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Yellowstone National Park holds the distinction of being the United States' first national park. What does it mean to be the first? What was a national park in the 19th century, and does it hold the same definition today? We’ll answer those questions and more as we dive into how Yellowstone became the park we know and love today.

This episode is the second part of our History of Yellowstone National Park series, so we recommend listening to Part 1 first. If you’ve already tuned in to Part 1, thanks for joining us again!

In Part 1, we learned about Yellowstone’s early history and establishment as a national park. This episode will dive more into what early tourism looked like, the romanticization of Teddy Roosevelt and Yellowstone National Park, and how Yellowstone National Park influenced conservation in the West and beyond. We’re joined again by Alicia Murphy, Yellowstone National Park historian.

The Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Learn more about the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> Empire of Shadows: The Epic Story of Yellowstone National Park

> Yellowstone: A Wilderness Besieged

> Do (Not) Feed the Bears: The Fitful History of Wildlife and Tourists in Yellowstone National Park

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Photo > William H. Jackson

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Yellowstone National Park holds the distinction of being the United States' first national park. What does it mean to be the first? What was a national park in the 19th Century, and does it hold the same definition today? We’ll answer those questions and more as we dive into how Yellowstone became the park we know and love today.

On this episode, we sit down with Alicia Murphy who is the park historian for the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park. Basically, it’s her job to preserve and explore the history of Yellowstone, communicate the park’s rich history to the public, and try not to spend too much time going down research rabbit holes.

This is our very first two-part episode series on the podcast. This episode, Part 1, will explore the early history of the area that became Yellowstone National Park up to its creation in 1872.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> Check out Thomas Moran's Iconic Art Work

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Photo > William H. Jackson

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It’s no secret that Greater Yellowstone contains some of the most beautiful wildflower landscapes in the world. In late spring and early summer, fields explode with yellow, purple, pink, and many more vibrant hues found in our native blooming plants. We can thank our native pollinators for providing such a show.

However, Greater Yellowstone’s pollinators are responsible for more than just a wildflower symphony of colors. They are key players in the health of the ecosystem, ensuring native plants flourish and provide nourishment for wildlife, from our smallest birds to our largest grizzly bears. Without native pollinators, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem would be a very different place.

On this episode we chat with Clay Bolt, who is both a Manager of Pollinator Conservation and a Manager of Communications for the World Wildlife Fund. Clay, based out of Livingston, Montana just north of Yellowstone National Park, works to protect Greater Yellowstone pollinators through habitat restoration, pesticide reduction, and pro-pollinator policy. He’s also a photographer and has featured his work in National Geographic Magazine, The New York Times, and National Wildlife Magazine.

We’ll learn about some surprising native pollinators in Greater Yellowstone, what studying and tracking these tiny residents looks like, and what people can do to support native pollinators in Greater Yellowstone and wherever they may live. Clay also divulges where bumblebees originated from, and you’re definitely going to be surprised by the answer!

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> Xerces Society - Citizen Science Bumble Bee Monitoring

> Montana Moth Project

> Clay's Photography Website

> Bumblebees with Backpacks!!!!

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Photo > Clay Bolt

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Wolves in Greater Yellowstone represent one of the greatest conservation success stories. Once absent from the ecosystem, a reintroduction nearly 30 years ago brought back this keystone species to the landscape. Today, Yellowstone wolves are renowned across the world and represent a significant economic driver through wildlife-watching and tourism, generating an estimate $82 million annually. Their presence in Yellowstone National Park has also allowed researchers to conduct a multi-year study on their biology and effect on the landscape and wildlife around them.

On the podcast, we’ll get to chat with one of those researchers, Kira Cassidy. Kira is a research associate for the Yellowstone Wolf Project—the group that works within Yellowstone National Park to study these iconic wolves. Her research projects include wolf territoriality, sociality, and behavior. She also develops science communication strategies about wildlife research using art, writing, and public speaking.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> Yellowstone Wolf Project Annual Reports

> Video: Mollie's Pack Bringing Home Treasures and Toys

> Kira's Instagram

> Kira's TEDx Talk "Aging in the wild: lessons from animals about the value of growing old"

> Kira's Scientific Publications

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Photo > NPS/Jim Peaco

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Welcome back to the Voices of Greater Yellowstone podcast, where we share the stories and science of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. As we mentioned in our previous episode, long-time host Kristin Oxford has jettisoned off to her next adventure. I’m Emmy Reed, producer and editor of the podcast, now stepping in behind the mic. My full-time gig is being the senior digital communications associate for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and I’m excited to continue sharing interesting topics from across this remarkable ecosystem.

Thanks to that little glowing box in our hand, we are constantly inundated with heavy news, social media updates, or the fact that you forgot to do Wordle again. Have you ever just wanted to chuck it into the trash and head out to your nearest trail or place of solitude? Maybe find some respite among the trees, enjoying the simplicity of nature. From my conversation today, I believe that’s what compels many people who join the backcountry trail crew in Yellowstone National Park.

Being part of a backcountry trail crew is a labor-intensive job to enhance, or sometimes decrease, access to some wild places in the Park. I had the chance to sit down with GYC’s Montana Conservation Associate Erin Steva to chat about her stint as a crew member for a couple of years. We’ll hear about the average day for a crew member, some of her most memorable moments in the field, and how this work has translated to the Montana conservation efforts she leads today.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> Yellowstone Trail Crew Job Postings

> Lonestar Geyser Trail in Yellowstone National Park

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Photo > NPS/Jacob W. Frank

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Winter is a brutal time of year in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The sun rises late and sets early, temperatures stay well below freezing for weeks on end, and the snow can pile up foot on top of foot. For the ecosystem’s many ungulates, including pronghorn, elk, deer, and moose, winter is the hardest season to survive. For the best chance of enduring the cold and snow, ungulates migrate with the seasons, seeking milder winter habitat that provides a respite from winter’s intensity and a better chance of finding food.

A herd or an individual’s chance of surviving winter is dependent on accessing winter wildlife habitat. However, many of the ancient migration corridors that lead to winter range are now bisected by roads, fences, and other infrastructure, making it more difficult for ungulates and other animals to reach these landscapes and the resources they provide. Fortunately, there’s a lot of work being done to keep migration paths open and preserve winter habitat for wildlife.

In this episode, we sit down with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s Senior Idaho Conservation Associate Allison Michalski. Idaho is rich with prime winter wildlife habitat, which tends to be lower elevation and hold better opportunities to find forage. Allison leads many of GYC’s efforts in Idaho, including securing protections for winter range, advocating for travel management policies that include seasonal closures for winter habitat, and promoting habitat connectivity along Idaho’s Highway 20 and Highway 33.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> Learn more about GYC's wildlife conservation work

> The Works of Mary Oliver

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Photo

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The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is a vast landscape shared by people and wildlife. Habitat for species like grizzly bears, wolves, elk, and more isn’t just found within public lands, but exists alongside, and even overlaps with, the wide-open working lands of this region. With wildlife and people living in such close proximity, the possibility of conflict is often not far behind.

Wildlife-livestock conflict is a complex challenge that requires thoughtful, multi-faceted, and creative solutions. Luckily, there are some ranchers and landowners in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem testing some ground-breaking methods to keep their livelihoods intact and their neighbors wild.

On this episode, we’re chatting with Hilary Zaranek. Hilary is a rancher and biologist leading some of the most cutting-edge wildlife-livestock conflict prevention work in the ecosystem. From range riding to low-stress livestock handing and innovative partnerships, she and her family are testing out a range of methods that are good for both business and the land. We’ll hear about Hilary’s start in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem working on ranches and as a technician for the Yellowstone Wolf Project, how range riding works, and what techniques she and her husband employ to prevent conflicts with grizzly bears and wolves.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

Thumbnail Photo Credit: Hilary Zaranek

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> J Bar L Ranch

> Old Salt Coop

> GYC's Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Prevention Work

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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A question we commonly ask fans of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is: If you could see one animal out in the wild, what would it be? It may surprise you that the most popular answer by far is the wolverine. So, why are wolverines at the top of so many peoples’ wildlife bucket list?

These elusive critters are rarely seen and even more rarely captured on camera. Their near-mythological status, incredible journeys over isolated jagged peaks, and wild fierceness in a furry compact body makes the wolverine definitely one of the coolest species in the ecosystem… if not the world. Wolverines also made headlines in late 2023 when they were listed for protections under the Endangered Species Act, an important step in securing their long-term future in the Lower 48.

We’re so excited to have our own wolverine expert on staff to join us and share her knowledge and experience working with these wonderous creatures. Blakeley Adkins, who you may remember from episode 6, is The Volgenau Foundation Wildlife Conservation Associate here at the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. She’s spent many days in frigid temperatures conducting research work on wolverines in both the United States and Canada. Blakeley is also one of the few people who can tell you what a wolverine both sounds like and smells like. And, pro tip, if you ever find yourself trying to track down one of these secretive animals, don’t bring a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Listen in, and you’ll learn why.

Voices of Greater Yellowstone was created by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to working with people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> Watch Blakeley's Wolverine Videos

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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