential impacts of litigation on wildlife-management funding How Amendment 83 might interact with Colorado’s existing constitutional trapping restrictions The difference between constitutional principles and day-to-day wildlife policy Why precise language matters when voters are asked to amend a constitution About Jess Beaulieu Jess Beaulieu is an attorney, manager of the University of Denver’s Animal Law Program, and faculty co-director of its Animals Forward program. Her background spans wildlife ecology, conservation, law, public policy, and animal law. She studied wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Florida and later earned her law degree from Stetson University College of Law. Her experience has also included an unpaid legal fellowship with the Center for Biological Diversity and public-interest legal practice.

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  Episode #59

  A Hunter’s Case Against Amendment 83: Gary Skiba on Colorado’s Right-to-Hunt Measure

  Sep 18, 202656 min

  Gary Skiba is a lifelong hunter and angler, retired Colorado wildlife biologist, former Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioner, and former staff lead on Colorado’s early wolf-management planning. In this episode, he joins Mark to discuss why he opposes Amendment 83, the 2026 proposal to establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish in Colorado. The conversation examines language in the amendment including “traditional methods,” “preferred means,” and requirements tied to “sound scientific wildlife conservation and management.” Skiba discusses his concerns about how those provisions could be interpreted, potential litigation and local-control questions, and how a constitutional right could affect future decisions by CPW staff and commissioners. Mark and Gary also discuss the respective roles of biological science, social science, and public values in wildlife policy; Colorado's citizen-initiative process; wolf restoration under Proposition 114; Proposition 127; Colorado's previous voter-approved restrictions on bear hunting and trapping; and the broader relationship between hunters, nonhunters, wildlife agencies, and the voting public. Links discussed Amendment 83 — Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish: official Colorado Legislative Council page with the measure text and ballot analysis. Amendment 83 official information Colorado Hunters and Anglers for Sensible Wildlife Conservation: the hunter- and angler-led organization discussed with Gary. Findings and Recommendations for Managing Wolves That Migrate Into Colorado Proposition 114 — Gray Wolf Reintroduction: official 2020 ballot language and election information. Proposition 114 Proposition 127 — Mountain Lion, Bobcat and Lynx Hunting: official 2024 ballot information. Proposition 127 1996 Amendment 14 — Prohibited Methods of Taking Wildlife: Colorado's constitutional restrictions on certain traps, snares and poisons discussed in the episode. Amendment 14 1992 Amendment 10 — Black Bear Hunting: the voter-approved restrictions on spring bear hunting, bait and hounds discussed by Gary. Amendment 10

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  Episode #55

  Dissecting Misinformation Campaigns

  Apr 19, 202653 min

  This episode looks at common misinformation campaigns used to oppose pro-wildlife efforts, including messaging that discourages public involvement and leans heavily on “trust the experts.” Sam and Mark break down how these narratives are constructed and why they are effective. They also examine the role of science versus values in wildlife decisions and what that means for public participation. Dr. Becky Niemiec's analysis of Prop 127 “Ballot Box Biology:” The Myth That Stopped Proposition 127—and Could Shape the Future of Wildlife Protection

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  Episode #54

  Legislative pitfalls and compromises on wildlife bills

  Apr 7, 202641 min

  This episode breaks down how wildlife legislation actually moves through the political process. Bills begin with a core concept, but are quickly reshaped by stakeholder input, requiring tradeoffs between policy goals and what is operationally and politically feasible. Wildlife policy outcomes depend less on intent alone and more on navigating legislative structure, stakeholder pressure, and strategic compromise.

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