I am an outdoorsman, podcaster and speaker. I talk and write about the natural environment, biodiversity, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding and more. I am particularly interested in wildlife and human-wildlife interactions. I enjoy reading scientific papers on those subjects as much as being outdoors weathering the elements and getting first-hand experiences.
Share
Living with Wolves - The Complete Guide to Coexistence
Published 16 days ago • 5 min read
Conservation and Science
Hello, dear subscribers. Good morning, afternoon, or evening, whenever you're reading this. There is quite a lot in this newsletter as I've been busy over the last few weeks, and I'm bringing you three episodes today. The first is my previously announced conversation with environmental anthropologist Thorsten Gieser. Thorsten was our guest on the episode "195: Can Hunting Foster Environmental Stewardship?" and that one received quite a lot of positive feedback from you. So, this week Thorsten is back and we're discussing his book "Living with Wolves: Affects, Feelings and Sentiments in Human-Wolf Coexistence". I consider this conversation one of the best I've had so far on the podcast as far as understanding the challenges of coexistence with wolves goes. As always, I provide the link to buy the book and if you decide to do so, I'll get a tiny commission from each sale which helps with the costs of running the podcast.
You might have noticed that I mentioned that Thorsten's return to the podcast was previously announced. If you want to get work-in-progress updates, behind-the-scenes content, future episode previews and early access (sometimes) and a bunch of other perks, then join the community of my supporters on buymeacoffee.com. This is a tremendous help for me in running the podcast and probably the best thing you can do if you want to support my work.
The second episode is a bonus one. I participated in the third edition of the Podcasthon initiative where podcasters across the world simultaneously release episodes over one week, dedicated to a charity of their choice. In my case, of course, these were Irish environmental charities. The episode has a slightly different format as it is aimed mainly at showcasing the charities rather than discussing any specific topic.
Finally, I recently appeared as a guest on the ReConnect with Plant Wisdom podcast and had a great conversation with the wonderful Tigrilla Gardenia. We had only a vague idea of what our discussion was going to be about, but during our pre-recording meeting with Tigrilla, it was clear that we could have an informative and fun conversation. In the end, the episode is under the title "Why Hunter-Gatherers Were Less Stressed Than Us," but we talked about many topics that might be of interest to you. So, why not give it a shot?
Living with Wolves - The Complete Guide to Coexistence
I feel like this episode is the ultimate guide to understanding coexistence with wolves. Once again I talk with ecological anthropologist Thorsten Gieser, this time about his excellent book “Living with Wolves: Affects, Feelings and Sentiments in Human-Wolf Coexistence”. In the episode, Thorsten recounts a tense atmosphere during the visit to a wolf kill site. We also talk about understanding emotions that are sparked by wolves, and we discuss the recent decision to lower the protection status of wolves in the EU.
During our conversation, Thorsten draws from his extensive fieldwork across Germany where he witnessed firsthand the aftermath of wolf attacks on livestock. He explains the unique psychological impact wolves have on communities, stemming from both their distinctive hunting methods, which he describes in terms of "necroaesthetics", and centuries of cultural conditioning. We examine the political dimensions of wolf management across Europe and explore the often contradictory attitudes within hunting communities, who historically viewed wolves as competitors rather than fellow predators. Thorsten challenges common narratives, addressing how conspiracy theories about wolf reintroduction persist despite clear evidence of natural recolonisation.
Moving beyond practical considerations, we discuss Thorsten's concept of “affect-guided thinking” in wildlife management, an approach that acknowledges emotional responses without being driven solely by them. The discussion explores the “queasy feeling” many experience in wolf territories and the emotional resilience required for true coexistence. Rather than focusing exclusively on protection levels or culling quotas, Thorsten argues we must confront more fundamental questions: How do we distinguish between legitimate concerns and fear-mongering? What emotions should we cultivate to share landscapes with these controversial predators? And how might we develop the psychological capacity to live alongside animals that challenge our sense of control over nature?
This episode is part of the global Podcasthon initiative, in which podcasters worldwide dedicate one episode to their chosen charity. To maximise impact, all episodes are published in a single week. I’m showcasing two of the most influential Irish environmental charities: the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and the Irish Wildlife Trust.
The conversation with Pádraig Whooley from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group reveals the challenges facing marine life in Irish waters. Pádraig explains how they've expanded from focusing solely on sightings and strandings to include welfare issues for living stranded animals. He discusses alarming changes in whale behaviour, linking them to destructive fishing practices where large trawlers target vital forage fish that form the foundation of marine ecosystems. Pádraig emphasises that successful conservation would involve implementing bans on industrial-scale fishing in Irish coastal waters and establishing meaningful marine protected areas—not just 'paper parks' but properly managed conservation zones.
Kieran Flood from the Irish Wildlife Trust shares insights into one of Ireland's longest-established nature charities. Founded in 1979, the organisation focuses on protecting and restoring Ireland's natural heritage through education, advocacy, and developing nature reserves. Kieran explains that despite Ireland's green reputation, Irish biodiversity faces serious threats from intensive agriculture, forestry practices, and industrial fishing. The trust is currently focusing on supporting the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law, campaigning for effective marine protected areas through the Fair Seas coalition, and expanding their rewilding projects. He emphasises that perhaps the most important change needed is a fundamental shift in how people understand their connection to nature, recognising that humans are not separate from the natural world but an integral part of it.
What if the way we work is fundamentally out of sync with our nature?
In this episode, I was a guest on the ReConnect with Plant Wisdom podcast to explore how modern life has stripped us of the deep, intuitive connection to land that our ancestors once had. On the podcast, we dive into hunter-gatherer wisdom, seasonal rhythms, and attunement to the ecosystem, revealing how these natural cycles foster a sense of safety, balance, and ease that we often feel are missing in our structured, productivity-driven world.
Hunter-gatherers weren't constantly stressed about survival. They understood the landscape so well that gathering food was not a daily grind but a rhythmic, flowing relationship with the land. Meanwhile, we push through work in artificial cycles that ignore our bodies' needs, making stress feel inevitable.
So how do we reclaim our natural rhythm? How do we break free from the myth that structure equals security?
This episode will shift how you think about time, work, and your own inner landscape, and help you rediscover the natural intelligence that already lives within you.
Creating quality content about nature takes time and resources. Support my work, buy me a coffee!
I am an outdoorsman, podcaster and speaker. I talk and write about the natural environment, biodiversity, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding and more. I am particularly interested in wildlife and human-wildlife interactions. I enjoy reading scientific papers on those subjects as much as being outdoors weathering the elements and getting first-hand experiences.
Read more from Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science
Conservation and Science Episode 200 is approaching fast, and I have something special coming to mark the occasion. But even if I didn't, this one would do as well for that milestone, as it's a special episode with a special guest in its own right. Bert is one of those individuals that when you look at their achievements and what they did and are still doing, you can't help but wonder how they find time for all of it! You know such people are just cut from a different cloth. As expected, our...
Conservation and Science The upcoming weeks will be quite intense at Conservation and Science as we're switching to a weekly schedule for the next three weeks. We are starting with an excellent book about coexistence with carnivores from a friend of the podcast, Dr Jonny Hanson. Jonny is well known to all who are interested in this topic. With his social sciences experience from across the globe and farming background at home, Jonny brings a unique perspective to the discussion, pointing out...
Conservation and Science The topic we are taking on today is another hotly contested one - offshore renewables. It’s a somewhat codified name for massive wind farms built at sea. They are of course a part of our effort to urgently needed transition from using fossil fuels. Some argue that offshore wind farms are the best thing ever, sparing land (for wildlife, agriculture or otherwise) while taking advantage of strong and unimpeded winds at sea. Others lament them for, both known and unknown,...
