#383: Mike Phillips — How to Save a Species

Aug 21, 2019

Mike Phillips, Executive Director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, shares his expertise in wildlife ecology and conservation. He dives into the vital role of apex predators like wolves and bears in maintaining ecological balance. The conversation highlights the urgent extinction crisis, emphasizing the need for proactive conservation efforts and community engagement. Moreover, Phillips discusses the reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado, addressing cultural myths and the importance of coexistence strategies. It's a call to action for restoring nature's balance.

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ANECDOTE

Grizzly Bear Diet

Mike Phillips observed bloodstained muzzles but green teeth on grizzly bears while studying them in the Arctic.
This showed him that grizzlies, despite appearances, eat mostly vegetation, highlighting that looks can be deceiving.

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ANECDOTE

Unfunded Study

Mike Phillips proposed a study using tampons to test grizzly bear reactions to menstrual odors.
Concerns about his crossbow skills and visitor reactions led to the study not being funded.

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ANECDOTE

Radioactive Wolves

Mike Phillips conducted research on red wolves using radioactive shards implanted under their skin.
This allowed him to track individual wolves and their transition to life in the wild.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Wildlife Wonders: Insights on Bears and Wolves

04:26 • 16min

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Grizzly Bear Safety Essentials

20:40 • 6min

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The Crucial Role of Apex Predators

26:31 • 21min

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Facing the Extinction Crisis

47:40 • 9min

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Restoring Nature's Balance: The Case for Gray Wolves in Colorado

57:02 • 5min

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Restoring Wolves: Ecology and Coexistence

01:02:21 • 27min

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Reviving the Gray Wolf: Conservation Challenges and Initiatives

01:29:50 • 15min

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The Power of Conservation: Engaging Community in Species Recovery

01:44:36 • 5min

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Engaging in Wildlife Conservation: Grassroots Efforts for the Gray Wolf

01:49:48 • 3min

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Restoring Wolves and Our Land Ethics

01:52:21 • 12min

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A Sand County Almanac

And Sketches Here and There

Aldo Leopold

A Sand County Almanac is a seminal work by Aldo Leopold, comprising essays that describe the natural world around his home in Sauk County, Wisconsin. The book is divided into three main sections: 'Sand County Almanac,' which details seasonal changes and observations; 'Sketches Here and There,' which includes personal experiences and observations from various landscapes; and 'The Upshot,' which explores philosophical issues in wildlife conservation. Leopold introduces the concept of a 'land ethic,' emphasizing the moral responsibility to treat the land with care and respect, recognizing the intrinsic value of the environment beyond resource extraction. The book has been highly influential in the environmental movement and continues to be widely read and studied today.

"Humans and cockroaches and coyotes are going to inherit the earth." — Mike Phillips

[Visit tim.blog/wolf for the most important links from this interview and my personal next steps.]

Mike Phillips has served as the Executive Director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund and advisor to the Turner Biodiversity Divisions since he co-founded both with Ted Turner in June 1997. Before that, Mike worked for the U.S. Department of Interior leading historic efforts to restore red wolves to the southeastern US and gray wolves to the Yellowstone National Park. He also conducted important research on the impacts of oil and gas development on grizzly bears in the Arctic, predation costs for gray wolves in Alaska, and dingo ecology in Australia. These days, Mike is an advisor to the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project.

In 2006 Mike was elected to the Montana House of Representatives. He served there until elected to the Montana Senate in 2012. His service in the senate will extend through 2020.

Mike received his MSc in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Alaska in 1986 and his BSc, Ecology from the University of Illinois in 1980.

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