The Wild with Chris Morgan

The Wild with Chris Morgan

KUOW News and Information

"THE WILD with Chris Morgan" explores how nature survives and thrives alongside (and often despite) humans. Taking listeners across the Pacific Northwest and around the world, host Chris Morgan explores wildlife and the complex web of ecosystems they inhabit. He also tells the stories of people working in and protecting the wild around us.

Tom Mangelsen: Grizzy 399 and confessions of a wildlife photographer

Tom Mangelsen: Grizzy 399 and confessions of a wildlife photographer

Tom Mangelsen is one of the most gifted and prolific wildlife photographers of our time. He may be best known for documenting the life of Grizzly Bear 399 in and around Teton National Park in Wyoming. I’ve spent thousands of hours alongside, and guiding some of the best wildlife photographers in the world, but I’ve never been lucky enough to spend time in the wild with Tom. And he has always seemed to possess a connection with animals that is rare. Whether it be gorillas, penguins, tigers, or ou

Feb 4, • 40:34

Yellowstone National Park: Celebrity bears, and a tale of two trout

Yellowstone National Park: Celebrity bears, and a tale of two trout

You can’t come to Yellowstone without thinking about the grizzly bear. This thriving ancient ecosystem is like a sacred space for them. And a critical source for food which they are constantly in search of in order to get the needed calories that will sustain them through their long winter sleep. But what many grizzly bear lovers might not think about are the fish at the heart of the bear feeding frenzy. Yellowstone has the largest high elevation lake in North America, and under the surface, a f

Jan 28, • 45:28

A harsh life among ‘super over-caffeinated’ penguins (reprise)

A harsh life among ‘super over-caffeinated’ penguins (reprise)

Behind most wildlife documentaries is someone who has spent countless hours, often in challenging conditions, waiting for that perfect shot. Chris talks to filmmakers Jeff Wilson and Mark Smith about their experience filming Adelie penguins for four months in Antarctica. With wind gusts up to 150 miles per hour it is one of the coldest and harshest continents on earth.  We’d love to hear what you think of THE WILD. Which shows did you like the best? What would you like to hear more of? If you ha

Jan 21, • 30:16

Zoë Schlanger: Do plants think? Why eating a salad may never feel the same again

Zoë Schlanger: Do plants think? Why eating a salad may never feel the same again

Maybe you’re eating an apple, or a piece of lettuce right now. Could be a broccoli stem or perhaps a lovely juicy tomato. If you are, are you wondering how intelligent that plant is? I’d guess not. But here’s a conversation that might make you think twice.  Zoë Schlanger, a science writer for the Atlantic, has written an eye-opening book on the topic. It’s called The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth.  On today’s episode, Chris s

Jan 14, • 50:59

Glacier Bay National Park: Life after ice - the birth of a river

Glacier Bay National Park: Life after ice - the birth of a river

Melting ice is usually bad news, but this place in Alaska has turned from frozen to flourishing in just 200 years.  Nestled in southeast Alaska, the stunning and famous Glacier Bay National Park is often called a “living laboratory.” Scientists from all over the world come here to study ecological succession: the step-by-step return of plants, insects, forests and animals. It’s a unique place to do that because just a couple hundred years ago, this whole landscape was covered in ice. But then, t

Jan 7, • 47:47

The Wild presents How Wild: Solitude

The Wild presents How Wild: Solitude

We are taking a break over the holidays in order to finish up our series about national parks. We’ll be back in your feed on January 7 with a visit to Glacier Bay National Park in southeast Alaska. We’ll learn how the trickles of chilly glacial meltwater are creating a flourishing ecosystem.  But in the meantime, I wanted to share an episode from a podcast I think you’ll really like called How Wild. It’s from our friends at KALW Public Media and the NPR Network. The podcast looks at the meaning

Dec 10, 2024 • 30:03

A river runs through it ... once again (reprise)

A river runs through it ... once again (reprise)

It started as a glacier. Then, about 13,000 years ago, it was a trickle, then a stream, and eventually a rushing river meandering through the Olympic Peninsula. For thousands of years, life thrived off the ecosystem served by the Elwha River that fed into to the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Then it stopped. A century ago, a dam was built to harness the power of the water and convert it into electricity. The salmon that the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe relied on were cut off from their spawning grounds.

Nov 19, 2024 • 29:51

Leigh Ann Henion: Darkness, and the creatures of the night

Leigh Ann Henion: Darkness, and the creatures of the night

Nature writer Leigh Ann Henion has spent countless hours uncovering mysteries of the darkness that unfold while we’re asleep. She’s explored bats, moths, glow worms, spotted salamanders, and she’s written a new book about it called Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark.  Today, Chris talks with Leigh Ann Henion about what we can find in the darkness and how we can preserve it, even from our own back porch. This show would not be possible without lis

Nov 12, 2024 • 28:39

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Fireflies in synchrony

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Fireflies in synchrony

Once a year they come out, by the thousands. Fireflies. But these aren’t just any fireflies. These are Photinus Carolinas, also known as synchronous fireflies They blink on and off together. It’s an amazing site. On this episode, I head to Great Smoky Mountains National Park to experience the synchronous fireflies and learn how light from human development is threatening the future of these delicate, glowing insects and what the park is doing to try to protect them. This show would not be possib

Nov 5, 2024 • 47:21

Caroline Tracey: How this tiny bird could save salt lakes

Caroline Tracey: How this tiny bird could save salt lakes

Four times in the past decade Lake Abert has completely dried up, a barren lakebed encrusted with salt. Salt lakes are among the world's most threatened ecosystems. Lack of water could lead to many of these lakes permanently drying up in the American West.  But there is one tiny bird that could change all that. The Wilson’s Phalarope depends on salt lakes on their 6500-mile migration between North and South America. There is a movement to get the phalarope listed as a threatened species by the f

Oct 29, 2024 • 46:47

Chris remembers Bear 399

Chris remembers Bear 399

Chris remembers Bear 399, "The Queen" of Grand Teton National Park that was struck and killed by a vehicle near Jackson Hole, Wyoming on Tuesday, October 22. You can see the trailer of the PBS Nature documentary on Bear 399 here.  Team 399 Facebook pageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 23, 2024 • 3:26

Everglades National Park: Invasion of the Burmese pythons (reprise)

Everglades National Park: Invasion of the Burmese pythons (reprise)

In the Florida Everglades, the Burmese python is an invasive species that's close to triggering an ecological collapse. We'll head out with python hunters who track down these massive snakes for a bounty. Then we wade through the waste deep murky waters of the Everglades to see what researchers are learning about Burmese pythons in their waning hopes to remove them from this fragile tropical wilderness. This show would not be possible without listener support. You can help us continue to create

Oct 22, 2024 • 50:59

Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Toxic wasteland to ecological champion

Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Toxic wasteland to ecological champion

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is nestled between Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. It once was an industrial wasteland, filled with debris from the nearby auto factories. The Cuyahoga river was so polluted that it literally caught fire. That fire was a moment that sparked an environmental movement. But I'm headed upstream. I'm going to follow the river and its story from its grim past to becoming a national park. We’ll look at how a toxic dump was transformed into a national park and a thriving ecosyst

Oct 15, 2024 • 36:29

The Wild presents The Wide Open: Balancing the needs of endangered species and humans

The Wild presents The Wide Open: Balancing the needs of endangered species and humans

We’re on a short break as we finish working on our stories for our series about America’s National Parks. I can’t wait to share with you what we’ve learned. Amazing stuff. We’ll be back with new episodes on October 15. But today, I’d like to play an episode of a podcast from our friends at Montana Public Radio and the Montana Media Lab. It’s called The Wide Open and tells stories about the places where people come together and fall apart. It’s a new podcast and this is their first episode. It’s

Oct 1, 2024 • 45:10

The Wild Presents Outside/In: Not everyone is wild about wild horses

The Wild Presents Outside/In: Not everyone is wild about wild horses

We’re taking a short break from releasing episodes so we can work on more new stories for our series on our National Parks. I hope you’re enjoying it! In the meantime, I wanted to share a special episode of a show I think you’ll really enjoy: Outside/In from our friends at New Hampshire Public Radio. Each week, the show explores topics around science, wildlife, environmentalism, and more. It takes listeners on journeys across the natural world from wherever they are – and includes a healthy dose

Sep 17, 2024 • 28:57

Goodbye chemical weapons, hello burrowing owls (reprise)

Goodbye chemical weapons, hello burrowing owls (reprise)

A decommissioned military base in northeast Oregon provides sanctuary for a recovering burrowing owl population.   David Johnson is founder of the Global Owl Project to protect endangered owl species all over the world. And one lucky owl species that’s been David’s main focus for these past 12 years is the little burrowing owl. His rescue mission involves some chemical weapons, an old military base, and a very large plunger.  This show would not be possible without listener support. You can help

Aug 27, 2024 • 35:13

These Italian bears survived gladiators and Mussolini (reprise)

These Italian bears survived gladiators and Mussolini (reprise)

Just two hours from Rome is one of the richest ecosystems in Europe, a little island of mountains that to this day is home to wolves, wild boar and bears. It's not just wild animals that call this place home: Farms are scattered across the area as part of this ancient mosaic of life here among the wild animals. It's a place where the excesses of Italian culture mingle with the wonders of nature. THE WILD is a production of KUOW, Chris Morgan Wildlife, and the NPR Network. This episode was produc

Aug 20, 2024 • 30:37

True grit: the wild wolverine (reprise)

True grit: the wild wolverine (reprise)

For the first time in 100 years, wolverines are back in Mount Rainier National Park. How did they get there? In the summer of 2020, there was some big news for wildlife in the pacific northwest. In the wild spaces of Mount Rainier National Park, a female wolverine was discovered along with two babies known as kits. It is believed that these tenacious predators haven't been in the park for over a century. The wolverines were back. This is the story of the return of the wolverines and the woman wh

Aug 13, 2024 • 33:46

Eily Andruszkiewicz Allan: The magic of eDNA

Eily Andruszkiewicz Allan: The magic of eDNA

Top secret military dolphins, exploding whales, and invasive green crabs. These are all things Dr. Eily Andruszkiewicz Allan is interested in learning more about. And she is doing it all with the help of a simple cup of water. It's a revolutionary bit of technology called eDNA and it is changing the way biologists are doing field work. eDNA could hold the mysteries of a new frontier in our understanding of the natural world. This show would not be possible without listener support. You can help

Aug 6, 2024 • 47:47

Death Valley National Park: Diving for fish in the hottest place on Earth

Death Valley National Park: Diving for fish in the hottest place on Earth

Chris joins a team of scuba divers...in the desert!  Death Valley National Park is the hottest place on Earth and the driest place in North America. The heat that builds beneath Death Valley’s cloudless skies radiates off barren rocks and sinks into the valley bottoms, where it warms, baking everything it touches and evaporates any water foolish enough to linger at the surface. But beneath miles of dry desert land - in the largest national park in the lower 48 - is something you can't see from t

Jul 30, 2024 • 44:37

Digital Dr. Dolittle: decoding animal conversations with artificial intelligence (reprise)

Digital Dr. Dolittle: decoding animal conversations with artificial intelligence (reprise)

Artificial Intelligence is making the stuff of science fiction a science reality, changing how humans interact with the world. It could also change the way we interact with wildlife, giving us the ability to talk to animals...but are we ready? On this episode Chris talks to Aza Raskin, co-founder of Earth Species Project and Karen Bakker, a professor at the University of British Columbia, about animal communication and the pros and cons of the latest AI technology.   This show would not be possi

Jul 23, 2024 • 50:02

Dan Blumstein: Fear and listening to your inner marmot

Dan Blumstein: Fear and listening to your inner marmot

Here’s an episode for movie buffs, music nuts, animal lovers, and anyone dealing with anxiety. Yes, that's quite the range in a 40-minute chat, but Dr Dan Blumstein delivers them all in a fascinating conversation with Chris about FEAR. Dan is a professor of conservation biology at UCLA and author of the book The Nature of Fear: Survival Lessons from the Wild. He spent his career trying to better understand the emotion by looking at marmots. He says that animals can help us better understand ours

Jul 16, 2024 • 45:37

North Cascades National Park: The wolf comes home

North Cascades National Park: The wolf comes home

One day, Chris was on the search for a very rare animal: a single wolf that had made it to the western side of the North Cascade mountains. That day, to his amazement, he found a set of fresh tracks on a sandy riverbed. Wolves had been extinct here in Washington state for nearly a hundred years, so the find was incredible.   These mythical creatures are very slowly returning to the North Cascades. It’s a sign of hope for both Jason Ransom, a biologist at the National Park, and Scott Schuyler fro

Jul 9, 2024 • 44:36

The wildlife super dog (reprise)

The wildlife super dog (reprise)

Karelian Bear Dogs were bred in Finland hundreds of years ago for hunting. From bears to moose, these fearless dogs were on the frontline. Now, ironically, they are being used to save bears and other species. In some remote parts of the country grizzly bears have been known to wander into town, presenting a danger of encounters with humans. Now these Karelian Bear Dogs are being used to scare bears away and prevent future returns. We'll head to Montana to talk to the woman whose brainchild it wa

Jul 2, 2024 • 31:00

Stories from THE WILD

Stories from THE WILD

On this episode we team up with Story Collider to hear real life tales of adventure and exhilarating encounters with wildlife. From a temporary life-ending jolt from the sky to a 2,650-mile hike in search of healing and solace after a personal tragedy. We'll also hear about a very close encounter with a grizzly from our WILD story telling event at McCaw Hall in Seattle. This show would not be possible without listener support. You can help us continue to create this special immersive storytellin

Jun 25, 2024 • 43:54

Biscayne National Park: Raising baby corals in America's barrier reef

Biscayne National Park: Raising baby corals in America's barrier reef

How scientists are training corals to be ready for a warmer future. Biscayne National Park is unlike any other national park…it’s 95% underwater. It’s home to part of the third largest coral reef in the world and the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States.  But this past summer, the corals in and around this park on Florida’s coral reef experienced the worst coral bleaching event ever recorded. Water temperatures broke records, rising to over 100 degrees for two days in

Jun 18, 2024 • 39:01

Archive: There's a cougar in my backyard

Archive: There's a cougar in my backyard

A cougar biologist with Washington state once received a complaint. An old lady called him up and said, “There’s a cougar in my backyard.” And the biologist responded, “Well, that’s funny because I got a call this morning from a cougar. He told me there’s an old lady in his front yard!” Our backyards are getting bigger. And the cougar’s front yard is getting smaller. This episode, we search out some of these big cats to understand the impact cougars and humans have on each other. This show would

Jun 11, 2024 • 25:41

Ben Goldfarb: How America’s roads alter our ecology

Ben Goldfarb: How America’s roads alter our ecology

It is safe to say that Americans love their cars. The mythology of the open road speaks to us all, calling us for adventure. But American wildlife might have something else to say about that. One million animals are killed on roads every day but the problem with our transportation system goes beyond roadkill. Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb says practically everything in the natural world is influenced by all these miles of gravel and tarmac. His latest book is “Crossings: How Road Ecology

Jun 4, 2024 • 42:22

Redwood National Park: Saving the tallest trees on Earth

Redwood National Park: Saving the tallest trees on Earth

Discover why scientists are chopping down redwood trees… to save them. Redwood National and State Parks are home to some of the tallest trees on Earth, coast redwoods. These ancient California forests support hundreds of different species, and store more carbon than any other forest on the planet. But in the last century, 95% of them were cut down by loggers.  Now, scientists are trying to find ways to bring old growth redwoods back and they've discovered a surprising strategy... cutting them do

May 28, 2024 • 38:17

Welcome back to THE WILD for Season 6

Welcome back to THE WILD for Season 6

This season's going to be a little different...we're headed to our national parks. We've got eight special episodes recorded on location in America’s national parks: stories about their biodiversity, their complex histories, and how they are protecting nature. We'll explore all sorts of different ecosystems, from the tallest trees on the planet to the hottest place on earth. Plus we've got more surprises for you including fun conversations where I try to keep up with the sharpest minds in wildli

May 14, 2024 • 2:56

Grizzlies coming back to the North Cascades

Grizzlies coming back to the North Cascades

If you’ve been a longtime listener of THE WILD then you know that I’ve been a champion of bringing back grizzly bears to the North Cascades of Washington here in the mountains near where I live. On April 25, 2024 that dream has taken a massive step towards becoming reality. The National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have announced that they will be restoring the grizzly population that called this place home for thousands of years. They were a key part of this ecosystem before th

Apr 26, 2024 • 25:22

Broadcast: In search of silence

Broadcast: In search of silence

On this special one hour of THE WILD with Chris Morgan, I'll explore natural silence, and how being quiet out in the natural world and having places to do that can be pretty transformative. I'll also spend time in the trees with a forest therapist and talk to author Florence Williams about the healing powers of nature and I’ll go searching for the one of the quietest places in the world in Olympic National Park. THE WILD is a production of KUOW in Seattle in partnership with Chris Morg

Nov 7, 2023 • 51:18

Broadcast: Leave it to beavers

Broadcast: Leave it to beavers

On this one-hour special of THE WILD with Chris Morgan, Chris explores the mighty beaver and its role in reshaping our landscapes and entire ecosystems. Then we plunge into the waters along the pacific coast to follow a sea lion’s journey from California all the way up the Columbia River in search of salmon, in what has become a controversial story of survival between two protected species.THE WILD is a production of KUOW in Seattle in partnership with Chris Morgan Wildlife and Wildlife Media. I

Oct 31, 2023 • 47:36

Broadcast: How to stay safe in the wild

Broadcast: How to stay safe in the wild

On this one-hour special of THE WILD with Chris Morgan, Chris shares tips on how to stay safe in the wild and explores the psychology of animals with author Richard Louv.THE WILD is a production of KUOW in Seattle in partnership with Chris Morgan Wildlife and Wildlife Media. It is produced by Lucy Soucek and Matt Martin, and edited by Jim Gates. This special episode was produced by Brandi Fullwood. It is hosted, produced and written by Chris Morgan. Fact checking by Apryle Craig. Our theme music

Oct 24, 2023 • 54:41

Best of THE WILD: How to catch a grizzly

Best of THE WILD: How to catch a grizzly

This is a special one-hour special of THE WILD with Chris Morgan featuring favorite episodes like the first time Chris caught a grizzly bear.In Part One of this episode Chris recounts catching a grizzly bear while conducting research in the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. In the second part of the show, Chris shares the history of grizzlies in the North Cascades and how they became known as ghost bears. THE WILD is a production of KUOW in Seattle in partnership with Chris Morgan Wildlife

Oct 17, 2023 • 49:18

The polar bears of Hudson Bay: cubs, climate and calories, part 2

The polar bears of Hudson Bay: cubs, climate and calories, part 2

We learn about calorie counting for polar bears and what the future could look like for the Hudson Bay polar bear population.We’re back in the helicopter with polar bear researchers Dr. Nick Lunn and Dave McGeachy, searching for mother bears with cubs. This is springtime over the huge, frigid landscape. Mother bears are waking up after eight months of fasting and heading out to the sea ice of Hudson Bay. Looking across this hostile environment - nothing but ice and biting cold wind - really make

Jun 20, 2023 • 41:44

The polar bears of Hudson Bay: cubs, climate, and calories, part 1

The polar bears of Hudson Bay: cubs, climate, and calories, part 1

How the changing seasons of our planet are shifting the traditions of the place, the polar bears, and the people of the north.This sea ice of Hudson Bay is what makes life possible for polar bears. It’s as important to them as the air they breathe.Every year, hundreds of bears move through this area and they’re forced to come ashore in the summer when the ice melts — a grueling annual migration that pushes the bears from ice to land and back to ice again.But there’s one group of bears that’s not

Jun 6, 2023 • 45:32

A coyote walks into a Quiznos

A coyote walks into a Quiznos

How these canids survive among city skyscrapers and sidewalks. And what that can teach us about saving the planet.In April of 2007, a coyote walked into a Quiznos in downtown Chicago. It walked inside the front door, right into a fast food restaurant full of people. And then, it sat in a soda cooler for an hour. It was an event so rare, it made the evening news. Why did the coyote walk into the Quiznos? How was it so tolerant of people? It's not normal for a wild animal to be less than six feet

May 23, 2023 • 37:06

Invasion of the Burmese pythons, part 2

Invasion of the Burmese pythons, part 2

Who let the 200-pound python out? Today, the origin of the Burmese python problem in the Everglades. And how science is being used to try to solve what seems like a losing battle. I'm back in South Florida, in the Everglades, on the side of a dirt road next to a canal. It looks pretty similar to where I met Anthony Flanagan and Kevin Pavlidis - the two python bounty hunters from the last episode.Out in front of me are miles and miles of marshland. Today, we're diving back into the Burm

May 9, 2023 • 35:17

Invasion of the Burmese pythons, part 1

Invasion of the Burmese pythons, part 1

In the Florida Everglades, the Burmese python is an invasive species that's close to triggering an ecological collapse. But not if these python hunters have anything to do with it.Burmese pythons are huge compared to the native snakes in Florida. They can measure up to 20 feet and weigh 200 pounds. The females lay up to 100 eggs. And they eat just about everything, from animals as small as a mouse to as big as a bobcat or an alligator.And they’re causing immense destruction throughout the Evergl

Apr 25, 2023 • 35:53

The worst wedding gift in history: an Irish tale of predator helps prey

The worst wedding gift in history: an Irish tale of predator helps prey

On this episode, join me in Ireland for a very Irish tale! If you’re from where I live in the Pacific Northwest, squirrels might not seem very special. It seems like all I have to do is look out my window and I’ll see one, bounding across the grass. But in the British Isles, the red squirrel is a bit of a “British darling.” They’re a species on the brink of extinction. It seems like everyone wants to see this fluffy-eared, threatened species bounce back. (including me … I did my master's de

Apr 11, 2023 • 33:23

Digital Dr. Dolittle: decoding animal conversations with artificial intelligence

Digital Dr. Dolittle: decoding animal conversations with artificial intelligence

Whenever I'm out doing field work or on a hike, I’ve not only got my eyes wide open, but my ears too. There’s a lot going on in a forest or under the sea - the sounds of nature. So many of those sounds in nature are about communication.Personally, I love to chat with ravens. I like to think that we have lovely conversations. I know I’m fooling myself... but there’s something happening that might change that.  There’s a tech company out of Silicon Valley that is hoping to make that dream of commu

Mar 28, 2023 • 49:35

Eavesdropping on orcas: love, grief, and family

Eavesdropping on orcas: love, grief, and family

This past summer, I was in Alaska in a little coastal town called Seward - a gorgeous spot on the Kenai Peninsula tucked between the ocean and some giant glacier-covered mountains. I met a guy named Dan Olsen, who records killer whale calls using an underwater hydrophone. Olsen gets all kinds of information from his recordings. The calls bring the underwater world of orcas alive. But there's a lot more going on in these clicks and whistles than you might think. Like, how their dialects, their la

Mar 14, 2023 • 33:56

Season 5 Trailer

Season 5 Trailer

Welcome (back) to The Wild. New episodes start on March 14!Host Chris Morgan is back with another season of The Wild. Join him on new adventures from around the Pacific Northwest and the world. He’ll take you through the Irish countryside to learn how one endangered species is helping another endangered species to thrive. We will follow the journey of two young bear cubs as they gain strength at a wildlife rehabilitation center after the tragic death of their mother. And we will learn about the

Feb 24, 2023 • 3:58

A short check-in from Chris

A short check-in from Chris

Hi all - Chris here - I’ve missed you! I hope you’re doing well and finding a way to get out and enjoy a bit of nature….maybe a hike in the mountains, or a walk around your city park? There really is wildlife all around us, no matter where you are. We're busy working on Season 5 (! wow can’t believe that!)....and we’ve got some enticing episodes shaping up from the PNW, Ireland, England, the Arctic, and the Everglades! All places we're traveling to to uncover some really fascinating people and s

Dec 7, 2022 • 5:03

The fiery spell of Desolation

The fiery spell of Desolation

One recent September I stopped at the side of highway 20 that crosses Washington state’s North Cascade Mountains. At the side of the road was a sign that grabbed my attention. About a storied fire lookout cabin on top of Desolation Peak in the distance, where author Jack Kerouac spent some time in the 50s. The irony was that I couldn’t see the peak because of the forest fire smoke in the air that day. But it fired my imagination….the mountain was calling me. This episode of THE WILD is the resul

Jul 1, 2022 • 33:16

Make it like it was: Clean, cold and flowing Gold Creek of Snoqualmie Pass

Make it like it was: Clean, cold and flowing Gold Creek of Snoqualmie Pass

Join me as I squeeze on a dry suit, don a snorkel, and jump into an icy mountain river.“That's what I'm amazed by, that a little tiny stream, not even knee deep, is a whole world if you get under there with it.,” that’s what CWU professor Paul James told me as we snorkeled our way through the fast moving current.Dr. James is surveying the number of fish in the river after a recent restoration project. Gold Creek is an important tributary to the Yakima River and serves as a breeding ground for ma

Jun 21, 2022 • 26:00

Etuaptmumk: Two Eyed Seeing

Etuaptmumk: Two Eyed Seeing

I was trained as a traditional scientist, to look at the world through that perspective. Analytical, and clinical. In this “western science” you have to toe the line and keep personal experience and emotions out of it. Science is run as a pretty tight ship. There's a good reason for that, of course.But for indigenous people, there’s something that comes with spending time in nature that helps to understand it in a different way. Often it’s knowledge from generation after generation of experience

Jun 7, 2022 • 32:38

Coral reefs: a biological symphony being silenced

Coral reefs: a biological symphony being silenced

To most of us, coral reefs conjure up magical places full of colorful species and life. They are unknown and otherworldly. Their beauty is perhaps a reason why coral reefs have become one of the more famous victims of climate change, warming oceans. Most people have heard that the future for coral reefs is in total jeopardy. And this is a problem, because about 25% of the ocean’s fish depend on healthy coral reefs. Scientists are now warning that the Great Barrier Reef could be gone by the year

May 23, 2022 • 30:12

Hard Knocks: Lessons from the woodpecker

Hard Knocks: Lessons from the woodpecker

I’ve thought about this stuff a lot as I listen to the northern flicker woodpecker tapping noisily away on the rain gutter outside my bedroom window. And not just rain gutters of course. Woodpeckers will peck at a tree up to 12,000 times a day and just one woodpecker peck produces about 15 times the force needed to give a human a concussion. So, how do woodpeckers bang their heads so much, and so hard and not come away with brain damage? The WILD is a joint production of myself and KUOW Public R

May 10, 2022 • 13:42

Nuclear sea otters: A wildlife refugee story

Nuclear sea otters: A wildlife refugee story

Join me among the crashing waves of the Pacific Northwest coast in Washington State.This unique wildlife story starts, not there, but with a nuclear explosion, literally. During the late 60s and early 70s, three atomic weapons were tested on Amchitka Island in a remote part of Alaska. The blast registered a 7.0 on the Richter scale. over 10,000 fish were killed in the island’s lakes, streams and ponds.But thanks to a little imagination, right before the nuclear test, a last minute program was de

Apr 26, 2022 • 33:11

Happy 46th Birthday! An Earth Day message from Chris

Happy 46th Birthday! An Earth Day message from Chris

Happy Earth Day to you all. For a while now I've wanted to share a short piece like this, and Earth Day seems like the right time! I hope you can kick back and listen to a relaxing 10 minute journey all about our precious home. If you enjoy it, please share it with others. After all, we're all in this together.Thank you for the inspiration to:Conservationists everywhere. Everyone working on ‘30x30’ - protecting 30% of the planet by the year 2030. The team at ‘Earth Emergency’ - check out their f

Apr 22, 2022 • 12:22

The Cougar Conundrum

The Cougar Conundrum

One thing that I love about my work is that I get the opportunity to talk to so many interesting people working with wildlife around the world. For today’s episode I wanted to share with you one of those conversations.Some of you might remember our episodes on “how to catch a cougar” back in season 2. If you do, the name Dr. Mark Elbroch will probably sound familiar. Mark is a good friend of mine and a cougar biologist with Panthera - he took us out into the forests of WA State to radio collar a

Apr 12, 2022 • 37:13

True grit: the wild wolverine

True grit: the wild wolverine

In this episode you may notice a lot of heavy breathing - because I’m on the trail of a wolverine high up in the mountains. Here’s the story….In the summer of 2020, there was some big news for wildlife in the pacific northwest. In the wild spaces of Mount Rainier National Park, a female wolverine was discovered along with two babies. The wolverines were back. It is believed that these tenacious predators haven't been in the park for over a century.Dr. Jocelyn Akins is a wolverine biologist and f

Mar 29, 2022 • 33:44

The Comeback Cat: Spain’s Iberian lynx

The Comeback Cat: Spain’s Iberian lynx

Like so many carnivores around the world, through history the Iberian lynx was persecuted as a menace or a threat to livestock and lifestyle: they were shot, poisoned, trapped, hunted. And misunderstood.The cats have those really characteristic long tufted ears, black spots dappled across their tawny coat and an old fashioned beard that can stretch down in two long triangles each side of their chin.But despite it’s regal flare, it’s still endangered, and a real focus of attention. But things are

Mar 15, 2022 • 38:51

How to love a shark

How to love a shark

Shark reputations have never quite been the same since the movie Jaws came out nearly 50 years ago.Sharks face some very direct threats. They are killed for their prized fins and caught in fishing nets all over the world. 99% of some populations have already been wiped out.So how do you change hearts and minds about these feared but endangered creatures nearly half a century after the movie Jaws that got us all riled up? The answer seems to be one shark, and one person at a time.Rachel Graham, F

Mar 1, 2022 • 30:43

The secret lives of giraffes and the woman who studied them

The secret lives of giraffes and the woman who studied them

Anne Innis Dagg is a tough, straight-talking, trailblazing woman, dedicated to science and social justice. In 1956, she went to South Africa to study giraffes. She wrote a book after her time in Africa that is still considered to be the giraffe bible by many in the field.But there’s a good chance you don’t know her. She was actually in Africa observing wildlife before Jane Goodall. So why has she been forgotten? What is the story of Anne Innis Dagg?She is the revolutionary biologist and women's

Feb 15, 2022 • 24:38

Goodbye chemical weapons, hello burrowing owls

Goodbye chemical weapons, hello burrowing owls

“So there are two important days in your life, the day that you're born, and the day you find out why. I know why I was born, for the owls. So I'm going to work with owls until my very last breath.” - David JohnsonDavid is founder of the Global Owl Project to protect endangered owl species all over the world. And one lucky owl species that’s been David’s main focus for these past 12 years is the little burrowing owl. A burrowing owl reaches only six inches in height and weighs less than half a p

Feb 1, 2022 • 35:22

Portugal’s ecological utopia

Portugal’s ecological utopia

I do love a good border crossing, so join me as I travel to Northeast Portugal, into the Coa River Valley, to witness a really interesting story that is unfolding there.The dense old forests that were there are now mostly gone. Cut down and replaced with pastures for sheep and olive groves generations ago. And now the shepherds and other farmers are abandoning this region in droves. This checkered history has led to a poor economy, brush instead of trees and an explosion of wildfires.Join me as

Jan 18, 2022 • 41:00

THE WILD: Season 4 Trailer

THE WILD: Season 4 Trailer

We’re back! I am so excited to share our new season with all of you.New episodes of THE WILD begin on Tuesday, January 18th.My team and I have been hard at work finding stories and interviewing passionate people who are making a difference for nature….and our planet.We’ve traveled the world this season to bring you stories about lynx in Spain, Caribbean sharks, owls that live underground and even how a nuclear explosion in Alaska led to sea otters returning to the west coast of America.Get your

Jan 4, 2022 • 3:33

Living Planet (special episode)

Living Planet (special episode)

I hope you are having a lovely summer so far. Or winter if you’re south of the equator. THE WILD team is busy working on episodes for the next season. But I wanted to share something special with you that I think you’ll like. This is an episode from the podcast Living Planet from Deutsche Welle. They tell environment stories from around the world. In this episode they explore efforts to bring life back to seabeds off the coast of Scotland. They also look at an app that can tell what species a fr

Aug 17, 2021 • 21:49

Message from Chris: Season 4

Message from Chris: Season 4

Hey everybody….. I just wanted to say thanks for tuning into our third season of THE WILD. It’s been such a pleasure to share these stories and hear your reactions. We’ve already started working on season 4. I am really  excited to bring you even more wonder from the natural world. It’s very rewarding tracking down interesting species, human characters and amazing places and turning them into stories for you. This planet we live on seems to have a limitless pool of them. But now is your chance t

Jul 20, 2021 • 1:34

Sitting on a den of rattlesnakes

Sitting on a den of rattlesnakes

Rattlesnakes have long been persecuted, even killed for sport or having their entire dens burned. I head out with two wildlife biologists to look for rattlesnakes as they emerge from hibernation and learn about the important role these snakes play in our ecosystem.Take our listener survey by clicking the link here. You could be selected to get a WILD sticker.THE WILD is a joint production of myself and KUOW Public Radio. One way to support this vital work and become part of THE WILD community is

Jul 13, 2021 • 34:17

The rise and fall…and rise...of the island fox

The rise and fall…and rise...of the island fox

For an ecologist like me, Santa Cruz island is a bit of a dream. It is home to a quite famous fox. It is like no “apex predator” I’ve ever seen before. These aren’t the type of foxes you might see on the mainland. These island foxes are small, very small. These foxes are endemic to the Channel Islands, meaning they are found here and nowhere else in the world. But about 20 years ago, people on these islands started noticing fewer and fewer foxes on the landscape. Their numbers were crashing dram

Jul 6, 2021 • 29:37

California’s condor: the dinosaur bird

California’s condor: the dinosaur bird

Hundreds, maybe even thousands of people have been involved in saving the California condor. We meet some of them in this episode, including a former gang member who has made it his life’s mission to help the birds he loves.California condors are so iconic that when I finally saw one in person, it felt a bit like meeting a movie star. Condors were one of 78 species listed on the original endangered species list in 1967. And they are still on it. That's 54 years of living on the edge.Condors are

Jun 29, 2021 • 39:34

Bears and diversity: a conversation with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

Bears and diversity: a conversation with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

Today, I’m talking with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. Rae is a large carnivore ecologist and a fellow with the National Geographic Society. She is also a Research Faculty member at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California at Santa Barbara and the blend of her work is really fascinating. For 15 years she’s studied the behavior and ecology of black bears and african lions and she does it on a backdrop of social justice as an advocate for women and people of col

Jun 22, 2021 • 1:18:12

Orangutans: people of the forest

Orangutans: people of the forest

Northern Sumatra is a magical tropical home to the endangered orangutan. But their rainforest home is being cut down, and many are orphaned as their habitat is lost. Researchers are working hard to understand how orangutans process and learn, while others rehabilitate young individuals for a life back in the wild.THE WILD is a joint production of myself and KUOW Public Radio. One way to support this vital work and become part of THE WILD community is through my wildlife organization, Chris Morga

Jun 15, 2021 • 33:36

Billions of bugs: life of a cicada underground

Billions of bugs: life of a cicada underground

The shrill calls of billions of Brood X cicadas emerging from the earth have captured the nation’s ears and attention this spring. But what do these noisy insects DO for the 17 years they live underground? In this episode we dig deep into that question.THE WILD is a joint production of myself and KUOW Public Radio. One way to support this vital work is through my wildlife organization, Chris Morgan Wildlife. You can find more information at PatreonFollow us on Instagram @thewildpod and @chrismor

Jun 1, 2021 • 15:55

A message from Chris

A message from Chris

I hope you're enjoying spring wherever you are. I just wanted to let you know that we're taking a short break to work on some new episodes. We just got back from an incredible trip in California for two stories. One is about California condors, North America's biggest bird that almost became extinct and island foxes on the Channel Islands. We'll be back in June, which means that now is the perfect time to listen to past episodes if you missed them. Keep well everybody and stay in touch.

May 18, 2021 • 2:24

Salmon and the city

Salmon and the city

Something a little different this week everyone - WILD producer Matt Martin found a surprising story about an opportunity to do something good for one of the pacific northwest’s most important creatures....the salmon.In this episode, Matt uncovers what one city has done to help salmon. How they redesigned their built environment to benefit not just humans but wildlife too. And how it was all made possible by something quite unexpected…..the rumbling force of a destructive earthquake.

May 11, 2021 • 20:00

The brain of the raven

The brain of the raven

Being a “bird brain” is a complement if you’re talking about ravens. They are smart. Their intelligence allows them to empathize and read emotions, which helps them survive. But it’s their ability to manipulate others, and even plan for the future that allows them to really thrive in the wild.

May 4, 2021 • 25:47

Why it’s so hard to swat a fly

Why it’s so hard to swat a fly

It’s springtime which means sunshine, picnics and flies. But you might think twice about reaching for that fly swatter. Flies are amazing creatures that possess the fastest visual systems in the world, use gyroscopes for precision flying, and can see almost 360 degrees.

Apr 27, 2021 • 12:49

Saving the mountain caribou

Saving the mountain caribou

This is a tough story to tell. In 2019 the last of the mountain caribou in the lower 48 states disappeared. Extinct. Deforestation threatens those that are left. Professional Wildlife tracker and photographer David Moskowitz takes us to the frigid mountains of British Columbia to learn about the ancient but fragile ecosystem these majestic reindeer call home.

Apr 20, 2021 • 27:18

The Path of the Jaguar

The Path of the Jaguar

Over 60% of Belize is in a natural, wild state, but development is threatening the movements of the jaguars. In this episode, I'll meet the people who are trying to help protect these jungle cats.

Apr 13, 2021 • 41:26

The Flight of the Scarlet Macaw

The Flight of the Scarlet Macaw

There are only 350 scarlet macaws left in the wild in Belize. They face the threats of poaching and habitat lose. But let us introduce you to the passionate people determined to save these colorful birds.

Apr 6, 2021 • 41:42

The Wild Season 3: Welcome back to the adventure

The Wild Season 3: Welcome back to the adventure

New episodes start on April 6th.

Mar 23, 2021 • 2:51

Leave it to beavers, seriously

Leave it to beavers, seriously

Hi everyone. We’ve missed bringing you new episodes of The Wild, but that’s about to change. We’re kicking off our third season on April 6th. We’ve got lots of exciting wildlife adventures to share including a trip to Central America and the country of Belize. The  jungles are teaming with wildlife there. It’s one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet. I don’t want to give too much away about the trip just yet, but I’ll give you a hint....Jaguars Thanks to all of our listeners who have wr

Mar 9, 2021 • 26:40

Sounds from the wild: frogs, elk and snowmelt

Sounds from the wild: frogs, elk and snowmelt

A few moments of reflection during these stressful times with the help of meditative sounds from nature.

Nov 17, 2020 • 12:10

Escape to the sounds of nature

Escape to the sounds of nature

We are all going through some challenging times, a pandemic, for Americans, an election whirlwind...or maybe other things in life. So, we wanted to give you a break, a chance to step away from the stress and into the wild. On this special episode of THE WILD we listen to a dawn chorus in Eastern Washington and ravens off the fog drenched shores of the Oregon coast.These sounds were recorded by Gordon Hempton the Sound Tracker and co-founder of Quiet Parks International.

Nov 3, 2020 • 7:01

Bats: Busting the myths

Bats: Busting the myths

Join me as I meet bats up close and in person and try to figure out the mystery behind these winged mammals.

Oct 27, 2020 • 30:53

The Great British Birding Show

The Great British Birding Show

Kick back for a spot of British birdwatching as I head into the English countryside with twitcher Lee Evans. Lee is an extreme birder and he’s become notorious in a nation of bird-lovers, as the man who’ll go to any lengths to fulfill his bird obsession. Lee has driven 2.2 million miles around the UK and Ireland looking for birds. So far he’s seen 594 different species, but not without some mishaps. I join him for a day in the field to hear more, and to tap into the mind of a really fascinating

Oct 6, 2020 • 32:50

WILD BITES: What’s the longest migration in the animal kingdom?

WILD BITES: What’s the longest migration in the animal kingdom?

Feeling a little cooped up? Take to the skies on the most extreme migration in the world. Join the Arctic Tern, a little bird with serious wanderlust.

Sep 22, 2020 • 13:18

The tiniest farmer on earth

The tiniest farmer on earth

The secret and fascinating world of these miniature marvels.

Sep 8, 2020 • 10:15

WILD BITES: How does a sperm whale survive the crushing depths a mile underwater?

WILD BITES: How does a sperm whale survive the crushing depths a mile underwater?

Meet the sperm whale, the true deep divers of the ocean.

Aug 25, 2020 • 10:46

WILD BITES: How can arctic squirrels help us get to Mars?

WILD BITES: How can arctic squirrels help us get to Mars?

There’s a wild animal and a team of researchers that might hold the clue to space travel.

Aug 11, 2020 • 13:08

Bear News: An interview with Chris Morgan

Bear News: An interview with Chris Morgan

On the conservation roller coaster, good and bad news for grizzly bears.

Jul 28, 2020 • 9:51

The wolf ranger

The wolf ranger

...

Jun 16, 2020 • 31:32

The power of poop

The power of poop

Poop parties, floating scat, and an international crime fighter.

Jun 2, 2020 • 28:28

How to bring back a Scottish forest

How to bring back a Scottish forest

I visit a forest of trees so old, they were around before the last wolf was killed in the 1700s.

May 20, 2020 • 29:56

Owls: Nature’s hunting machine

Owls: Nature’s hunting machine

If you want to find an owl, first you need to find some voles.

May 5, 2020 • 28:30

So you caught a cougar, now what?

So you caught a cougar, now what?

I visit a prison on the Olympic Peninsula where incarcerated individuals catalog wildlife videos for local biologists.

Apr 14, 2020 • 33:37

How to catch a cougar

How to catch a cougar

I meet biologists who can track multiple cougars in the forest, thanks to some special collars, GPS, and the click of a mouse.

Apr 7, 2020 • 28:24

The ancient wild

The ancient wild

The "salmon people" have lived on the Pacific Coast for more than 10,000 years. Through their long history, stories have been their lifeblood.

Apr 1, 2020 • 28:23

The wildlife super dog

The wildlife super dog

I meet an adorable puppy that may be the key to saving bears and people.

Mar 17, 2020 • 30:51

The secret lives of trees

The secret lives of trees

I dial into the wood wide web to understand how trees communicate.

Mar 10, 2020 • 24:45

Richard Louv and our connection with animals

Richard Louv and our connection with animals

Richard Louv writes about intimacy, but not in the way you might picture it. He says to stave off loneliness, tap into the "whisper of our fellow creatures."

Mar 4, 2020 • 25:12

A river runs through it ... once again

A river runs through it ... once again

Almost 30 years after an act of Congress called for the Elwha dams to come down, the ecosystem is recovering. Species are returning and staying.

Feb 25, 2020 • 29:42

Return to Svalbard: Earth's icy food chain is about more than polar bears

Return to Svalbard: Earth's icy food chain is about more than polar bears

It's a beautiful, still arctic morning about 600 miles from the North Pole. And there is a polar bear right over my shoulder.

Feb 18, 2020 • 28:12

KUOW's THE WILD with Chris Morgan returns in February

KUOW's THE WILD with Chris Morgan returns in February

Ecologist and award-winning filmmaker Chris Morgan kicks off season 2 with more adventures in the wild.

Jan 29, 2020 • 3:29

LIVE: Stories from THE WILD

LIVE: Stories from THE WILD

On Friday, October 14, we gathered to enjoy eight stories presented in front of a live audience at Seattle's McCaw Hall.

Dec 10, 2019 • 1:08:58

The quietest place on earth

The quietest place on earth

I talk to a sound tracker who encourages us to find a quiet place and really listen.

Nov 12, 2019 • 12:05

Waiting for penguins

Waiting for penguins

Wildlife filmmakers Jeff Wilson and Mark Smith spill on what life is like among the “super over-caffeinated” Adelie penguins.

Oct 8, 2019 • 59:03

Life hack: Go sniff a pine. Your heart and mind will thank you

Life hack: Go sniff a pine. Your heart and mind will thank you

Florence Williams' extensive research into the benefits of getting out in nature has lead to some surprising revelations.

Sep 10, 2019 • 20:55

The goofy looking rodent we all rely on

The goofy looking rodent we all rely on

An extended interview with Ben Goldfarb about the beaver, an "unlikely hero."

Aug 20, 2019 • 29:12

Protecting where the spirit bears roam

Protecting where the spirit bears roam

It all started when Ian McAllister spent two days in a flimsy basket, suspended from a tree, to protest logging.

Jul 23, 2019 • 29:15

The hunt to find just one square inch of silence

The hunt to find just one square inch of silence

I go deep into the Olympic National Forest to find the most elusive creature imaginable: silence.

Jun 18, 2019 • 30:09

A harsh life among ‘super over-caffeinated’ penguins

A harsh life among ‘super over-caffeinated’ penguins

I talk with two filmmakers who got up close and personal with Antarctic penguins.

Jun 10, 2019 • 30:49

Bombs, guns and sea lions

Bombs, guns and sea lions

I take a journey up the Columbia River, where people, sea lions, orcas and salmon have a complicated relationship.

Jun 4, 2019 • 16:18

The ‘ghost bears’ of Washington state

The ‘ghost bears’ of Washington state

I explore the ideas and controversies behind reintroducing grizzly bears to the North Cascades.

May 28, 2019 • 23:24

Chris Morgan sees a forest therapist

Chris Morgan sees a forest therapist

There’s a big part of us that still is wild, a bigger part than we might imagine in this crazy modern world we’ve built around ourselves.

May 21, 2019 • 21:42

These Italian bears survived gladiators and Mussolini

These Italian bears survived gladiators and Mussolini

Just two hours from Rome is one of the richest ecosystems in Europe, a little island of mountains that to this day is home to wolves, wild boar and bears.

May 14, 2019 • 30:00

Animal psychology and how to stay safe in the wild

Animal psychology and how to stay safe in the wild

I don't look for trouble, but I've gotten in enough to share how to stay safe in the wild.

May 7, 2019 • 24:44

A Siberian tiger named Bloody Mary

A Siberian tiger named Bloody Mary

I travel to Russia to meet the man who captured on film the nearly invisible Siberian tigers.

Apr 30, 2019 • 19:16

Leave it to beavers, seriously

Leave it to beavers, seriously

I hang out in Seattle's backyard with some very eager beavers.

Apr 23, 2019 • 25:46

Return of ze big bad wolf

Return of ze big bad wolf

...

Apr 16, 2019 • 26:47

The first time I caught a grizzly bear

The first time I caught a grizzly bear

...

Apr 9, 2019 • 16:57

Neighbor calls a biologist: ‘There’s a cougar in my backyard.’ And he says...

Neighbor calls a biologist: ‘There’s a cougar in my backyard.’ And he says...

...

Apr 2, 2019 • 25:00

The wild around you

The wild around you

...

Mar 6, 2019 • 1:18

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