Reveal Will the National Parks Survive Trump?
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Aug 30, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Heath Druzin, an Idaho public radio reporter, and Doug Smith, a wildlife biologist credited with the successful wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone, explore the ecological significance of wolves and their ongoing challenges. They highlight the impact of budget cuts on conservation efforts, revealing emotional stories from park scientists like Nadia Hamdan, who addresses the dire consequences for endangered species. The conversation dives into ideological battles affecting historical narratives within national parks, emphasizing the urgent need for public support.
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Fund Long-Term Park Science
- Protecting species for future generations requires scientists doing steady behind-the-scenes monitoring in parks.
- Support funding and staffing for long-term ecological studies to keep populations like bison and wolves viable.
Layoff During Capture Season
- Andria (Andrea) Townsend was fired on Valentine's Day as part of mass probationary layoffs and lost months of work during capture season.
- She describes the emotional blow and the disruption to monitoring fishers and Sierra Nevada red foxes.
Loss Of Institutional Knowledge
- The Park Service lost roughly 24% of staff and many specialized roles, eroding institutional knowledge critical for long-term projects.
- Staff attrition and hiring freezes push experts to quit and projects to stall, weakening conservation capacity.