In this first episode of On the Wild Side, host Louise Loik chats with Dr. Mark Elbrock, a scientist with Panthera, an international wild cat conservation organization, to explore the complexities of coexisting with cougars. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding these apex predators, their social behaviours, and the ecological roles they play. The conversation also delves into community attitudes towards cougars, the responsibilities of livestock owners, and cultural differences in wildlife coexistence. Mark shares insights from his research and experiences, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting these wild creatures. Mark is doing groundbreaking research on everything from the social behaviours of cougars to their wide-ranging ecological  connections to hundreds of species. The discussion ranges from how some countries are embracing the presence of cougars as a draw for tourism, while others prefer to eliminate the animals. There’s a lot of great information about cougars and insights about our local cougar conundrum.

This first episode was launched to help anyone living in cougar country understand what is myth and what is real in terms of the danger from cougars. Recorded with borrowed equipment and no podcasting experience, this first episode is a bit of an experiment. Follow for updates on future episodes
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