The MeatEater Podcast - Introducing: Backwoods University with Lake Pickle

Episode Date: June 2, 2025

Backwoods University explores wildlife biology and the people who dedicate their lives to studying animals and their habitats. Guided by host Lake Pickle’s curiosity, you’ll hear insights from wildlife biologists and outdoorsmen, while gaining an intimate perspective on North American wildlife, habitat, and the impact humans have had on them. You’ll learn from the experts how to understand the wild. After all, you can’t love what you don’t understand. Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't miss episode one coming out June 9th! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIQv7voZWHy7_axb5Zc-zEsUaKo20oniKSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MLEAslFa9CxTE3Gd5OX3E?si=qyD7Pe3USgC2KGTbY_jt3g Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bear-grease/id1559983625 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-bear-grease-80440754/ Connect with Lake Pickle and MeatEater Lake Pickle on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and YouTube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever wonder what happened to the hundreds of thousands of buffalo that used to call the eastern US home? Or what caused the rise and fall of Bob White Quail? Or who in the world is Fanny Cook and why should we care? Welcome to Backwoods University, the latest addition to the Bear Gryse feed on Meat Eaters podcast network. I'm your host, Lake Pickle. At Backwoods University, we'll explore the land and learn from the people who have dedicated

their lives to wild animals and their habitats. Where do grizzly bears fit into the modern landscape? How did all those exotic species of wildlife end up in Texas? What led to the demise of the once thriving population of bison east of the Mississippi? The most common evidence that we have of bison east of the most common like historical documentation was people killing them. How one woman single-handedly saved the natural resources of her home state through introducing wildlife conservation. Could we bring Bob White Quail back if we learned how to better manage the land? We need plants that are going to produce food in June, July, August, September, etc.

And so the plant community needs to be diverse enough that it's producing food 12 months out of the year and cover 12 months out of the year and thermal cover 12 months out of the year. Monotypic plant communities can't do that. The question then becomes, how do we get it? How do we create those resources and conditions? Join me at Backwoods University to seek out a deeper understanding of wildlife, wild places, and the people who have dedicated their lives to conserving both. Pencils down, let's get outside. Find us in the Bear Gryse feed on Meat Eaters

podcast network. Look up Bear Gryse wherever you listen to podcasts and hit the follow button to enroll in Backwoods University.