What does wildlife conservation look like when most of the land is privately owned? In this episode of Community Narrative, Dé talks with Megan Smith, a Wildlife Biologist for Private Lands with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Megan explains the Habitat First and Walk-In Hunting Access programs, how private landowners can improve habitat, and how hunters from across the country contribute to local communities like Marshall County.

Megan also shares her journey into wildlife biology, some of Kansas’s unique wildlife and outdoor spaces, conservation success stories, and why habitat is so important—not just for wildlife, but for agriculture, healthy soil, and future generations.
Whether you hunt, own land, enjoy hiking and birdwatching, or simply want to know more about the wildlife around us, this conversation offers plenty to discover about conservation in Kansas.

To find out more about the programs that were discussed, access www.ksoutdoors.org. or contact Megan at [email protected].

For questions about the podcast or guest suggestions, contact Dé at [email protected].