Tom Smith, a professor of wildlife sciences at Brigham Young University and a member of the National Rifle Association, discusses how effective guns in backcountry locations are in defending against bear attacks. What he says might surprise you. This episode also looks at the Volcanic Legacy Highway that ties Lassen Volcanic National Park and Crater Lake National Park together.
By NPT Staff - July 7th, 2019
:02 Welcome to National Parks Traveler
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:48 Introduction to Thomas Smith's discussion on protecting yourself from bear attacks with guns
2:36 Thomas Smith interview
14:34 National Parks Traveler promotion
14:48 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation promotion
15:14 Yankee Freedom promotion
15:49 Thomas Smith interview continues
38:54 RVShare.com promotion
39:28 Friends of Acadia promotion
39:57 North Cascades Institute promotion
40:21 Volcanic Legacy Highway
44:32 Washington's National Park Fund promotion
45:07 Yosemite Conservancy promotion
45:43 Commentary: Close The Parks
51:07 Orange Tree Productions promotion
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 324 | North American Bird Declines
True birders are some of the most determined and persistent hobbyists out there. If you want to call bird watching a hobby. For many, it’s more like a passion. Many look forward to “Big Day” competitions, where individuals and teams strive to see how many different bird species they can spot in a 24-hour period.
May 11th, 2025
Read More
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 323 | Walt Dabney and Public Lands
It’s fair to say that the nation’s public lands, those managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land-management agencies are at risk under the Trump administration.
There’s no hyperbole in that statement if you pay attention to what the administration already has done in terms of downsizing those agencies’ workforces, and when you listen to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum say he wants to open more public lands to energy development and mining.
May 4th, 2025
Read More
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 322 | Congressman Jared Huffman
The first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term might be the most tumultuous first 100 days of any president. He certainly came in prepared to move his agenda forward, no matter what barriers to it existed.
We don’t usually discuss presidential politics, but President Trump has released a blizzard of executive orders and directives touching all corners of the federal government, including the National Park Service.
April 27th, 2025
Read More
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 321 | National Park Science At Risk
There has been much upheaval in the National Park Service this year, with firings, then rehires, and staff deciding to retire now rather than risk sticking around and being fired. There have been fears that more Park Service personnel are about to be let go through a reduction in force.
While Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered the Park Service to ensure that parks are properly to support the operating hours and needs of each park unit,” that message said nothing about protecting park resources.
April 20th, 2025
Read More
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 320 | George Wright Society
George Melendez Wright was a brilliant young scientist with the National Park Service back in the 1920s and 1930s. You could say he was ahead of his time, in that he wanted the Park Service to take a holistic role in how wildlife in the parks was managed.
April 6th, 2025
Read More
Help support us– the one source for journalism dedicated to our National Parks.
National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit.
INN Member
The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
Comments
Great podcast, it not only addresses guns and bears but includes a lot of information on keeping yourself safe in a backcountry bear encounter. I had not been a big podcast fan but after listening to this one I have gone back and listened to several others from Nat Parks Traveler. Keep up the good work.