Have you ever watched a species — or a whole habitat — bounce back? In this hike-and-talk along Bass Creek, I revive the Mountain Misfits Podcast with a no-fluff breakdown of what’s happening to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) right now—and why these proposed shifts are a backslide for species, wild places, and recovery.

We get grounded and specific: what the ESA actually does, what “threatened” vs “endangered” really means, why critical habitat is the whole game, and how proposals like removing the “blanket rule” can create delays and gaps right when species need protection most. I also dig into why “rewriting” the ESA through technical rule changes can quietly reshape conservation outcomes.

If you’re pro-protection, pro-restoration, and tired of watching the natural world get negotiated into smaller and smaller corners—this one’s for you.

In this episode

• Why “policy” is field reality (and why this isn’t abstract)
• The ESA in plain English (the parts that actually matter)
• Critical habitat: what it is, how it’s used, and how it can be narrowed
• The threatened-species “blanket rule” and why removing it matters
• How to leave a strong public comment during the comment period

The public is encouraged to submit comments during the 30-day comment period beginning November 21 at https://www.regulations.gov by searching the following docket numbers:

FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0039 (Section 4)

FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0044 (Section 7)

FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0029 (Section 4(d))

FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0048 (Section 4(b)(2))

If you found this useful, subscribe for weekly podcast episodes, field clips, and science-in-the-wild storytelling—because we protect what we love, and we restore what we’ve damaged.