Wolves, bears, prairie dogs and more (start time: 7:12) A couple of months ago, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency released a plan to support biodiversity and guide how the state conserves some of the state’s most vulnerable species and habitats. Everything from iconic bears, wolves and prairie dogs, to tiny humble invertebrates and even plants. The 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan ( the first in 10 years ) has been met with both praise and crticism. And it raises big evergreen questions, such as, How can we humans thrive while allowing for other species to thrive in their native homes? And how to manage differing, often opposing, human perspectives? After all, some animals (take wolves) are deemed a nuisance to some people while a treasure to others. In this week’s show, host Susan Moran interviews Dr. Richard Reading, a wildlife ecologist who serves as chair of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. He is also Vice President of Science and Conservation at the Butterfly Pavilion. His research has focused on conserving grassland and arid ecosystems, ranging from the Great Plains of North America, to the steppes and deserts of Mongolia.
Some volunteer opportunities in wildlife conservation in Colorado:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Butterfly Pavilion

Hosts: Susan Moran, Joel Parker
Show Producer: Susan Moran
Engineer: Joel Parker
Headline Contributors: Beth Bennett, Shelley Schlender
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett

Listen to the show here:

Colorado’s Wildlife Action plan: Pt. I