Michael

@ksuhistorian.bsky.social

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Public environmental historian of coyotes and other predators. Proud Kansan and Kansas State University alum.

My YouTube channel is https://youtube.com/@wildlifehistory?si=xX6Glh9ul805WYyo

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Are there any documented examples that eatting invasive species actually reduces their numbers in any meaningful way? I'm always skeptical we can eat our way into managing any species unless there are entire market systems to do it like passenger pidgins or bison. 🌍🌿🧪 kfor.com/news/nationa...

Can’t beat them? Eat them! Virginia Blue Catfish Management could depend on a culinary solutionkfor.com When it comes to blue catfish management, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources fisheries biologists are hoping for a little help.

I know it’s (rightfully in some cases) popular to crap on the New York Times but they still publish good stuff! I liked this essay about Southern grasslands. Go out and appreciate nature. Just don’t touch the grass. Leave it for the animals! 🌿🌍 www.nytimes.com/2024/07/15/o...

Opinion | Is It Too Late to Save the Southern Grasslands?www.nytimes.com Southern grassland ecosystems, and nearly all the plants and animals they supported, are gone. There is hope of bringing some of them back to life.

I love getting on social media at midnight (not healthy!) and being able to see conversations like this (healthy!)

I mean... pine cones are flowers, we're just used to seeing them mature & with seeds. It makes sense. They mature from flower cones to seed cones. Here's a plant ID definition for one pine species: "Male flowers are small, reddish cone-like structures, while female flowers are large woody cones."

Old man take but outside of emergency response technology ruins the outdoors. It wouldn't really be possible to just walk into the mountains and come out two weeks later after a backpacking trip not knowing what happened in the world like I used to do.

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Michael

My hot take is political violence is bad and can quickly spin out of control. I’m glad to see quick condemnations of it from across the aisle.

Both sides in Bleeding Kansas really liked to negatively compare the other to wolves. I do love reading about the only good use for pro slavery forces is to feed Kansas wolves though! From the Kansas Free State 12/3/1855

Today I learned political scientist are historians and real scientists. Talk about versatility!

I burned my depression frozen pizza so tonight's going great 😵‍💫

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Michael

After decades of activism, Joe Biden’s administration finally was the one to ban USDA’s Wildlife Services division from deploying cyanide bombs on federal BLM lands. These things have killed pets and injured recreationists, and killing carnivores is bad policy anyway. Biden got it done.

US agency ends use of 'cyanide bomb' to kill coyotes and other predators, citing safety concernsapnews.com The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has halted the use of spring-loaded traps that disperse cyanide powder to kill coyotes and other predators.

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Pup butt. After meandering away from the group, this one came bounding back into the grass to start stalking up on its littermates (off-camera in the upper left background). . . . 🐡🌿🦊 🌎 Tahoe, CA 📸 300mm, F5.6, 1/1600

Ugh this is terrible. Denning is very effective and horrible. Predators deserve respect also. 🌿🌏🦊 www.theguardian.com/us-news/arti...

Outrage after Biden administration reinstates ‘barbaric’ Trump-era hunting ruleswww.theguardian.com Rules allow hunting practices that target bears and wolves, including pups or cubs, on federal land in Alaska

I’m Proud of the House We Built MANHATTAN, Kan. — A multibillion-dollar research hub is emerging on the prairie as a new first line of defense against animal diseases that can decimate livestock, rattle financial markets and potentially spill over into humans www.axios.com/newsletters/...

Excellent article from @npr.org about the tall grass prairie! It’s a special place I wish more people here in Kansas and elsewhere cared about. 🌏🌿 www.kcur.org/arts-life/20...

During the summer, wildflowers steal the show on Kansas tallgrass prairieswww.kcur.org In late summer and fall, prairie grasses in Kansas’ Flint Hills can grow as high as eight feet tall. But right now, the grass is still short and wildflowers are the stars of the prairie.

I saw a snake on my early morning walk! Little fellow was out for a stroll after a rain like me. Couldn’t get close enough for a good ID. 🐢🌿 youtube.com/shorts/c_rOr...

Snake on a Boardwalk #snake #snakevideo #wetland #reptiles #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotographyyoutube.com

I accidentally crushed a snail this morning... It was so disgusting and now I'm obsessed with any parisites I might have picked up. Hypochondria sucks

You know things are bleak when reading about the environmental history of predators (pretty depressing) is relaxing to me.

I'm deep into the depression tonight over the on going shitshow. Here's some pretty wildflowers from eastern Kansas.

Come on Kansas! I'll be donating on Friday. Let's connect some kids with cool science.

IT IS TIME. The 6th annual United States of Science Challenge begins NOW. Each bubble represents classrooms we matched w/scientists over the last year. $10 donations fill in bubbles. The first region to close all their bubbles wins! givebutter.com/Wj5JGG

United States of Science 2024givebutter.com By Skype a Scientist

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In case you need something kind of neat to think about: Every at Wimbledon they employ a Harris Hawk to scare away pigeons and other unwanted birds from the tennis courts. His name is Rufus. He may this year (?) get a co-worker named Rhea? www.bbc.com/news/uk-engl...

Wimbledon hawk Rufus completes 15th year of servicewww.bbc.com This year Rufus was joined by Rhea, a pigeon scarer in training.

Cheers to Omaha,NE for bringing a little bit more prarie back to life! Down with turf grass! 🌍🌿 www.wowt.com/2024/07/01/b...

Building a Better Omaha: Pocket Prairies in bloomwww.wowt.com One group is working to build a better Omaha one pocket prairie at time.

Spent this morning writing about black bears returning to Kansas and this afternoon dreaming of seeing one. It's been a good day

Boy howdy am I glad the morons who brought us this decision gave themselves more power over the environment today

I still can't believe wetlands that dry out in the summer like this one don't have federal protections thanks to the Supreme Court. Ecologically when we need wetlands more than ever it's completely nonsensical. The first photo is in May, and the second is in August. 📗🌿🧪

What is the Canadian equivalent to Kansas City? Winnipeg and Calgary look promising but I've never visited. Just asking for a friend of course

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Michael

Are there good estimates for the fraction of wild birds and marine mammals that have been lost to the last few years of bird flu? I've been trying to periodically check on this and haven't really gotten good answers. Usually the press stories on this hyperfocus on single localities.

Can someone smarter then me explain why normal half in half has maybe a week til the experation date and Aldi's is 2+ months? I'm not drinking radated half and half or something am I? Might be a good topic for @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social!

I forgot about this scene. Parks and Rec nailed our incompetence dealing with avain flu huh youtube.com/shorts/N0Q9T...

Got it... kill the birds | Parks and Recreationyoutube.com Parks and Recreation is streaming now on Peacock: https://pck.tv/3XjpSJy Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC084FSD0cO4ZOS5SonULRCQ=sub_confirmation...

Another study shows coyotes don't have a major impact on deer. This time from the Pacific Northwest. Will this be the study that conveniences people to stop killing coyotes? Probably not but we can hope. 🌿🦊🌍 esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

White‐tailed deer population dynamics in a multipredator landscape shaped by humansesajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com <em>Ecological Applications</em> is an applied ecology journal discussing the applications of ecological science research for policy, management, and solving environmental problems.

As a schmuck from Kansas I found this YouTube comment rude. I guess there are worse ways to go then being black bear food though 😂

Happy Friday! Enjoy some cute ducklings youtube.com/shorts/hMutM...

Ducklings Feeding on a Windy Morning #duck #mallard #mallardduck #nature #wildlife #birds #ducklingsyoutube.com The following music was used for this media project: Music: Light Of A Clear Morning by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7831-light-of-a-...

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Michael

Go read this great article by @jurassicparks.bsky.social! An often overlooked part of grasslands is our bird species. Like other wildlife, their population is shrinking as we destroy more and more of the prairie. 🌏🌿🪶 www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ameri...