Wildlife Politics in California: What’s Really Going On?

⏱️ Timestamps & Topics

00:00 – 01:00 | 🎧 Intro & Sponsor Shoutout
– Alpha Dog Nutrition promo
– Podcast setup chaos and technical difficulties

01:01 – 07:00 | 🐾 Mountain Lion Hazing: SB 818 Explained
– What the bill would have allowed in El Dorado County
– Use of hounds for non-lethal cougar hazing
– How "adverse conditioning" works in practice

07:01 – 13:00 | 🧑‍⚖️ Taylor & Wyatt’s Law and a Political Gutting
– Tragic story of Taylor and Wyatt
– Committee overrides bill author and guts the legislation
– Replacement language adds ineffective, pre-existing measures

13:01 – 17:00 | 💥 Broken Politics and Losing Trust
– Disappointment from the family and advocates
– Mounting frustration with lawmakers and advocacy groups
– Calls for more honest collaboration

17:01 – 24:00 | 🦁 What Works, What Doesn’t, and the Need for Dialogue
– Friction with the Mountain Lion Foundation
– Personal experiences of mountain lion threats in rural communities
– The idea of "Hound Day" at the Capitol to educate legislators

24:01 – 31:00 | 🧠 Changing Minds with Dogs & Science
– Stories of skeptics converted after seeing hounds in action
– The need to bridge emotional and political gaps with firsthand experiences

31:01 – 40:00 | 🐻 Assembly Bill 1038 – Bear Hazing & Public Safety
– Pursuit-only vs. take provisions
– Bear population explosion and increased conflicts
– Opposition to including a harvest clause

40:01 – 48:00 | 🗳️ Legislative Challenges & Political Strategy
– Committee vote breakdown
– The bill fails narrowly, but is granted reconsideration
– Strategy for 2025 and potential amendments

48:01 – 55:00 | 🔁 Why Keep the Bear and Cougar Bills Separate
– The importance of not combining efforts legislatively
– Discussing cross-house strategies to gain traction

55:01 – 1:02:00 | ❤️ Personal Reflections & Advocacy Fatigue
– Lori’s 40 years with hounds
– Her role as president of CHC since 2013
– A call for younger leadership in the hound community

1:02:01 – End | 📅 What’s Next & Hope for the Future
– CHC banquet and continued lobbying
– The changing political landscape and reasons for hope
– Final thoughts and encouragement to stay engaged

🔗 Links & Resources

Learn more about California Houndsmen for Conservation (CHC)

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We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Alpha Dog Nutrition and Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  Want to learn more about Alpha Dog Nutrition? Check out the links below

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