New season of Working Wild University explores grizzly bear recovery in the West, past, present and future

Documentary podcast brings together ranchers, tribal leaders, wildlife managers, scientists and communities living with grizzly bears 

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Grizzly bears are returning to parts of the American West where they have not lived for generations and recent actions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have thrust the politics of grizzly management back into the national spotlight. A new season of Working Wild University examines what recovery means for the bears—and for the people now sharing the landscape with them. 

The season begins with “Grizzly bears are back—now what?,” released today. The episode traces grizzlies’ history in North America, their near-extirpation and their recovery under the Endangered Species Act. It also introduces the question at the center of the season: Where do grizzly bears belong, and who gets to decide? 

“Grizzly recovery is a remarkable achievement, but recovery is not the end of the story,” said Jared Beaver, wildlife extension specialist at Montana State University and co-host of Working Wild University. “As bears expand into working lands and rural communities, conservation becomes a question of how people respond, adapt and make decisions together. We want listeners to understand the science, history and lived experiences that will shape what comes next.” 

Hosted by Beaver and Western Landowners Alliance’s Hallie Mahowald, the season travels from Wyoming ranches to Montana communities. Guests include ranchers, tribal leaders, historians, wildlife managers, scientists and conservationists with firsthand experience of grizzly recovery and human-bear conflict. 

“This season is about listening closely to the people behind the headlines,” said Zach Altman, the show’s producer and communications manager at Western Landowners Alliance. “Grizzly bears inspire awe, fear, pride and frustration, sometimes within the same community. Our goal is to give listeners enough context to understand those tensions and recognize where practical common ground already exists.” 

The season arrives amid renewed national debate over grizzly management. On July 14, the U.S. Department of the Interior released a revised proposed 4(d) rule that would give states and tribes additional flexibility to manage conflicts while maintaining the grizzly bear’s threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. Supporters have described the proposal as a return to state management and a milestone for recovery, while others have raised questions about oversight and the long-term implications for bear populations. 

“I know firsthand from here in the Big Hole that working ranches can provide great habitat for grizzly bears. Working lands are the foundation of continued grizzly recovery,” said rancher Erik Kalsta. “They’re also the foundation of rural economies and families’ heritage and passion. That tension and that opportunity are really at the heart of this show and at the heart of our work on grizzly bear conflict reduction.” 

Kalsta directs WLA’s Working Wild Challenge and works with landowners, wildlife agencies and conservation partners on conflict reduction across the West. Together, Kalsta, Beaver and Altman bring on-the-ground, scientific and storytelling perspectives to one of the region’s most consequential wildlife debates. 

Listen to the season trailer and find Working Wild University on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. 

About Working Wild University 

Working Wild University is a documentary podcast exploring the places where wildlife and working lands meet. It is produced by Western Landowners Alliance and Dr. Jared Beaver of Montana State University Extension and is part of the Natural Resources University podcast network. Follow the show on Instagram @WorkingWildU. 

About Western Landowners Alliance 

Western Landowners Alliance is a landowner-led nonprofit advancing policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes and native species. Through the Working Wild Challenge, WLA works with landowners and partners to develop practical, collaborative approaches to conserving wildlife while sustaining rural livelihoods.