How does the diversity of society's values and perspectives get incorporated into wildlife decisions? In this episode, we explore the gap between democratic ideals and messy reality, how a vote becomes policy and then becomes lived experience, and who gets heard along the way. We examine how the vote for wolf reintroduction became politicized along partisan lines and whether ballot initiatives undermine scientific expertise in wildlife management. And as the vote evolved into a reintroduction plan, hear both the excitement for the first reintroduced wolves on the ground and the frustration of not having all the pieces in place to support frontline communities.

Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.

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Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks

Sound design: Seth Samuel

Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.

Additional music: Epidemic Sound

Recording Studio: Denver Community Media

Gray Territory: Whose Voice Counts? (S5 Ep2)