Legends of the Wild, Episode 16: Why Grasslands Matter for Wildlife; Native Habitat with Kyle Lybarger

Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Sam Soholt
Guest: Kyle Lybarger, Native Habitat Project

Episode Overview

In this episode, Sam Soholt sits down with Kyle Lybarger, the founder of the Native Habitat Project, to delve into why native grasslands matter so much for wildlife and the future of hunting, fishing, and conservation in America. They discuss the history and current state of grassland ecosystems, the threats they face from development and invasives, restoration strategies, and the importance of blending practical conservation with positive education. This candid, in-depth conversation explores both the science and heart behind habitat restoration, aiming to inspire landowners and sportsmen alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kyle’s Background & Conservation Roots

• Early Experience:
  • Built a career through Alabama A&M (forestry degree), work with Fish & Wildlife, hands-on experience with prescribed burning, forest management, and hunting.

    "I graduated from Alabama A and M with a forestry degree... had been working for the state Fish and Wildlife in Alabama..." — Kyle, 02:57

• Growing Interest in Native Plants:
  • Initially focused on hunting and food plots; evolved to managing for native biodiversity after realizing the depth and richness of native flora.
  • Formed online groups (Native Habitat Managers on Facebook) to share knowledge with other outdoorsmen and women.

    “We kind of found a community of folks... It's become a great resource for people who are starting out and want to learn how to get rid of invasives or promote certain native ecosystems.” — Kyle, 04:36

2. Spreading Awareness & Breaking Down Education Barriers

• Began sharing discoveries and management techniques via Facebook and TikTok, focusing on brief, accessible content to reach a new generation of outdoors enthusiasts.
• Emphasizes hands-on, empowering education over fear-mongering.

  "Everything I've ever seen you put out has constantly been like, hey, this isn't good, but these are the steps we can take to fix this type of stuff." — Sam, 02:35

3. Loss and Transformation of Grasslands

• Changing Landscape:
  • Major shifts over the last 200 years: open grasslands have been replaced by solid blocks of timber due to fire suppression, loss of grazing animals, plantations, and invasives.
  • Native prairies all but wiped out by past agricultural expansion (e.g., for cotton in the Southeast).

    "If you don't mow a field or if you don't burn a field or graze a field, I mean, in two years, it's a forest." — Kyle, 13:50

• Fire Suppression:
  • One of the biggest ecological changes; historical records describe annual burns set by Native Americans and frequent lightning fires that maintained open, diversity-rich landscapes.

    “It's not because we did something, it's because we removed something. We took away grazing animals, large herbivores. We took away fire.” — Kyle, 14:18

4. Restoration Tactics and Principles

• Focuses Native Habitat Project efforts on rare or priority sites where unique species are at risk of being lost forever.
• Management tools: prescribed fire, prairie installation, and collaborating with landowners.

  "We prioritize the rare sites... if we don't manage them and we lose them, then they'll be gone forever." — Kyle, 12:22

• Evidence from his own land: transforming a lifeless fescue pasture into a haven for wildlife with burning and native planting—even small acreages make a difference.

  "Now there's deer in our... down there every day... and the amount of wildlife that's using our property now versus back when it was a cow pasture is crazy." — Kyle, 19:23

5. The Troubles & Tactics of Invasive Species

• Invasives have arrived via many means: ornamental plantings, agricultural practices, accidental importation (e.g., Japanese stiltgrass used as packing for chinaware).

  "The most eye opening thing for me was when I was trying to buy native plants... every garden center, every feed store... every seed they sold, every plant they sold was non native." — Kyle, 21:36

• Effective control strategies now shareable and learnable through online communities:

  "Each invasive is... gonna have to tackle it a different way. Each one has their weakness." — Kyle, 25:48

6. Why Grasslands Matter & State of Crisis

• The world’s most endangered ecosystem, with even rare/undocumented types being destroyed before they’re studied; destruction continues due to lack of awareness or poor enforcement.

  “We're destroying places that are... the only one of their kind, like the only ecosystem of their kind, and we're destroying it... before we even know anything about it, before it's ever even been studied.” — Kyle, 28:43

• Public lands rarely represent these grassland ecosystems; most are now forested and lack fire/disturbance.

7. Benefits of Native Habitat for Wildlife and Hunters

• Native perennial plantings provide diverse, year-round food and cover, outperforming monocultures or standard food plots.

  “You have a native area next to it that has like, hundreds of species and they're all throughout. They're not just working deer in deer season. Like, they're working throughout the year...” — Kyle, 37:57

• Sets a higher bar for land management: "If our goal is to feed deer, that's not a very hard goal to reach... I try to set the bar a little higher and try to make habitat that's going to be beneficial for turkey and quail or... other things. And deer are always going to benefit from it." — Kyle, 38:37 & 38:57

8. Development Pressure & Seeking Solutions

• Sees opportunity in integrating native restoration into development projects, replacing turf and simple green spaces with prairie installations; it's practical, cost-effective, and can become a new standard if promoted.
• Calls for better land value/ranking systems to prioritize conservation, especially next to critical public lands.

  “I feel like... if we don't get involved, if we don't step up, then it's going to be even worse. Like, it's going to just be... a hundred percent loss for wildlife.” — Kyle, 42:26

9. Importance of Private Land Retention and Hunting Heritage

• With so little public land in the Southeast, access and stewardship of private land are essential for future generations of hunters and fishermen.

  “If you own private land, like hold on to it. I think that's so important... one day, you know, money's not going to be able to buy that kind of...it's all going to be in the hands of, you know, investors and... developed.” — Kyle, 50:23

10. The Next Generation, Legacy & Positive Messaging

• The episode closes with touching stories about family hunting traditions and reflection on the importance of preserving outdoor experiences for the future.

  “I can't afford to not go hunting with my grandpa, you know, and he's 85 and, and so those, man, it's so hard to Beat.” — Kyle, 56:18

• Encourages introducing kids to land stewardship and the outdoors, building continuity and respect for habitats.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Fire as a Management Tool

  "It's not because we did something, it's because we removed something. We took away, you know, grazing animals, large herbivores. We took away fire." — Kyle, 14:18

• On the Emotional Challenge of Conservation

  “It's so easy to get angry. It's so easy to get angry, like, and frustrated. And you're like, you know, y'all know this is here... and it didn't matter... so easy to get angry, but I try to stay positive and educate.” — Kyle, 28:43

• On Native Plants as Low-Maintenance Food Plots

  “They're perennials, so they come back every year. They don't cost you money. Like, it's, it's just the way things are supposed to be.” — Kyle, 37:04

• On the Loss of Access and Threat to Heritage

  “With land prices soaring, you know, it's very expensive for state agencies... so that next frontier is opening up private lands... it's so important to hold onto land…” — Sam & Kyle, 50:23

• On Creating a “Shotgun Approach” to Wildlife Management

  “It’s more of a shotgun... than food plots... beneficial for your kids one day, compared to setting them up to have to continue to add a soil amendments...” — Kyle, 37:04 & 37:57

• Personal Moment:

  “The first two hours of me sitting there, the biggest deer of my life walked out... the most special hunt ever.” — Kyle, 56:18

Key Timestamps

• Background & Getting Into Grasslands: 02:57 – 07:47
• Impact of Fire Suppression: 14:15 – 18:34
• Restoration Tactics and Native Habitat Project: 12:22, 19:23
• Discussion on Invasive Species: 21:36 – 25:48
• State of Grassland Loss & Undescribed Ecosystems: 26:18 – 30:04
• Development Threats & Solutions: 39:38 – 46:21
• Legacy, Family, and Creating Future Outdoor Opportunities: 54:41 – 59:29
• Learning & Identifying Native Plants (iNaturalist): 61:24 – 62:53

Resources & How to Get Involved

• Native Habitat Project: Find Kyle's content and resources on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
• Native Habitat Podcast: Returning in early 2026 (with Mossy Luke); will feature conservation discussions with hunters, botanists, and more.
• Plant Identification: Use the iNaturalist app (free; upload plant, animal, and fungal observations and contribute to science).

  “If you own property, try to make a goal of this year to inventory as many plants as you can on your little piece of land...” — Kyle, 62:53

Takeaways

• Grasslands are among the most endangered ecosystems in the world—especially in the Southeast United States—and are critical to wildlife, biodiversity, and the future of hunting and fishing.
• Land managers, hunters, and property owners—whether working a thousand acres or a backyard patch—can play a vital role in restoring native habitats.
• With positive engagement, education, advocacy, and adaptive management (especially prescribed fire and native plantings), it is possible to revive these lost ecosystems and secure generations of wild experiences.

Find and Follow:

• Kyle Lybarger / Native Habitat Project: [YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook]
• Podcast: Native Habitat Podcast (relaunch in 2026)