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Nature's Secret Service

Nature's Secret Service

by Ed Newcomer

Season 3

The Wildlife Forensic Crime Lab - Dr. Ed Espinoza

Where do agents turn when they have a case like last week's poison meatball investigation? Well, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Clark Bavin National Forensic Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, was the first crime lab established in the United States that was totally dedicated to assisting with wildlife crime investigations. A fully accredited crime lab, the FWS Lab provides assistance to federal and state wildlife investigators as they tackle some of the most complex investigations. This week, join Ed for his discussion with Dr. Ed Espinoza, the former deputy director of the FWS Lab to learn more about what the lab can do and how it helps agents solve cases and bring violators to justice.

The Poison Meatballs - Special Agent Scott Bragonier

Ed Newcomer tells the incredible story of Special Agent Scott Bragonier's investigation of a expansive crime scene in the wilds of Idaho. What happened at the crime scene? It appears to Agent Bragonier as if someone has tried to poison wild wolves that are protected by the US Endangered Species Act. Join Ed and Sheryl McCollum, the host of the Zone-7 podcast, as they talk about the case and the important role played by forensic evidence and good crime scene processing. This case was the first case where someone was successfully convicted for attempting to take an endangered or threatened species. Special thanks to Sheryl McCollum and the team at Zone-7 for giving us permission to replay this episode on Season 3 of the Nature's Secret Service podcast.

The Omak Wolf - Special Agent Corky Roberts

If you illegally kill an endangered wolf that naturally migrated into the United States but want to keep the pelt, how do you launder it so it appears to be 'legal?' Tune in to this week's episode with former USFWS special agent Corky Roberts to hear about his investigation of a Washington resident who did just that.

Red Wolves, Mexican Grays, and Colorado Wolves - Mike Phillips (Part 2)

Join Ed for part two of our conversation with renowned wolf biologist Mike Phillips. In this week's episode, Mike takes us through the history of red wolf reintroduction in the Southeastern US, Mexican gray wolf reintroduction in the Southwest, and the recent efforts to reintroduce wolves to Colorado. Although Mike is an ardent supporter of wolf reintroduction across the US, he is a realist and speaks to us honestly about the reintroduction efforts and the likelihood of success under current circumstances.

Yellowstone Wolves Reborn - Mike Phillips (Part 1)

Join the conversation with Mike Phillips, former head of wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park as he talks with us about wolf reintroduction, wolf biology, the way wolves interact with their environment, and how misplaced anti-wolf sentiments are threatening one of the greatest wildlife recovery success stories in US history.

Jack Booted Thugs - Special Agents Paul Weyland and Steve Magone

What happens when you head out to conduct a wolf poaching investigation and the local sheriff threatens to arrest you? Wolf Number 10 in Montana wasn't the only reintroduced wolf killed in 1995. Wolf Number B13 was released in Idaho in early 1995 and by Spring, it was dead. Shot and killed on a private rancher's property in central Idaho. Special Agents Paul Weyland, Steve Magone, and Tom Riley were put on the case but what they encountered at the crime scene would send chills down the spine of any federal law enforcement officer. Join the conversation this week with Ed, Paul Weyland, and Steve Magone and they take you through the story.

The McKittrick Memo - Elinor Colbourn

Join Ed for his conversation with former federal prosecutor Elinor Colbourn about the infamous McKittrick Policy and its impact on wolf poaching cases. Elinor was a senior federal prosecutor with the US Department of Justice in the Environment and Natural Resources Division where she prosecuted some of the country's most important criminal cases involving environmental law. She was the prosecutor on the "Friday Night Lights" case discussed with Special Agent Keith Swindle in Season 1, Episodes 4 and 5.

Wolf 10 and the Lawman: Special Agent Tim Eicher

Wolf Number 10 was the first of the reintroduced wolves in Yellowstone National Park to be illegally shot and killed by a poacher. US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Tim Eicher was the agent assigned to solve the case. Join Ed and Tim for their conversation about that case and learn how Tim identified a suspect and brought him to justice. Hear, too, how the case was the spark for long-lasting policy at the US Department of Justice that has hampered Endangered Species Act criminal cases for the past 30 years.

The Wolf Guru - Rick McIntyre

In the premiere episode of Season 3, join Ed for his conversation with Rick McIntyre, nicknamed "The Wolf Guru" by the late Jane Goodall. Rick has spent more time observing and documenting wild wolves and their behavior than any other person. He was working as a ranger in Yellowstone National Park when wolves were reintroduced in 1995 and, since then, has recorded more than 100,000 personal sightings of wild wolves inside the park. He is an award winning author of a series of books detailing his observations of Yellowstone's wolves. The best place to start that reading is with his book "The Rise of Wolf 8: Witnessing the Triumph of Yellowstone's Underdog."

Season 2

S2E15: Season 2 Finale - The Prosecutors

The number and quality of investigations, arrests, and cases mean nothing without good prosecutors willing to file charges and move forward with trials when necessary. For more than 20 years, the United States Attorney for the Central District of California (Los Angeles) has maintained a unit of prosecutors who are dedicated to handling cases involving environmental crime. Sit down with Ed for his discussion with Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA's) Matt O'Brien, Dennis Mitchell, and Mark Williams, three of the most experienced federal wildlife prosecutors in the country, to talk about some of their favorite cases and to learn about how the US Attorney's Office works with agencies like the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This is the final episode of Season 2 of Nature's Secret Service. Get ready for Season 3, which will premiere in early 2026.

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