California’s recent decision to remove four members of a wolf pack near Lake Tahoe sparked national attention – but the story behind it is much bigger. 

In this episode, Wildlife Management professor at UC Berkeley, Dr. Arthur Middleton, joins us to dig into his recent New York Times op-ed and explore why America’s predator recovery has outpaced our ability to support the people living in these landscape – and what we can do about it.  

The Beyem Seyo pack killed 87 cattle in about six months – overwhelming local ranchers and exhausting every non-lethal tool the state could deploy. From range riding to carcass composting to the day-to-day realities facing private land stewards, we look at what expanding predator populations mean for the communities on the ground. 

With help from Avery Shawler, science and research coordinator at Western Landowners Alliance, we dig into the gaps in current policy, the need for better funding and compensation, and the critical role of landowners who steward most of America’s open lands – and who will ultimately shape the future of living with wildlife. 

About Arthur Middleton

Arthur Middleton is the Goertz Professor of Wildlife Management in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley, where he also serves as faculty co-director of the James and Cathleen Stone Center for Environmental Stewardship. His research group focuses on the behavioral and population ecology of wide-ranging wildlife, with emphasis on habitat conservation and human-wildlife conflict solutions. Professor Middleton has advised government agencies and contributed to public understanding through major publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and National Geographic.

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links from this episode

Read the Op Ed in the New York Times 

Arthur Middleton’s research page 

Check out the Range Riding Producer Tool Kit 

Learn about Supporting Working Lands and Wildlife with the Four C’s 

Browse Working across the rural-urban divide: Messaging for large carnivore conflict reduction 

credits

Working Wild U is a production of Western Landowners Alliance and Montana State University. This episode was hosted by Jared Beaver and produced by Zach Altman, with support from Avery Shawler and Louis Wertz.  

Thanks again to Arthur Middleton for joining us today.  

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