#942 - Dan Flores

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00:00

  Joe Rogan and the Coyote Phenomenon: Exploring the Rise of Coyotes Across America

  • Joe shares his personal experience with coyotes after losing a chicken to one in his rural neighborhood outside of LA.
  • The conversation reveals the fascinating adaptability and expansion of coyotes from the American Southwest to every state in the U.S.
  • Discussion of Georgia's bounty on coyotes and implications for population growth and wildlife management.
• 00:02:14

  The Great Coyote Hunt: How Grey Wolves and Humans Sparked Coyote Adaptation

  • Insights into the historical extermination efforts against coyotes led to their unexpected proliferation across the U.S.
  • Gray wolves, having evolved separately in Europe and Asia, created a competitive environment that enhanced coyote survival strategies.
  • The emergence of the 'coywolf' phenomenon underlines ongoing challenges in wildlife conservation, particularly with the endangered red wolf.
• 00:12:00

  Reintroduction of Gray Wolves and the Impact on Coyote Populations in Yellowstone

  • The reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone in 1995 allowed for an unprecedented opportunity to observe coyote populations for 75 years without predator pressure.
  • Coyotes maintained stable populations and territories when undisturbed, contradicting the belief that their numbers would uncontrollably skyrocket without control efforts.
  • The differences in pack dynamics between gray wolves and coyotes illustrate how hunting strategies and environmental pressures can drastically impact species adaptability and population sustainability.
• 00:16:23

  Government Extermination Campaigns: The Decline of Gray Wolves and Resilience of Coyotes

  • Beginning in the late 1800s, ranchers and settlers initiated campaigns against gray wolves, leading to their near extinction by the 1920s through poisoning and trapping.
  • In stark contrast, coyote populations remained stable and even thrived under similar persecution, showcasing their unique adaptability in response to human pressures.
  • The genetic divergence between gray wolves, red wolves, and coyotes highlights complex ecological relationships, igniting debates among scientists regarding their shared ancestry and conservation efforts.
• 00:23:55

  The Evolutionary Battle: Coyotes and Wolves' Survival Strategies Revealed

  • Canadian geneticist's insights shape U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s strategies on canids.
  • Coyotes evolved to become smaller and more omnivorous due to competition from returning gray wolves.
  • Significant change in North American canid taxonomy reevaluated over the last decade.
• 00:34:21

  The Mysterious Disappearance and Reintroduction of North America's Horses

  • North American horses went extinct 10,000 years ago, leaving the land to evolve without them.
  • Horses were reintroduced by Europeans, rapidly multiplying and reclaiming their former ecological niches.
  • Controversy surrounds wild horses as they are perceived as invasive but are largely considered reintroduced species.
• 00:38:19

  Pryor's Horses and the Crow Indians' Raid: The Early North American Ecosystem

  • Pryor, tasked with managing a herd, faced a raid by the Crow Indians who drove away several horses.
  • The horses in the Pryor Mountains show characteristics similar to the Spanish horses from New Mexico.
  • The extinction of species like the woolly mammoth was primarily due to early human hunting, as these animals had no prior experience with hunters.
• 00:43:12

  The Fearsome Short-Faced Bear: How Climate Change Shaped North American Wildlife

  • The short-faced bear, a predator larger than the African lion, was believed to keep early human hunters at bay until its extinction.
  • Climatic shifts, including ice ages caused by Earth's axial wobble, played a significant role in the extinction of the short-faced bear and other large mammals.
  • Understanding extinction events requires a balance of factors like climate change and human impact as seen with the woolly mammoths.
• 00:50:09

  Pronghorn Antelope's Pleistocene Ghosts - Surviving Predators of North America

  • The pronghorn antelope, a remnant of the Pleistocene, reaches speeds up to 70 mph to escape predators.
  • Once hunted by North American cheetahs and fast-running hyenas, these predators have since disappeared.
  • The discussion covers the evolutionary adaptations of pronghorn to survive against now-extinct predators.
• 01:59:19

  The Ecological Catastrophe: European Settlers and the Era of Extermination

  • European settlers drastically reduced the populations of various species, leading to significant wildlife extinction in North America.
  • The Carolina parakeet and other species went extinct due to hunting and ecological mismanagement.
  • Early misconceptions about coyotes and the attempt at their extermination reveal a profound ignorance of ecological balance.
• 01:13:47

  Mark Twain's Impact on Coyote Perception in America

  • Mark Twain authored 'Roughing It' in the 1870s, influencing American perception of coyotes as cowardly scavengers.
  • His book popularized the term 'coyote' and its pronunciation, cementing it in American English.
  • Twain humorously portrayed coyotes negatively, describing them as despicable creatures, shaping public opinion.
• 01:56:12

  The Cultural Significance of Coyotes in Native American Mythology

  • Coyotes were revered by Native Americans, seen as clever survivors amid Pleistocene extinctions.
  • They became central figures in oral literature and mythology, representing both good and bad human traits.
  • The interaction between humans and coyotes often reflects ecological misunderstandings, leading to negative perceptions.
• 01:13:47

  Urban Wildlife Expert Discusses Coexistence Strategies with Coyotes and Great Horned Owls

  • Expert advises on how to live harmoniously with urban coyotes after years of experience in the field.
  • Discusses the misconception that coyotes primarily attack cats and small dogs for food; instead, they often see them as competition.
  • Highlights the predatory nature of great horned owls, explaining that many missing pets might actually fall victim to these stealth hunters.
• 01:56:12

  Controversial Insights on Coyote Behaviors and the Impact of House Cats on Bird Populations

  • Explores incidents where coyotes are seen eating cats, questioning whether they are hunting or scavenging.
  • Reveals that in urban areas, coyotes can develop a taste for cats and shares alarming statistics on the number of birds killed by house cats.
  • Examines how the reintroduction of coyotes into neighborhoods actually helps bolster local bird populations, indicating a complex predator-prey relationship.
• 01:13:47

  Coyotes' Resilience: Insights from Bill McKibben on Wildlife Survival

  • The discussion begins with the efforts of women to create a documentary aimed at saving coyotes despite their natural resilience.
  • Bill McKibben highlights a biologist's remark about a coyote howling on the grave of the last human, emphasizing the animal's survival skills.
  • The chapter explores the resurgence of wolves in Europe, illustrated by a recent article from Paris, while detailing humans' reluctance to share their spaces with wildlife.
• 01:56:12

  American Prairie Reserve: John Hall's Vision for Reviving the Great Plains

  • John Hall's dissertation explores 'The Great Dog War' of the 19th century and its impact on urban wildlife dynamics.
  • The American Prairie Reserve aims to recreate the historical American Serengeti, acquiring land to establish a vast wildlife preserve in Central Montana.
  • Financial backing and community support play crucial roles, overcoming resistance from the ranching community concerned about bison and predator resurgence.
• 01:13:47

  Brucellosis Concerns: Bison vs. Elk in Ranching USA

  • Explains the historical context of brucellosis and its transmission risk from bison to cattle.
  • Highlights the ranching community's perception of bison as a threat, despite elk being more affected by brucellosis.
  • Discusses the American Prairie Reserve's efforts to reintroduce bison into grazing lands and the ecological implications.
• 02:23:18

  Bison Diplomacy: Native American Practices and Market Forces

  • Examines the coexistence of Native Americans and bison and how this relationship was disrupted by European market hunting.
  • Details the impact of horses and market economies on traditional hunting practices and bison populations.
  • Argues that bison were historically better adapted to grasslands than humans until European interventions changed the dynamics.
• 01:13:47

  The Economic Impact of European Trade on Native Americans: Insights from the Hudson's Bay Company

  • Native Americans traded buffalo hides for steel tools from European traders, gaining significant advantages in hunting efficiency.
  • The introduction of horses revolutionized hunting practices, enabling tribes to transition from foot hunting to horseback hunting, drastically increasing their ability to hunt buffalo.
  • The cultural shift towards horse-mounted hunting led many agricultural tribes, such as the Crows, to abandon farming and adopt buffalo hunting as a means of social mobility and economic gain.
• 02:23:18

  The Decline of Bison: Environmental and Economic Factors in the 19th Century

  • The influx of horses, combined with adverse climate conditions and diseases, drastically reduced the bison population across the plains.
  • Market-driven hunting practices and lack of regulations led to unsustainable hunting, targeting bison primarily for commercial hides and meat.
  • The interplay of these factors created a complex decline in bison numbers, challenging previous assumptions that attributed their demise solely to overhunting.
• 01:13:47

  The Buffalo Jumps: Native Science and Spiritual Beliefs Among Indigenous Tribes

  • Discussion of buffalo jumps as a hunting technique used by tribes, emphasizing the importance of not letting any surviving buffalo escape to warn others.
  • Native beliefs depicted buffalo as a family with a controlling master, reflecting a blend of spiritual connection and native scientific understanding.
  • Mention of archaeological findings like the Bonfire Shelter Site in Texas that showcases the massive scale of buffalo kills and the phenomenon of spontaneous combustion.
• 01:56:12

  Genetic Memories: How Ancestral Experiences Shape Modern Wildlife Behavior

  • Discussion on genetic studies showing how traumatic experiences, such as famine, can influence descendants' instincts and fears.
  • The use of poisons developed for coyote control that exploit animals' observational learning and memory retention.
  • Examination of the historical context of wildlife extermination methods during World War II, highlighting modern insights into animal behavior.