Is there any fish species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem more iconic than the Yellowstone cutthroat trout? While the name conjures imagery of a ruthless nature, these fish are called cutthroats due to the distinct red markings found along their jawline and gills. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are a keystone species in the region, providing food to numerous species including bears, otters, ospreys, and others.

Yellowstone cutthroat trout are also at the epicenter of one of the most interesting species recovery stories from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Decades ago, when an unexpected threat appeared in Yellowstone Lake, the population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the park was decimated. This important link in the Greater Yellowstone food web was in big trouble and something needed to be done.

We’re pleased to welcome Andi Puchany, a fisheries biologist at Yellowstone National Park, to the podcast. She joined the park’s Native Fish Conservation Program in 2014 and her work focuses on native fish conservation, population recovery assessments, and lake trout reproductive ecology. Andi received her Bachelor’s in Zoology at North Dakota State University and her Master’s in Fish and Wildlife Management at Montana State University.

Join us on the episode to learn how to identify a Yellowstone cutthroat trout, what happened all those years ago to cause a decline in Lake Yellowstone, how these remarkable fish rebounded, and what makes her hopeful about her work 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.

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.

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

> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers: https://greateryellowstone.org/podcast-sign-up-stickers

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition: https://lovegyc.org/podcastgiving

> YNP Native Fish Conservation Program: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/fish.htm

> Andi's Trout Photos: http://greateryellowstone.org/podcast/35/trout-tales-the-comeback-of-the-yellowstone-cutthroat

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

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

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Before public lands were even a concept, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem was, and continues to be, stewarded by Indigenous Peoples. In short, public lands are Native Lands. In today’s world, many current public land management policies exclude or marginalize Indigenous roles and input.

In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond, a growing movement is pushing to restore Indigenous connection, stewardship, sovereignty, and sustainable practices rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Joining us on the podcast today is an Apsáalooke Tribal member and educational and cultural consultant, Dr. Shane Doyle. Shane is a Montana historian and educator who hails from Crow Agency, Montana. He holds a Master’s in Native American Studies, a Doctorate in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and completed a post-doctoral appointment in Genetics from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Shane has published over a dozen articles about the ancient history, culture, and contemporary experience of the Indigenous people of Montana and continues to work as a researcher and public lands advocate in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. He is the Executive Director of the Native American non-profit group Yellowstone Peoples, whose mission is to hold an annual InterTribal Tipi Village in Yellowstone National Park.

We’ll chat with Shane about how he likes to enjoy Montana’s public lands, how he’d like to see public land co-management done in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and how we can be better advocates for re-Indigenizing public lands.

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.

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.

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

> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers: https://greateryellowstone.org/podcast-sign-up-stickers

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition: https://lovegyc.org/podcastgiving

> Yellowstone Peoples: https://www.yellowstonepeoples.org/

> Yellowstone Revealed 2022: https://greateryellowstone.org/blog/2022/yellowstone-revealed

> Public Lands are Native Lands: Yellowstone and Our Shared Future by Dr. Shane Doyle: https://bettertrail.com/public-lands/public-lands-are-native-lands

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music > Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (

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In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond, beavers are experiencing a bit of a renaissance. These large aquatic rodents are critical ecosystem engineers and play a role in mitigating the effects of climate change and strengthening wildlife habitat. However, decades of rampant trapping and views of beavers as a nuisance have decreased their numbers across the country.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem needs healthy beaver populations doing their job to help keep this place remarkable. Luckily, beavers are making a comeback. Their star power is soaring as climate resiliency heroes and efforts to bring back beavers are becoming a top priority.

In this episode, Part 2, we’ll cover some beaver reintroduction success stories, dive into a variety of listener questions from our podcast insiders, dispel some beaver myths, and gain some writing advice for aspiring environmental journalists. Ben also shares how his face ended up in the British tabloids after an apparently scandalous comment about the Chronicles of Narnia.

Without further ado, let’s jump back into Beaver-Mania.

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.

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.

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

> Join our Online Community and Receive Two FREE Stickers!

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Eager by Ben Goldfarb

> Beaverland by Leila Philip

> Once They Were Hats by Frances Backhouse

> The Beaver Manifesto by Glynnis Hood

> In Beaver World by Enos A. Mills

> The Beaver Believers (Film)

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

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