JRE #1975 - Dan Flores

25-Apr-23

#1975 – Dan Flores

This podcast, featuring historian Dan Flores, delves into the fascinating and often overlooked story of animals and people in America. Flores, known for his insightful work on the American West, explores the complex and interwoven relationship between humans and the natural world. He touches upon the role of animals in shaping American culture, the impact of human activity on wildlife populations, and the ongoing struggle to reconcile our needs with those of the creatures we share this continent with.

The conversation goes beyond mere facts and figures, venturing into deep underlying themes like the evolution of human-animal relationships, the impact of colonialism and industrialization on wildlife, the philosophical implications of our interactions with other species, and the crucial need for conservation and ethical stewardship of the environment.

1. The Rise and Resilience of Coyotes:

Coyotes have shown remarkable adaptability, thriving in urban environments like Los Angeles, thanks to their intelligence and ability to outwit larger predators.
The elimination of wolves in the east created an open niche for coyotes, leading to their rapid expansion across the country.
Flores reveals the fascinating cultural practices of coyotes, such as their howling communication system, which can trigger larger litters in response to perceived threats or reduced predator numbers.
The coyote’s story highlights the dynamic interplay between human actions and the natural world, showcasing how our attempts to control wildlife can lead to unexpected outcomes.

2. The Intelligence and Cultural Practices of Animals:

Flores challenges traditional notions of animal intelligence, pointing out the remarkable capabilities of creatures like ravens and crows, which demonstrate tool use, problem-solving, and cultural transmission.
The podcast delves into the idea of animal culture, highlighting how animals learn and teach each other, showcasing behavior patterns that extend beyond simple instinct.
The story of a coyote tricking a dog into destroying a chicken coop illustrates the complex social dynamics and learning abilities found in the animal kingdom.
Flores argues that recognizing the intelligence and cultural practices of animals is crucial for understanding our place in the natural world and fostering a more ethical approach to coexistence.

3. The Shadowy World of Feral Cats:

Flores sheds light on the devastating impact of feral cats on bird and small mammal populations, highlighting the environmental consequences of allowing cats to roam freely.
He unveils shocking statistics from a Smithsonian Institute study, revealing that domestic cats kill billions of birds and small mammals each year, contributing to a significant loss of biodiversity.
The podcast underscores the importance of responsible pet ownership and the need to protect vulnerable wildlife from human-introduced threats.
Flores emphasizes the hidden costs of our relationship with pets, reminding listeners of the ecological repercussions of our choices.

4. The Unseen Predator: Great Horned Owls

Flores delves into the often-overlooked role of Great Horned Owls as stealthy predators, capable of snatching up cats and small dogs, even in the presence of humans.
He paints a vivid picture of the owl’s predatory prowess, using captivating anecdotes and descriptions to illustrate their remarkable hunting skills.
Flores highlights the importance of understanding the complete ecological picture, recognizing the interconnectedness of predator-prey relationships and the dynamic forces at play in the natural world.
He emphasizes the surprising impact of these owls on our daily lives, reminding us that even in urban environments, nature’s forces are ever-present.

5. The Raven’s Tale: An Unexpected Friendship

Flores shares a deeply personal story of his relationship with a raven, showcasing the bird’s intelligence, individuality, and ability to form bonds with humans.
He describes the raven’s learned behavior, its capacity to understand human communication, and its seemingly intentional communication through vocalizations.
Flores’s account challenges the traditional human-centric view of intelligence, highlighting the interconnectedness of all life forms and the potential for genuine cross-species communication.
He provides a compelling example of the unexpected and enriching connections that can arise when we open ourselves to the possibility of understanding other beings.

6. The Return of Wolves: A Restoring Force?

Flores recounts the reintroduction of wolves to Montana and Idaho, highlighting the ecological benefits of restoring apex predators to their rightful place in the ecosystem.
He notes the impact of wolves on deer populations, helping to regulate their numbers and prevent overgrazing, leading to a healthier and more balanced ecosystem.
Flores provides a glimpse into the complexity of ecological relationships, demonstrating how the presence of wolves can have ripple effects throughout the entire ecosystem.
He advocates for a more holistic approach to conservation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the intricate web of life and the role of apex predators in maintaining a healthy balance.

7. The Call of the Elk: A Hunting Culture

Flores dives into the world of elk hunting, exploring the techniques and strategies employed by hunters to lure and capture their prey.
He describes the intricate communication system of elk, highlighting their ability to recognize and respond to different calls, making them a challenging and rewarding quarry.
Flores acknowledges the cultural significance of hunting, recognizing its historical and economic importance but also advocating for responsible and sustainable practices.
He provides a balanced perspective on hunting, highlighting both its potential for ethical and responsible interaction with wildlife and its potential for detrimental effects when practiced without restraint.

8. The Duck Dynasty Connection: A Southern Legacy

Flores shares a personal anecdote about his high school days, revealing that he attended school with the Robertson brothers, stars of the reality show “Duck Dynasty.”
He provides a glimpse into their shared southern heritage, highlighting the importance of storytelling and community in their culture.
Flores underscores the cultural diversity of America, showing how even seemingly disparate worlds can share common threads and traditions.
He reveals the unlikely intersection of his academic pursuits with the world of reality television, demonstrating the interconnectedness of seemingly different realms.

9. The Pandemic Project: Wild New World

Flores describes how the pandemic spurred the writing of his book, “Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America.”
He acknowledges the influence of Yuval Noah Harari’s “Sapiens” in inspiring him to write a sweeping narrative of human-animal interactions in North America.
Flores offers a glimpse into his writing process, revealing his commitment to engaging with the latest scientific research and weaving together a compelling and informative story.
He emphasizes the importance of understanding the past to shape our future, advocating for a more informed and ethical relationship with the natural world.

10. The Arrival of Humans: A Continental First Contact

Flores delves into the history of human migration to the Americas, tracing the arrival of Clovis hunters around 16,000 years ago.
He emphasizes the significance of the Americas as the last grand continent to be colonized by humans, highlighting the impact on both human and animal populations.
Flores describes the Clovis people’s hunting practices, their advanced toolmaking techniques, and their pivotal role in shaping the continent’s ecology.
He underscores the importance of archaeological evidence in reconstructing the past and understanding the intricate relationship between humans and animals over millennia.

11. The Clovis Era: Masters of Big Game Hunting

Flores recounts the Clovis hunters’ remarkable ability to hunt large game animals, including mammoths, using advanced tools and strategies.
He highlights the Clovis people’s specialization in big game hunting, their use of fluted points, and their apparent impact on the extinction of mammoths.
Flores examines the archaeological evidence of Clovis hunting practices, providing a glimpse into the hunting techniques and strategies employed by these ancient hunters.
He underscores the importance of understanding human-wildlife interactions in the past to better manage our relationship with animals today.

12. The Folsom Legacy: A New Era of Hunting

Flores traces the development of Folsom points, a new technology that enabled more effective hunting of bison, marking a shift in hunting practices.
He highlights the discovery of the Folsom site in 1908, a pivotal moment in American archaeology that provided evidence of ancient human presence in the Americas.
Flores underscores the importance of this discovery in challenging Eurocentric views of American history and revealing the continent’s deep human history.
He explains the significance of finding extinct bison remains alongside Folsom points, proving that humans were present in North America long before European colonization.

13. The Rise of Archery: A Technological Leap

Flores describes the introduction of archery into North America around 2,000 years ago, marking a significant technological advancement.
He attributes the arrival of archery to the Inuit people, who either developed or brought the technology with them from the Arctic.
Flores explains how archery provided hunters with a safer and more effective method of hunting, reducing the need for close encounters with dangerous prey.
He emphasizes the importance of understanding the spread of technologies across continents, revealing the interconnectedness of human cultures throughout history.

14. The Neanderthal Advantage: Carnivorous Hunters

Flores delves into the hunting practices of Neanderthals, showcasing their reliance on wooden spears and their remarkable ability to hunt large game animals.
He highlights the nitrogen isotope studies that indicate Neanderthals had a more carnivorous diet than even wolves, suggesting their advanced hunting skills.
Flores underscores the importance of studying ancient cultures to gain insights into human evolution and the development of hunting strategies.
He compares and contrasts Neanderthal hunting practices with those of later human cultures, revealing the progression of hunting technologies and strategies over time.

15. The Great Dying: A Catastrophe of Epic Proportions

Flores discusses the devastating impact of European diseases on Native American populations, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life, known as the Great Dying.
He highlights the vulnerability of Native Americans to diseases brought by Europeans, who had long been exposed to and immunized against these pathogens.
Flores underscores the tragic irony of European colonization, where the arrival of new diseases led to the decimation of the very people who had managed to maintain a sustainable balance with the environment.
He emphasizes the lasting impact of the Great Dying on North America, transforming the continent’s ecology and paving the way for European domination.

16. The Chaco Legacy: A Tale of Rise and Fall

Flores explores the rise and fall of the Chaco culture in the American Southwest, showcasing the complex interplay of environmental factors, social structures, and human choices.
He highlights the Chacoan’s advanced agricultural practices, their impressive road system, and their unique social hierarchy, with a priestly class that held considerable power.
Flores explores the potential causes of Chaco’s demise, including drought, resource depletion, and social inequalities, providing a cautionary tale about the dangers of unsustainable practices and unchecked power.
He draws parallels between the Chacoan experience and the challenges faced by modern societies, reminding us of the importance of environmental stewardship and social equity.

17. The Paradox of Native American Conservation

Flores examines the long-term success of Native American cultures in preserving biodiversity, despite their own hunting practices.
He highlights their understanding of population control, their use of birth spacing and abortion, and their respect for the natural world.
Flores contrasts Native American values with the Eurocentric worldview, which viewed nature as something to be conquered and exploited, contributing to the decline of wildlife.
He emphasizes the importance of learning from Native American traditions and incorporating their wisdom into our own relationship with the environment.

18. The European Arrival: A Worldview Clash

Flores discusses the profound clash of worldviews between Europeans and Native Americans, highlighting the differences in their relationships with animals.
He explains how European herding cultures and their Judeo-Christian beliefs led to a view of animals as commodities or enemies, fostering a more exploitative relationship with the natural world.
Flores contrasts this with Native American kinship traditions, where animals were seen as integral parts of their culture and ecosystem.
He underscores the lasting impact of these contrasting worldviews on the ecological landscape of North America.

19. The Era of Exploitation: The Fur Trade and Market Hunting

Flores details the rise of the fur trade in North America, revealing how the demand for animal pelts, particularly beaver, fueled the expansion of European settlement.
He highlights the detrimental effects of market hunting, showcasing the unsustainable practices that led to the depletion of many animal populations, including bison and passenger pigeons.
Flores describes the cultural and economic forces that drove the exploitation of wildlife, emphasizing the role of capitalism and colonial expansion in shaping the relationship between humans and animals.
He acknowledges the role of Native Americans in the fur trade, but also highlights the devastating impact of European demand on Native populations and the environment.

20. The Rise of Conservation: A Shift in Perspective

Flores highlights the growing awareness of conservation in the 20th century, a shift in perspective that recognized the importance of preserving wildlife.
He discusses the work of Aldo Leopold, a pioneer in the field of conservation, who advocated for a more ethical and sustainable approach to managing the natural world.
Flores highlights the role of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as a landmark piece of legislation that helped protect vulnerable wildlife.
He explores the ongoing challenges of balancing human needs with the preservation of biodiversity, emphasizing the importance of continued conservation efforts to safeguard our shared planet.

21. The Younger Dryas Impact: A Contested Theory

Flores discusses the Younger Dryas impact theory, which proposes that a comet or asteroid impact caused significant environmental changes and contributed to the extinction of megafauna.
He acknowledges the evidence presented by proponents of the theory, including the presence of iridium and nano diamonds in geological layers.
Flores also highlights the scientific consensus that human spread and hunting pressures were likely major factors in the extinction of megafauna.
He suggests that both human activity and catastrophic events may have played a role in shaping the extinction of large mammals during the Younger Dryas period.

22. The Bison’s Story: A Tale of Abundance and Decline

Flores explores the history of bison populations in North America, highlighting the massive herds that once roamed the Great Plains and the impact of human hunting on their decline.
He describes the Bison’s adaptation to a grazing niche, their massive populations, and their role in shaping the ecosystem.
Flores discusses the potential role of the Little Ice Age in expanding bison populations beyond the Great Plains.
He underscores the importance of understanding the complex interplay of human activity, climate change, and ecological factors in shaping the fate of bison populations.

23. The Legacy of “Wild New World”: A Call to Action

Flores concludes the podcast by highlighting the importance of his book, “Wild New World,” as a comprehensive and engaging narrative of the human-animal relationship in North America.
He emphasizes the need for continued exploration, research, and understanding of the natural world, advocating for a more informed and ethical approach to our relationship with other species.
Flores calls for a shift in perspective, urging listeners to recognize the interconnectedness of all life forms and to embrace a more responsible and sustainable approach to living on our shared planet.
He leaves listeners with a sense of hope and a call to action, encouraging them to become active participants in protecting the environment and ensuring a healthy future for both humans and animals.

5 Memorable Quotes:

“Coyotes are, I think, probably among the smartest of the wild animals certainly in America.” – Flores highlights the remarkable intelligence of coyotes, demonstrating their adaptability and ability to outwit even larger predators.
“It’s almost like climate change. We’ve tried to come up with every other possible explanation to let ourselves off the hook for climate change.” – Flores points out a common human tendency to avoid self-blame, even when evidence suggests our actions are contributing to environmental degradation.
“They actually have many of the same capabilities we do.” – Flores challenges anthropocentric views of intelligence, demonstrating the shared capabilities between humans and other species, including ravens, crows, and even rats.
“What we’re discovering almost day by day from the scientific literature that’s been focused on these things is that animals just like us have culture.” – Flores emphasizes the growing body of evidence supporting the idea of animal culture, challenging the traditional view of humans as the only beings with cultural practices.
“It’s just so bizarre that human beings repeat the same patterns over and over and over again.” – Flores reflects on the cyclical nature of human behavior, highlighting our tendency to repeat mistakes and fail to learn from the past.

JRE #1975 – Dan Flores