Connections and Crossings: Wildlife in the Modern World, with Beth Pratt and Ben Goldfarb

From P-22 - dubbed the "Brad Pitt of mountain lions" - navigating LA freeways to steelhead battling urban barriers, the latest Fish Water People podcast episode dives into an urgent question: how can we help wildlife move through a world designed primarily with human movement in mind? Join us as we connect with Beth Pratt, wildlife advocate, author, and California Director for the National Wildlife Federation, who reveals why data alone is not enough to motivate environmental action. She discusses how compelling personal stories transformed public perception of urban animals and drove the construction of the world’s largest wildlife crossing, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Los Angeles County.

Ben Goldfarb, journalist, author, and Beaver Believer, also joins the conversation and reveals how innovative crossings - from overpasses to culverts - give animals new paths to survival. Together, these conservation leaders are painting a realistic picture of how cities and wildlife can coexist, one crossing at a time.

This episode was recorded prior to the catastrophic fires in LA. Our hearts are with all those affected, and we are devastated for the communities that have been so quickly and shockingly displaced by these fire events. For those seeking assistance or looking for ways to help, please explore the below resources.
Resources for those affected: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KMk34XY5dsvVJjAoD2mQUVHYU_Ib6COz6jcGH5uJWDY/[…]Ri24fIxe9aMSv-llwdHVOO4AlbYQwX4oAg_aem_C43zmedFY43xZbhHxML6Pw
Ways to help (LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/how-to-help-victims-of-pacific-p[…]cf18-fcec4d0f13-232602681&mc_cid=fcec4d0f13&mc_eid=9d09952d18
Ways to help (KQED): https://www.kqed.org/news/12021150/where-to-donate-help-los-angeles-wildfire-eaton-fire-palisades-pasadena