Commentary (Editorials, Perspectives, etc.)

That’s a bloodbath: How a federal program kills wildlife for private interests [National public radio – October 10, 2024]

What’s This Story About: NPR sheds light on the long-standing, taxpayer-funded killing machine known as Wildlife Services—a federal program that continues to eliminate native predators under the guise of public service. Despite decades of scrutiny, the agency still prioritizes the interests of a small number of ranchers over the health of our ecosystems.
Why This Story: This isn’t just about dead animals—it’s about a broken system that sacrifices public wildlife on public land for private gain. The agency buries its predator-killing mission behind inflated invasive bird kill numbers, masking the true scale of carnivore eradication in the western U.S.

For ranchers in Costa Rica, jaguars and pumas become unexpected allies [mongabay – October 3, 2024]

What’s This Story About: In Costa Rica, ranchers are partnering with conservationists to view jaguars and pumas not as threats, but as allies in restoring ecological balance. Through support from organizations like Panthera, coexistence strategies are replacing conflict, with ranchers adapting to live alongside these apex predators.
Why This Story: This story affirms what many of us in the conservation movement have worked toward for decades: a shift from asking if predators should exist to how we can live with them. Coexistence is no longer theoretical—it’s proving practical, ethical, and essential in real-world landscapes.

A mountain lion killed 1, injured 1 in northern California. How common are these attacks? [Sacramento bee – March 31, 2024]

Guest letter – FWP misses the mark on grizzly delisting [Mountain Journal – February 28, 2024]